Twitter chat: Tech support for caregivers and older adults

Whether it is a website, gadget or the latest iPhone app, technology is available to simplify almost every part of daily life.

A number of new technologies are geared toward older users or connecting caregivers with resources and support. From services such as Doctor on Demand, which allows users to schedule a video appointment with a licensed physician via their smartphone, laptop or tablet, to apps such as Pill Reminder Pro, which reminds users of the dosage and frequency of their medication, technology can help older adults live independently longer. Meanwhile, websites such as CareLinx, an online community connecting families with in-home caregivers, help those seeking to support their aging loved ones.

What other recent innovations help caregivers and older adults? What are the economic incentives for a company to create an app catering to older users? Does the intervention of technology threaten the traditionally personal nature of services such as in-home caregiving and medical treatment?

We asked you to share your opinion on Twitter. Grace Andruszkiewicz and Michelle Maalouf of Aging 2.0 (@Aging20), an organization dedicated to accelerating innovations that improve the lives of older adults, joined the conversation. Ken Smith (@kssmith1962), director of the Mobility Division of the Stanford Center on Longevity also shared his insights. Read a transcript of the discussion below.