Smart Home Program Helping Veterans Become More Independent

One of the challenges of rehabilitation from a serious combat injury such as brain damage is to acclimate veterans to relearning daily life skills and establishing routines. Cognitive damage is common with traumatic brain injury, which is one of the many disabilities our veterans return with after being injured in combat.

A report from WINK News Now shows that when veterans have difficulty handling daily routines and remembering things, external prompting can help jog those memories. The Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center at the VA hospital in Tampa, FL is working on an electronic prompting system dubbed "Smart Home" technology.

The veterans trying the system are connected to a tag that's read by sensors around the complex. It can tell if they're wandering from designated areas and prompt them to return to their rooms, but more important, it can give reminders of necessary actions like taking medication or remembering to check out when leaving the facility.

Short-term memory loss is a complication of a traumatic brain injury, and the tags are helping veterans remember the important details of daily life. Doctors are hoping that the technology can be further developed to create a lower-cost version of the system for personal home use.

This therapy is also being considered for patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementia to help combat similar conditions of memory loss or confusion. This system is showing benefits for the veterans, as well as their caregivers, as it creates an extra entity to ensure that daily needs are met and a routine is established during rehabilitation.

You Have the Power to Help a Disabled American Veteran!

Our veterans deserve the utmost care and respect in exchange for their sacrifice and service to our country, yet many suffer with disabling medical conditions and illness and struggle to make ends meet after life in the service. At Care for Disabled Veterans our goal is to assist qualified veterans in obtaining the medical evidence they need to seek their rightful benefits for combat-related disabilities. Request our free guide for veterans and caregivers or contact us today to learn more - 1-877-617-2170.