As Aging Population Grows, Demand For Drones Increase

The year 2030 marks an important demographic turning point in U.S. history.  It is the year that all baby boomers will be older than age 65. That means that 1 in every 5 U.S. residents will be of retirement age as reported in a March 2018 article by the U.S. Census Bureau.

To address this rapidly growing, aging population and their senior health care needs, drones are being developed, tested, and deployed more than ever before. This technology shows great potential in improving how senior health care and services are delivered.  Here are 6 ways drones would increase the independence and quality of life of the growing boomer population as they age:

• Extend at-home living. Drone technology may allow more people to receive care at home for a longer period of time. Drones could deliver medications and supplies that make it easier for home-based care. They could also deliver a meal to those who can no longer prepare them on their own.
• Perform chores. Small autonomous drones will be able to perform household chores that could be challenging to the elderly such as retrieving a bottle of medicine from another room or reaching under a table to grab something.
• Quick lab results. Home health care providers will be able to draw blood and immediacalltoy send sample by drone to the lab for testing.
• Service disaster or remote locations. Drones could be ideal for providing a Telehealth link for emergency Telemedicine, disaster sites, or patients living in remote locations.
• Preview senior housing. Drones are currently able to provide prospective senior care residents with an aerial video of new senior housing developments. This is a high-tech and convenient way for them to narrow down their living choices.
• Provide one last glance. Drones would be able to show people with terminal illness their beloved locations, such as a childhood hometown or favorite vacation spot, one final time.

Drones are truly life-changing and cutting-edge technologies for the aging population. This innovation is made possible by individuals that work in IT related fields. They are uniquely positioned to make valuable contributions to the future growth of drone technologies.

There are a predicted 100,000 drone-related careers set to flood the job market over the next few years. Per IT-ology, drone related job positions include:

• Designers: The first step in the life of a drone is the initial design of the machine. Design positions will clearly require some education in relevant fields like aeronautical engineering, robotics, mechanical engineering, etc. Pursuing a career with drone producers will obviously require key skills in STEM.
• Programmers: Drones require flight assistance tools such as auto leveling, homing, and automatic takeoff and landing modes. These kinds of capabilities rely on high-level programming to ensure successful operation, and the industry is a perfect fit for IT professionals with competent programming skills.
• Engineers: As the presence of drones increase, engineers will need to know the latest UAV technology. For drones to get airborne, they need reliable, powerful, and well-designed propulsion systems.  For this reason, engineers that have IT related skills in areas such as computerized navigation systems and propulsion can expect to be hot commodities.
• Data Analysts: “Actionable Data” is the drone industry’s reason for being. The data must be reliable, consistent and meaningful in order for companies to adopt a drone program. As the data gets easier to gather, more accurate, and more useful it adds more value and the drone industry accelerates. To make sense of the coming flood of information, IT professionals who are proficient in data analysis will be in high demand in a wide variety of industries.
• Operators: Many commercial drones make use of specialized sensors and require tech savvy operators with a depth of experience in a wide range of disciplines. Such people are easily found in many IT fields.

Drones have arrived. They will continue to expand in capabilities to the benefit of older adults who struggle to find a balance between proper care and maintaining their independence. Researchers believe that drones may be an everyday part of the elder care system improving their quality of life.

ABOUT JULIE RUPENSKI

Julie Rupenski is the Founder, President & CEO of MedBest, opening the doors in 2001. Since that time, Julie has gained national recognition for providing top talent solutions exclusively for the Senior Living Industry. Julie is a Succession Planning specialist and also a seasoned recruiter at filling C-Suite, Vice President, Regional, and Property level positions.

Julie has an in-depth knowledge of the Senior Living Industry since she previously worked in operations for both Senior Housing and Senior Living. Today, Julie makes it her personal and professional mission to place qualified people in health care positions where they have the greatest impact.

Julie earned her degree in Gerontology at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida and continues to cultivate her career through senior living conferences, forums, trade shows, and expos.

Julie’s industry articles and interviews have been published in Provider Magazine, Argentum Quarterly, LeadingAge Magazine, Florida Health Care Association, Florida Assisted Living Association, Florida Senior Living Association, LeadingAge Florida, LeadingAge Indiana, Pennsylvania Health Care Association, Oregon Health Care Association, and Virginia Assisted Living Association.

Contact Julie Rupenski at jrupenski@www.medbest.com / 727 526-1294.

About MedBest

Medbest, a Senior Care and Senior Living niched recruiting firm, has been successfully assisting Senior Living Communities acquire top talent on a national basis since 2001.

Founded by former Nursing Home Administrator and current CEO, Julie Rupenski, MedBest places all mid-level management and executives including C-Suite, Healthcare IT, and Nurse Leadership positions with a priority in matching the right people within the right positions.

For star-talent and opportunities, info@www.medbest.com or 727 526-1294.