Wearable tech aids seniors’ independence
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Mark Elias of Toronto began developing Steadi, a glove that reduces hand tremors, after observing his grandmother’s essential tremor, a condition affecting about five percent of people over 60, and applying principles from earthquake-resistant building design.
He and Emile Maamary released their first Steadi product in 2022, and current data shows over 5,000 users have experienced reduced tremor amplitude. Floyd Lau created Victor, a smart cane, inspired by his father’s declining mobility and a fall.
The cane includes features like a flashlight, fall detection, and a GPS tracker to help caregivers monitor location and create safe zones for people with cognitive decline. Lau launched Victor through Amptek Technologies Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario, in early 2026, after his father passed away in 2022. Researchers at UHN’s KITE Research Institute in Toronto are developing socks and leggings using functional electrical stimulation to address leg edema, which affects around 20 percent of older adults.
The socks monitor and reduce swelling, while the leggings detect potential falls and activate muscles to improve stability. Shelagh Stoneham founded Power WearHouse and partnered with Sheridan College to study weighted vests, finding that 73 percent of participants reported improved posture and stability after using them.
