Throughout the pandemic, our senior care experts witnessed firsthand how critical the role of technology is in the lives of older adults. As we move into 2021 and experience the challenges of the new year, health and well-being are at the forefront of how we consider technology for older adults. These top tech tips for seniors are a great place to start.
Video Conferencing Software
The significance of staying connected when we can’t physically be close to our loved ones has been a lesson learned for people of all ages in 2020, and is even more important for senior adults. Products like Zoom, Skype, and Google Chat allow older adults to stay in touch with their friends and family, join remote book clubs, social groups or classes, and help stop feelings of loneliness and isolation. In addition, as virtual medical appointments increase in popularity among both health professionals and patients, apps like FaceTime and Skype are taking the place of telemedicine platforms to provide more convenience for older adults.
Alexa Care Hub
“Alexa, check in on Dad!” As part of Amazon’s hospitality suite, the Alexa Care Hub is useful for older adults living on their own or in a community living setting. With capabilities that help caregivers keep track of activity and promptly reach the seniors they care for, the Alexa Care Hub introduces new capabilities in addition to its regular voice assistant offerings. Currently, Amazon Echo devices are used in senior living communities and residential homes across the U.S. with expectations for a spike in demand. The Alexa Care Hub takes it a step further with medication reminders, customized alerts, and quite a few features that allow older adults to preserve independence while delivering peace of mind to their loved ones.
Meditation and Mindfulness Apps
Not simply a trend for millennials, mindfulness and meditation apps can help improve both focus and sleep, and help aging adults develop the skills necessary to let go of stress and anxiety. Apps like Headspace, Calm, and The Mindfulness App allow users to tailor meditation programs to work best for their needs, giving older adults the ability to establish a personalized routine. Meditation has even been linked to boosting both long and short term memory, relieving loneliness, and improving cognitive function.
Smart Home Devices
From home security systems to ovens to medication managers, there seems to be a smart version of almost every household item these days — and we can be prepared to see more smart tools on the market in 2021. While smart devices are becoming widely used in our daily lives, it’s important to consider the ways that these voice and motion-enabled processes allow seniors to move independently throughout their daily activities. Bearing this in mind, we expect to see more smart home products created to meet the needs of older populations while maintaining the look and feel of your favorite technology devices.
At Stay Home Care, a top provider of Brentwood elder care and care throughout the nearby areas, connecting with seniors both online and in-person to prevent loneliness and isolation are at the center of our mission and beliefs. We see the role technology plays in this mission and invite seniors and their family caregivers to contact our home care team at 615-964-7726 to find out more. See the other areas we service in Tennessee on our Locations Served page.