Tech gifts for seniors are great gifts – modern technology even has the potential to save a life. Seniors are embracing technology at a fast rate, and it’s changing their lives for the better. According to one study, the use of technology by the elderly population significantly contributes to a better quality of life; ensuring seniors are happier, healthier, and safer.
Many tech devices exist in the market today, and people are taking advantage of them. Care communities are already using a range of artificial intelligence-powered tools like sensors, robots, and software to address various senior needs. For example, they’re using monitoring devices to collect residents’ data more easily. Sensors and other AI-powered devices also give healthcare professionals better visibility into resident’s health and so on.
While it comes to tech for seniors, there’s nothing like one-size-fits-all. It’s therefore essential to consider the physical needs, lifestyle, and interests of the senior before picking a tech gift. A good example is a GPS for dementia patients or webcam for isolated residents in senior living communities. With that in mind, here are the top 5 tech gifts for seniors that could save their lives.
A fall monitor is one of the best tech gifts for seniors since it could save their lives with emergency response. That’s because falls – or the fear of them – can have a heavy impact on the quality of life of older adults. Your loved one, like other seniors, may be afraid of falling and, as a result, limit their social activities and engagements.
This may result in forced social isolation, physical decline, feelings of helplessness, and depression. But with a fall detection device at hand, your loved one might feel free to move around, knowing that help is just around the corner, should they fall.
A fall detection device is a thoughtful tech gift for seniors, especially since slips and falls are prevalent as adults age. According to the CDC, an adult aged 65+ suffers a fall every second in the US.
From these falls, more than 32,000 die, and 1 in 5 end up with an injury like a head injury or broken bone. An automatic fall detection system ensures older people get help fast when they fall. This could mean the difference between life and death.
The best part is that fall detection devices are often built into wearable bracelets, watches, hip-worn devices, or pendants. So, they aren’t just a lifesaver but also a beautiful addition to their overall look. Most fall detectors automatically detect falls, making them a perfect gift for the elderly.
An Easy webcam is yet another best tech gift for seniors that can help with recording video or webcam monitoring. Studies have shown that older people who regularly communicate with their loved ones are generally happier and healthier. They also experience low anxiety, depression, and chronic illness and have better cognitive health, increased longevity, and improved mobility.
Staying connected is especially critical to the quality of life in memory care. According to an Alzheimers.net post, dementia patients can recall how an event made them feel, even when they can no longer remember names and faces.
But maintaining close contact with your loved one who lives far away or in an assisted living home can be hard. That’s when an easy webcam can make a huge difference. Gifting your loved one with a webcam shows your desire to engage them face-to-face.
With such a tech gift, you can keep in touch with the seniors in your life while seeing their faces and expressions. It’s a more personal experience than a traditional phone conversation and a perfect way to maintain a long-distance relationship.
With a webcam in place, your loved one will be able to interact with the rest of the family and see everything as though they were there in person. But most importantly, it will give you a glimpse into the level of care your loved one is getting. With webcams, you could tell whether they are neglected, abused, or well-cared for.
Watches have always been a great gift choice for years. They are one of those gifts you’re confident your loved one will appreciate. Smart watches are trendy and thoughtful but could also be a lifesaver, especially for seniors. Those designed for seniors can monitor vital signs, play music, answer voice messages, detect falls, track senior location, measure workouts or walks, etc.
A smart device can handle a range of critical things that matter in the life of an adult. For instance, it will remind independent seniors of important events like doctor appointments or time to take drugs, and so on. A smartphone could do all these things – but a smartwatch is more beneficial since it’s wearable and always with your loved one at all times.
On top of that, a smartwatch provides an early alert of incidents ranging from high stress to heart rate. It also provides continuous daily risk assessment and detects warning signs of deteriorating health issues in independent living patients and those in care services. Some watches can even be set up as fall detection technology. This allows medical attention to be offered at the earliest opportunity.
If your senior loved one lives independently, then a gift that enhances their security can be a great idea. Seniors often feel vulnerable at home and worry about break-ins and intruders. They may also overlook health and safety hazards like carbon monoxide, smoke, or frozen pipes because of age-related issues. Home security can come in handy in such cases and give you and your loved one some refreshing peace of mind.
A home security system is a significant investment, but one that’s absolutely worth gifting your loved one. This is especially true for seniors with mobility issues, delayed reaction times, and deteriorating hearing. With such a system in place, you can easily monitor the home and allow your loved one to be more independent. Seniors can also easily alert authorities about any medical emergency – all with a tap of a button.
Examples of home security systems in the real estate industry include video cameras, glass and motion sensors, home automation, alarms, lighting, etc.
Virtual assistants (VA) like Siri and Alexa can be great tech gifts for the elderly. Once set up, these technologies can do so much for the senior. For instance, one could use the tech to call for help, communicate with loved ones, or learn anything. Some assistants can be used as medical alert systems.
The interaction, albeit with a virtual assistant, may reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Social isolation increases a person’s risk of premature death.
In addition to VAs, you can buy smart tools like smartphones or Kindles for senior entertainment. This will open up your loved one to a whole new world that’s engaging, fun and diverse.
There you have it, the top 5 tech gifts for seniors that could save their lives. Whether your loved one is getting home care services or is in a short-term or long-term stay facility, these products and services will help ensure a better quality of life.
Frank is a technology visionary and strategic hands-on executive with over 20+ year track record of helping companies revitalize, restructure, and implement complete Unified Communications systems in national and global markets.
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