How Technology Provides Peace of Mind to Seniors

Whether you are an in-home senior or and out-of-home senior, modern technology can help you make things easier for yourself. There aren’t any complicated new skills you need. Gone are the days that just getting the VCR to stop flashing 12:00 was a challenge for all but the geekiest tech savvy person.

High tech today is designed with normal people in mind. Intuitive and easy-to-understand technologies for seniors have been refined and simplified over time. This tech is giving peace of mind to seniors all across the world.

Stay connected

When we get older and wiser, we finally realize what’s truly important in life. And that is to stay connected to family members and friends.

Today’s advanced devices are designed to help you stay close to the people you love, and that love you. Many devices can be voice-activated. You can make calls and set reminders without having to type endlessly on or peck on a touch screen to accomplish what you want.

Video chatting can bring you face to face

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If you cannot be in the same room with friends and family as often as you would like, video chatting is almost as good. You can’t get or give a hug over the internet, but you can look into the eyes of the person you’re talking to. It is so comforting to see the face of the people you love.

Safe and sound senior living

Have you heard the expression, “It takes a village?” Well, as an older adult, if you can’t go to the village, the virtual village can come to you.

Way, way back you could always count on a neighbor to lend a hand. People knew almost everyone else in the neighborhood, and someone to help or visit with was never too far away. Things are different now.

However, today you can be part of a virtual neighborhood made up of friends and family that might be in a different city or even a different country. And with today’s smart devices, you can connect with them almost as easily as you could when you lived across the street from a kind soul. It’s as close as you can get to them in real-time.

Senior care has been simplified

Senior living does not have to include having someone who is there 24/7. There are many seniors who prefer to be as independent as they can whether they are in or out of the home. This is where today’s advanced technology and care systems really shine.

There are wearable smart devices with fall detection sensors that will alert caregivers automatically. You don’t have to do a thing. The same goes for monitoring your blood pressure and your heart rate. Smartwatches and wearable blood pressure monitors are very convenient for seniors who prefer not to slow down to monitor their vitals.

An overview of how technology provides peace of mind

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Smartphone apps for older people

The Apple App Store is a great place to start if you have an iPhone or an iPad. If you prefer Android devices, Google has a vast number of apps for you to use for all sorts of things.

Ordering take-out is like ordering room service at a hotel

It’s not like it used to be. The pandemic accelerated the number of fast and easy-to-use delivery services that can deliver from your favorite restaurant.

Here are just a few of the delivery services you can use:

Uber Eats

DoorDash

Grubhub

Grocery delivery

For those seniors who like to cook for themselves, many grocery stores provide delivery service, and you can always opt for Amazon Fresh.

Prepared meals and semi-prepared meals

Sometimes cooking from scratch is a lot of work. These services can accommodate your needs:

Instacart

HelloFresh

Silver Cuisine

Blue Apron

Getting around town

Who needs a car when you can order an Uber or a Lyft any time you like? Your community may also have its own complimentary transportation services for seniors. In addition, there may be a regional transportation service meant for senior citizens that you can use. One of them is GoGoGrandparent.

Challenge someone to play games with you

Many smart devices are fun to play games with. You can track your own progress and then video chat with your friends to compare scores. Wordle is a great word game that offers a new word quiz every day. These are great for residents in memory care units.

An overview of smart devices

Smartphones are much easier to operate than they used to be. And a lot of them are powerfully little computers that can do amazing things for you.

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Wearable fitness trackers

Some of them look like bracelets. At the same time, others look like a watch. All of them can perform a variety of functions that can help you stay healthy and let others know how you’re doing.

Tablets and E-Readers

Tablets and iPads are just like a laptop, only simpler to use. They can do just about anything a computer can, and they’re much easier to carry around. E-Readers may not be as versatile, but they can sure make reading a book an absolute pleasure no matter how large you want to make the type.

Medical Alert Systems & Devices

These have been around forever. Today, they come in many forms, and they have a variety of settings so you can determine who will be contacted should you have an accident. There’s also professional backup with a trained operator who can step in to help.

At home or away – these devices can be indispensable

Smart speakers like Google Assistant, Apple Siri, and Amazon Alexa can give you reminders, make calls, play music, and give you up to the minute weather data.

Smart Sensors like Nest, Abode, and Aloe Care learn your daily activities and monitor what’s happening in your home. The sensors will send out an alert if anything out of the usual occurs.

Audio/Video Doorbells with TalkBack -- Blink, Arlo, Nest, and Ring are some of the most popular. You don’t even have to be home to see who is ringing your doorbell, and the best part is you can talk to whoever is there.

Smart Technology for Senior Living Is Growing Fast

The older people get, the more support they need from caregivers, friends and family members. Additionally, there is a need for older adults to live in residences that accommodate the ordinary incapacities of old age, including but not limited to reduced mobility, reduced vision, and increased risk of falls.

Smart devices can make seniors’ everyday life safer and more independent. This article discusses the various smart home devices that promote independence and convenience in the senior living community. Some of these devices can potentially save their lives when they are in danger.

Smart devices and their benefits

Smart devices make assisted living and memory care for seniors much easier. Here are a few devices that have proved efficient for older adults.

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Cameras

You may not want to have 24/7 feed on what your loved one is doing. However, security cameras come in very handy when you’re caring for them remotely. You can see when they are moving around and who visits the house when your loved one is alone through the live video feed.

Note that the decision to install cameras in your loved one’s home is a big one. Some seniors may find it highly intrusive. Therefore, it is essential you discuss the issue with them, outline the benefits, and let them decide whether or not they are okay with it.

Automated thermostats

For seniors, day-to-day tasks like adjusting the thermostat for heating and cooling purposes can be cumbersome. Smart thermostats make their life easier by allowing them to regulate temperature without necessarily moving. The thermostats can either be voice-controlled or remote-controlled.

Smart lighting

Smart lighting features smart light bulbs that allow you to dictate lighting on schedules and turn the lights on and off using a smartphone. Additionally, you can set it so that the light is triggered by movement, i.e., it goes on when someone walks in the room and off when they walk out.

The two best features of smart lighting are automation and the hands-free feature. Therefore, it promotes independence and safety.

Smart emergency contact systems

An emergency contact system is a wearable electronic device that gives on-call monitoring and alerts you when your loved one falls.

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If your loved one is not a fan of wearing electronic devices, you can opt for non-contact devices like smart speakers.

A smart speaker has emergency alert features that make it possible for your loved one to contact emergency services in case of an emergency.

Biomedical monitoring devices

If you’re worried about your loved one’s health, especially if they live alone, you can buy biomedical monitoring devices that they can wear inside and out of the house. These devices will alert you when anything is out of the ordinary.

Biomedical monitoring devices not only monitor your loved one’s vital signs but also provide data to medical practitioners for early diagnosis and treatment in case of emergencies. 

Smart contact sensors

These smart home products benefit seniors with dementia since they tend to leave the house without warning. Smart contact sensors use smart sensor technology to issue alerts on when doors and windows are opened.

You can install contact sensors on windows and doors to get alerted on when they have been opened and for how long they have stayed open. This way, your loved one’s safety is increased. 

Smart locks

It is common for seniors to forget to lock their windows and doors. A smart lock allows you to check whether the windows and doors are locked. Additionally, you can lock doors and windows remotely so that your loved one doesn’t have to.

Smart locks come in handy if your loved one occasionally wanders out of the house. They are also helpful when keys get misplaced.

Note that smart locks may not be ideal for people with memory issues.

Smart smoke detectors

Smoke detectors are a must-have in every home. When it comes to seniors, it is highly recommended that you get smart smoke detectors since they may fail to hear the regular smoke alarm in the home and react to it quickly enough. Smart smoke detectors deliver audible sirens in the house and send alerts to caregivers, friends, and neighbors through smartphone alerts. This way, the senior’s safety is guaranteed.  

Smart displays and voice communication devices

You can buy a smart screen to keep in touch with your loved ones easily. This smart home device connects to Wi-Fi and allows voice and video calls to people outside the house. Additionally, they have voice control, enabling seniors to do various tasks like looking up the news, calling up contacts, and searching for information through voice commands.

Smart home assistants

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Smart home assistants like Alexa and Google assistant have gained popularity over the years. They make menial tasks easier for seniors.

Most smart home assistants follow voice commands. Therefore, they are convenient for seniors. Other than that, they can control other smart devices in the house, i.e., they can make phone calls, play music, read books, search for information, among others tasks.

Privacy and security concerns

As discussed above, smart home technology has several benefits. However, there are surveillance concerns. Most of the devices that stem from surveillance and security systems may infringe on seniors’ privacy and control.

Using technology to promote the safety and independence of seniors is advantageous. Still, if you do it incorrectly and without the senior’s consent, the one-way surveillance infringes on their privacy.

To avoid this, caregivers need to communicate openly with their loved ones. Choose devices that offer two-way communication, so instead of you simply watching your loved ones, you can communicate with them.

Tech companies are also moving away from invasive products and creating products specifically tailored for seniors.

Other than privacy concerns, there are security concerns. Most smart devices have software that requires consistent password changes to ensure that they are not susceptible to breaches. 

Conclusion

Most seniors have embraced smart technology since it gives them a sense of independence. Contact us if you’re looking for smart devices for your loved one. We are a smart home hub that offers tailor-made solutions to suit your loved one’s needs.