How Technology is Empowering Older Adults to Live Longer, Healthier Lives
On almost any given day, somewhere on social media you can find an argument about technology—it’s good/it’s bad; we need it/we don’t need it; we’re too dependent on it/we’re not using it enough. Some people embrace all forms of technology and some people go “off the grid” and abandon it entirely. People, of course, have the right to make up their own minds about technology and how much or how little of it they want in their lives.
We tend to think that it’s the younger generations who use technology the most and find the most benefit in it, but that’s not necessarily the case—or, at least, it doesn’t have to be.
In this article, we will examine various technologies that can benefit older adults and make life for them easier and more convenient, and even help improve their health.
Technology is always revolutionizing the way we live, enabling us to accomplish tasks and achieve goals in ways prior generations couldn’t have imagined. Technology is also helping older adults age in place and stay in their own homes for longer than they might otherwise be able.
Some of the technologies making older adults’ lives better are:
- Virtual Reality.
Virtual reality devices can enable older adults to travel to places they may not be able to go in the physical world. VR can also take older adults back in time. Dennis Lally, co-founder of Rendever, a VR platform, offers older adults the ability to revisit old places from childhood, a tool that can be invaluable for Alzheimer’s patients. - Artificial Intelligence.
Robot pets are being used as a tool to help dementia patients relax when anxious. There are also robots, like Roomba vacuum cleaners, that help with household tasks, which might be challenging for older adults. - Home Assist Devices.
These can include stair lifts and lift chairs; devices such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa, which offer voice control over lights, thermostats, door locks,and other devices. Older adults who have mobility issues can have more control over their environment with home assist devices. Google, Alexa, and other home assist devices can also remind older adults of important events like doctor appointments and when to take pills, create shopping and other lists, and provide a verbal interface with the internet (which can be especially helpful for those with vision problems). - Home Monitoring Devices.
These can include private camera systems and systems with sensors that track activity inside a house. This can send important data on older adults to their loved ones to let them know if mom hasn’t gotten up at her usual time or if dad is spending an unusual amount of time sitting instead of being active. - GPS Trackers.
These handy devices provide a location at all times for their owners, and offer help at the push of a button. Many now are able to detect someone falling and alert their loved ones or emergency services. Gone are the days when such devices were tied to a landline phone—many GPS trackers are now wearable as watches or jewelry, so help is available wherever a person may be. - Communications.
Video chat programs can enable older adults to stay in touch with their loved ones with live video communication. These programs are also being used by physicians and clinics for telemedicine, which can be a benefit for older adults who aren’t able to get out easily and who might otherwise ignore health problems. - Video games.
They’re not just for children. Video games help engage older adults’ minds and can even help keep them physically active.
Older adults are living longer and fuller lives than the generations that came before them, and many of them want to stay at home for as long as possible. Innovations in technology are making this possible, allowing older adults more control over their lives and giving their families peace of mind knowing that if anything were to happen, help would be close at hand. Thanks to technology, the future for our older adults is brighter than ever.