5 Ways Technology Can Improve Your Life

By Rebecca McCallion

The everchanging technological world can be overwhelming at times but the benefits it offers can make it worth the effort. Here are five ways that seniors can benefit from adopting technology into their lives.

1. Staying Connected

As we get older, our lives often slow down. This could be for a variety of reasons, like health problems or simply the desire to relax and enjoy the small things in life. Whatever the reason, slowing down can mean losing social connections, which is usually detrimental to our health.

Technology can help you stay connected while you relax at home. In fact, more people over 60 are online than ever before thanks to easy-to-use apps on smart phones and tablets.

With the touch of a screen, you can:

· follow what friends and family are up to on Facebook

· watch interesting videos on YouTube

· keep in touch with loved ones through Email, text or Facebook message

· catch up face-to-face with video calling on Whatsapp, Skype or Zoom

· find and connect with local community groups using Google and Yahoo

· follow blogs or write your own to stay connected with like-minded peers.

Embracing technology to stay connected can reduce the risk of illness and depression, while maintaining or improving cognitive function.

2. Brain Power

Smartphone apps aren’t just helpful for staying connected. They can help improve brain power too. Brain training apps can help keep your mind sharp as you age and are fun to play. Here are some examples of apps that are backed by evidence-based claims:

· CogniFit Brain Fitness

· BrainHQ

· MyBrainTrainer

· Cogmed

· Dakim

· Lumosity

These apps are designed to improve memory, mental agility and overall cognitive health.

3. Health & Fitness

Staying fit and healthy is easier than ever with countless new ways to monitor your health. Fitbit watches count your steps, track your heart rate and encourage you to set goals, so you can stay on top of your health and fitness.

The latest medication apps make it easy to remember your medication. Not only can they sound an alarm and show you which pills you need to take, some can also keep track of refills, synchronise with your pharmacy and contact your doctor when you need another prescription.

4. Mobility

Improved mobility tech makes it easier for seniors with mobility issues to get around. Scooters can now fold into small packages that users can store in the car. New products are being developed all the time, with smart walking sticks that notify you of upcoming obstacles and wheelchairs that can climb stairs set to create a more mobile future.

Other technological advances mean that you can get things done without lifting a finger. Voice-activated smart assistants, like Google Home and Amazon Alexa, can change the TV channel, turn on and off lights, adjust the heating or cooling, play music and open your front door. All you need to do is speak and they take care of the rest.

5. Medical Alert Devices and GPS

Technology opens the door to countless solutions to everyday problems but one, in particular, can be lifesaving, especially for seniors with who live alone and/or are at risk of falling.

Medical alert devices with ‘go anywhere’ technology have built in SIM, speaker, microphone and fall detection capabilities which means that help is always with you.

The medical alert pendants GPS tracking ability allows emergency services to pinpoint your location in the event of an emergency. If you’re hurt or lost, your loved ones can find you and get you the help you need, quickly!