Get the Senior in Your Life Comfortable with Today’s Technology with These 4 Concepts
There is a popular, albeit inaccurate misconception that most baby boomers and seniors are computer illiterate and do not care to try and adapt to today’s changing technology. This simply isn’t true! Technology has done a lot to assist and enhance the lives of seniors; and seniors are eager to learn! The number of seniors using the internet and related tech devices is increasing. Four-in-ten seniors are now using internet and own smart phones. That is more than double the number in 2013 (A Place for Mom.com). If you’d like to help your loved one jump on the technology train, begin with these 4 technologies:
Ipads, Tablets and Kindles
This is definitely the place to start! If the senior in your life likes to read, look into getting them a Kindle. The Amazon Kindle is an e-reader and enables its user to purchase and download e-books, e-magazines and newspapers. In addition, many other applications and games can be downloaded on to the Kindle. Fonts can be increased to help seniors with poor vision. This is also a great way to get them comfortable browsing the internet on a handheld device.
Skype
Skype provides video chat using the internet. It is something every senior should really get familiar with! It makes connecting with family, friends and loved ones very easy and can provide social interaction that many seniors are missing. In addition, the connections are in real time, making it a great tool to include them in events they are not able to be a part of due to distance or physical limitations. There have been stories about long-distance loved ones being able to ‘attend’ weddings via Skype!
Skype is easy to use and can be installed on any computer and most handheld devices.
Computer and Video Games
Keeping the senior’s mind sharp is important as they age. Video games have been proven to improve cognition, mental agility and even physical health and well-being! You can purchase a video game console (such as an Xbox or Nintendo Wii, however, there’s thousands of games that can be downloaded on a tablet or smart phone. Playing a game they enjoy can also help seniors with boredom and isolation.
Smart TV’s
For those of us who utilize streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, we are aware that traditional TV is quickly becoming outdated! Nowadays, you can buy a TV that has streaming services pre-installed, allowing the owner to watch millions of programs with the push of a button! If your loved one lives alone and spends a lot of time watching TV, they could possibly be getting bored watching the same programming over and over. A Smart TV is an excellent way for them to experience some newer, current programming, different than what they are used to.
Don’t leave your senior loved one behind when it comes to technology. You may think they have no desire to learn new technologies and participate, however, there is a good chance you are wrong. Chances are, they will appreciate the opportunity to connect with you and experience the new technology the world has to offer. If you or a loved one needs assistance in their homes, please call Elderlink Home Care, Inc. at 303-734-0641, we are here to help!