For more tips on teaching technology to seniors, call our care team.
In 2020, our home care services’ experts saw firsthand how vital the role of technology is in the lives of older adults. As we kick off 2021 and encounter the challenges of the new year, health and wellbeing are at the forefront of how we consider elderly care technology. In 2021, it’s anticipated that these technology trends will be the ones to consider.
Video Conferencing Software
The necessity of staying connected when we can’t physically be near our loved ones has been a lesson learned for people of all ages in 2020, and is even more essential for aging adults. Products like Zoom, Skype, and Google Chat allow seniors to keep in touch with their friends and family, join virtual book clubs, social groups or classes, and help counter feelings of isolation and loneliness. Additionally, as online health care appointments increase in popularity among both health professionals and patients, apps such as FaceTime and Skype are taking the place of telemedicine platforms to provide more convenience for older individuals.
Alexa Care Hub
“Alexa, check in on Mom!” As part of Amazon’s hospitality suite, the Alexa Care Hub is helpful for older adults who live alone or in a community living setting. With capabilities that help caregivers track activity and quickly contact the seniors in their care, the Alexa Care Hub introduces new capabilities in addition to its standard voice assistant offerings. Currently, Amazon Echo devices are used in senior living communities and residential homes throughout the U.S. with expectations for a spike in demand. The Alexa Care Hub takes it a step further with medication reminders, individualized alerts, and numerous features that enable older adults to preserve self-reliance while delivering assurance to their loved ones.
Meditation and Mindfulness Apps
Not simply a trend for millennials, meditation and mindfulness apps can help increase both focus and sleep, and help older adults build the skills necessary to let go of stress and feelings of anxiety. Apps like Headspace, Calm, and The Mindfulness App enable users to personalize meditation programs to best meet their needs, giving older adults the opportunity to establish a personalized habit. Meditation has even been associated with improving both long and short term memory, decreasing loneliness, and improving cognitive function.
Smart Home Devices
From home security systems to ovens to medication organizers, there appears to be a smart version of almost every household object these days — and we can expect to see more smart tools on the market in 2021. While smart devices are becoming ubiquitous in our everyday lives, it’s important to consider the ways that these voice- and motion-enabled programs allow seniors to remain independent throughout their day. With this in mind, we expect to see more smart home products designed to meet the needs of older populations while keeping the look and feel of your favorite technology devices.
At Endeavor In Home Care, connecting with older adults both online and in-person to counter loneliness and isolation are at the core of our mission and beliefs. We see the role elderly care technology plays in this mission and welcome seniors and their family caregivers to contact our senior care team. Contact us online or call us at 480-498-2324 and let us show you how our caregivers in Gilbert, AZ and surrounding areas can brighten each day for the seniors in your life. For more information on all of the different areas we serve in Arizona, please visit our Service Area page.
