Aging in place is hardly a new thing. In previous centuries, it was business as usual for people over 65 to stay where they were.
So the desire of many aging baby boomers to stay right in their beloved homes is not a new or unnatural impulse. And caregivers of the elderly may be surprised how viable aging in place has become. Often it’s a matter of adding a few appliances and making sure your senior has people checking on him.
The Amazon Alexa is so cool, it’s hard to think of it as being more useful to the elderly than to anyone else.
However, that might be the case. The Alexa performs many functions that are useful to seniors, even those with severe cognitive decline. Among other things it can do, the Alexa stores a senior’s list of items needed from the grocery store. The senior has only to tell Alexa to put milk and toilet paper on the list when he notices that those items are missing. Alexa remembers them when he needs the list for the store. When the time comes for a trip to the store, a senior care provider can pick up the groceries and bring them to your senior, as well as prepare nutritious meals while they are there.
But Alexa’s ability to connect to other devices may be the most useful thing about it. Alexa can be tethered to the garage door and to the front door security camera. This makes it a lot easier to know who is at the door and a lot safer getting out of the garage.
One Pinehill, Florida resident even has her Alexa connected to an Apple watch and the local village calendar. The watch and Alexa work together to ensure she doesn’t miss appointments or opportunities to socialize.
Appointment reminders are important on two levels. No one wants to forget a doctor’s appointment. And even going to the doctor can be a social interaction that counteracts the dangers of isolation. A senior care provider can offer transportation to many different activities, including doctor appointments.
Smartphones and tablets also help seniors stay engaged. Facebook has a relatively easy online tool for chatting with friends and family while being able to see their faces. Other platforms, like Zoom, are also viable ways for seniors to stay in touch.
For some seniors, lightweight devices like smartphones and ipads may be more intuitive to learn and easier to handle than laptop or desktop computers.
While many seniors embrace new technology with zeal, that is not always the case. If your senior is resistant to using new equipment, you may find that professional senior care can help him or her adapt. Senior care aides are trained to patiently work with the elderly. They can introduce learning when your senior is having a good day and, if needed, help mom or dad overcome a fear of technology.
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