Sep 21
2020
How Tech Is Improving the Lives of Seniors
Technology dominates the frontier of healthcare. Due to the growing elderly population, a lot of recently developed medical technology is meant to improve the lives of seniors.
The following are some of the leading tech options available:
The Pet Alternative
Most folks know that pets can be quite helpful to folks. People tend to overlook some of these health benefits, like how a pet offers companionship and engagement. Pets also force you to be a little more active since they are quite playful. This is something seniors need in their lives, yet it starts to become challenging as people age. You have to worry about feeding the pet, buying heavy sacks of food, or taking your pet to the vet. Well, robot pets can mimic natural pet actions, such as sounds. These pets use sensors to make them feel as natural as possible.
Medical Devices
There are several medical devices or gadgets you might want to consider. Some of these could include things like a wearable emergency alert system. These could be worn around the neck or as a bracelet. Most of the time, these devices have GPS technology that emergency services can use to find the person having the emergency. Falls are another possibility, and some devices can detect a fall. When the alarm goes off, the right people will find you even if you’re unconscious. The best Medicare Advantage plans cover the cost of these and other high tech gadgets and equipment used by seniors.
Using Smart Wearables
Smart wearables can help everyone, including seniors, in more ways than you can imagine. For example, some of these devices can help track a senior’s mobility and encourage them to be a little more active throughout the day. You know how important mobility is for a senior since it helps promote balance along with better blood circulation. These sorts of devices can also make doctor visits even more productive since they can record things like heart rate and sleep patterns. This is information a doctor can use. Most of the devices look quite stylish, so you’re bound to find something that works for you.
Choosing VR
Virtual reality or VR still feels like it belongs in a futuristic movie, yet it’s here. The technology continues to get better and better as it’s still being developed, but it has already come a long way. VR technology gives seniors a chance to escape, even if they can’t be as mobile as they used to be. Folks can take virtual reality tours of all sorts of places around the world. Seniors can experience what it might be like to travel through the safaris in far-flung countries in Africa or the beautiful Great Wall of China. VR can give all of this and more to seniors who are dealing with things like Alzheimer’s or dementia. VR could even offer nostalgic experiences like watching Frank Sinatra live in concert.
Goodness in Smartphones
Smartphones can also be quite helpful to seniors for all sorts of reasons. Of course, they offer a way to stay connected to family through video chats and regular phone calls, but they can offer much more. A senior can use a phone to order groceries and have the grocery store place those groceries in their cars with the touch of a few buttons. This is possible with most grocery stores as long as they have an app and offer this service. Seniors could have virtual doctor appointments using their phones as well, and some apps can help them manage their medication every day.
These are just some ways tech is making lives easier for seniors. Remember that tech continues to improve, so you never know what else might be over the horizon, so keep exploring whenever you can.