In the present day and age, the world is changing in a very fast-paced rate. Thanks to globalization, innovation in one country quickly spreads around the world. This is the reason why we have seen constant changes in how we do routine, everyday things. The older adults come from an era where there was very limited automation around and everything was simple to operate. Some people are also not a big fan of technology as it can deprive a person of human touch and benefits of nature. Having said this, it is important to stay with the changing world and adapt to selective technology that will make life convenient and help you to stay connected to the digitalised society of today.
Some interesting facts about senior citizens and technology
While it is true that seniors are not on the same level of internet knowledge as millennial, recent studies have shown a higher rate of internet adoption amongst older adults. Almost 70% of 65 plus years old citizens all over the world today have some sort of internet exposure on a daily basis. Another interesting fact is baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are spending around 27 hours per week on the internet. Some highly educated older adults report owning and using multiple internet-capable devices. The benefit of technology for the seniors is evident today and hence increased number of seniors are adapting to easy elder tech (any technology which is easy to use or senior adult friendly) to communicate and stay connected with family, friends and the world.
The era of web and mobile apps
In recent years, mobile/ smartphone apps have become very popular among masses. All thanks to affordable smartphones and data services in recent years. The government has also taken a lot of initiative to press digitisation of services to reduce cost, wastage of paper and other resources. Gone are the days when we had to queue up for hours to pay electricity or phone bill. Today, electricity bill or mobile phone recharge can be done on. If you are craving to have a takeaway and don’t want to cook then you don’t need to step out of your home, you can order food from a user-friendly food mobile app. The Internet has also made easy for people and businesses to reach out to each other for a specific product or service requirement. For example – Seniority.in is a one-stop online shop for senior adults for their health and wellness requirements.
Some of the mobile apps suggestion that will make life easy for older adults
Messaging app
Today we have a few popular messaging apps that have replaced conventional text messages on mobile phone. These apps also have many helpful features like voice calling, video calling, photo sharing, video sharing and many more. The last seen feature of the app also helps your loved ones to know you are active. You can choose to use apps like WhatsApp or WeChat or even Facebook Messenger to reach out to people. If you are using an iPhone or any other Apple product, you can use FaceTime, a video calling app. Skype is a very good alternative to FaceTime for those who use Android. Each of these apps is easy to use and are free-of-cost.
Weather report app
No need to wait for the morning weather news lady to make outdoor plans for the day. With weather apps like AccuWeather or 1 Weather, you can access the most up to date weather conditions on your smartphone anytime. This will help the older people to safely make their plans and not get stuck in bad weather if they plan to step out for the day or even want to go on a road trip. If you are using an Android phone, it comes with an in-built Google Weather tracker, which can be added to the home screen of the phone. This way, you will always know what to expect.
Medical store app
You can now get medicine right at the comfort of your home and get them delivered timely to your door through apps like PharmEasy, Netmeds or 1MG. These apps take away the hassle of driving or taking public transport to the medical store, waiting in line, or even remembering your refills. Each of these apps offers subscription service so that even if you forget your refill, the app doesn’t. They will automatically send you the subscription at the desired time. However, in order to use these apps seamlessly, you would need a copy of the doctor’s prescription.
Safety Apps for Old People
Today there are mobile apps specially designed keeping in mind the safety of seniors. These apps have an innovative safety feature which remotely monitors phone location and is used to protect against falls, wandering etc. If the app detects any safety issue it automatically alerts the family members or emergency services. There are apps like Senior Safety which alert people with a loud noise in case of an emergency or Eyewatch SOS which records your surroundings and sounds an alarm if required.
New technology can seem to be a daunting experience to learn and frustrating to understand at first. With guidance and proper training, it can be learned quickly. Once you know the basics the rest is self-learning and easy to grasp. The good news is more and more seniors are using technology to make their lives better. It would be good to introduce some tech in your daily life which will help to enhance the quality and convenience in the autumn years of your life. So make a New Year resolution to learn how to make good use of a smartphone, internet or any other smart tech.
