Senior-Friendly Gadgets To Fight Loneliness
5 Senior-Friendly Gadgets To Help Fight Loneliness
Although some people can maintain an active social life throughout their later years, loneliness is a significant problem for many others. It’s not surprising that compared to their younger counterparts, people aged 65 and older are less than half as inclined to use smartphones, the internet, or other technologies that facilitate communication. When health conditions or limited mobility also make leaving home challenging, that combination can lead to feelings of isolation and emptiness.
Fortunately, there’s a wide variety of senior-friendly gadgets available that are easy to use and make connecting with family and friends simple and fun. Read on for these terrific suggestions from Wyoming Social Resources for Western Wyoming.
For seniors who haven’t warmed up to a smartphone or computer yet, there is a perfect segue device: a video chat monitor. These simple-to-use screens like ViewClix are not unlike a TV and remote combo and don’t take up any more space than a large photo frame.
Users don’t need to sign up for accounts with large corporations that make them uncomfortable. The device makes it easy to connect with friends and family, regardless of whether they are iOS or Android users. The icing on the cake: when not taking calls, seniors can enjoy a slideshow of favorite images on this Senior-Friendly Gadget.
Tablets and Computers
Tablets are so versatile and easy to use, they can even replace other gadgets! You can browse the web, read books, listen to music, watch TV or movies, or video chat — all from the palm of your hand.
The same goodies come with desktop computers, and while you sacrifice the portability, desktops can often be found at a lower price but with more bells and whistles than their tablet counterparts.
If you’re ready to take the plunge, have an older model, or yours isn’t operating like it used to, it’s worth upgrading to a new device. Prices can range from under $100 to more than $1,000 if you want all the top features, but you can usually get a great price by taking advantage of sales or online offers.
Intuition Robotics, the creators of ElliQ, refer to her as a digital companion. Unlike Siri, Alexa, and Google, EllieQ isn’t just voice-reactive, she can initiate conversation and give prompts such as, “Let’s go for a walk,” or “It’s time to take your medication.” She comes with an Android tablet and can answer questions, read emails or books, share photos, and alert the user when a family member is calling to chat.
Robotics Business Review explains the unpredictable nature of EllieQ is part of what makes it so charming so that the company it provides mimics a living companion in critical ways.
WhatsApp is a free app on your phone, tablet, or desktop computer. It’s very simple to use; you can upload your address book or add just the phone numbers of family and friends. WhatsApp can be used for individual chats, group chats, video chats, or regular phone calls.
Best of all, it’s free to use anywhere worldwide, as long as both parties have the app installed. It’s a great way to keep in touch with family and friends overseas because there are no long-distance or international charges.
As DIY Smart Home Solutions notes, there’s a huge variety of smart devices available that can make life easier and safer for just about anyone. In particular, they can be indispensable resources to help seniors live independently.
Motion-activated lights, doorbells with video cameras, automated temperature control, and safety-detection devices—like stove, water, and air-quality alarms—are just a few examples of smart technology that can improve their quality of life and allow seniors to age in place longer. Some of these systems can even be monitored remotely, allowing family members to check on their loved ones if something doesn’t seem quite right. Frequently, the best overall solution for loneliness is to move closer to your family and friends, but when that isn’t possible, it’s good to know there are options available. Though digital communication will never replace the need for in-person socialization, owning a few senior-friendly gadgets will go a long way to help them stay connected and engaged with those they love.
Look to Wyoming Social Resources for Western Wyoming for more tips, information, and resources that can help you live your best life.
This article was written by Mary Shannon of www.seniorsmeet.com for Wyoming Services for Independent Living www.wysil.org and for our resource website Wyoming Social Resources Information.
Another way to fight loneliness is to connect with your local Senior Center: