Based on information gathered in a recent survey, 97 percent of seniors age 70 or old are using social media at least once per week to check in on their family and friends. This number is much higher than many analysts had expected, especially because this segment of the population has not grown up with electronic devices being so prevalent. However, it does highlight a very important fact: technology plays a bigger role in our lives today than ever before. And when it is used correctly, that technology also has the ability to make lives better.
Social media has a huge audience right now, and it has spread even more quickly in the senior population that what was expected. For people that live far away from other members of their family, technology can help bridge that gap. Travel is expensive and time consuming, but it only takes a few minutes to say hi to someone in a video chat. This has helped keep families connected and close, something that until the advent of computers was not easy or practical. And with tablets and smartphones being so much easier to use today, seniors that are completely unfamiliar with how a computer works can easily use this to help them stay connected.
And this doesn’t just apply to family and friends. Technology can help seniors more readily communicate with doctors and emergency services. It can also help make their lives easier when it comes to shopping for groceries and other essential items. It has opened up a whole world of new possibilities, making life much easier for someone who might have trouble getting around.
Technology has the ability to help the elderly in other aspects, too. For example, a homebound senior that is in decent health might be able to have some of their vital measurements such as blood pressure taken remotely. Because leaving the house for them might be difficult and potentially dangerous, doing this remotely may be a beneficial thing. Now, this cannot replace doctor visits, but if measurements are needed more routinely, as long as it can be verified that the information collected is accurate, technology can increase the safety of many individuals in this regard.
It’s also possible to detect if an accident has occurred within the home through new technology. Again, this can’t completely replace the need for human contact, such as what you will find with an in-home caregiver, but it can make life safer for seniors that spend portions of their days alone. There are many other examples of this nature that could be referenced.
As a final word of caution, seniors are often the target of online scams or fraud. We will discuss this in more detail in a future post, but if you have a loved one that is using a computer, tablet, or smartphone to stay connected, taking steps to help ensure their safety online is a very smart thing to do. Senior abuse is a very real thing, and it is increasingly taking place on the world wide web.
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