Harris KhanEach age group has slightly varied priorities when it comes to technology. Seniors are no exception. Increasingly, older people appreciate how electronic devices can make their lives easier.
Most often, however, new technologies are aimed primarily at young people. Miniaturization can make it easier for people to carry their electronic devices, which is why designers pay much attention to this trend. Meanwhile, older people, whose number will increase over the years, have considerable problems with using modern amenities.
Fortunately, the situation is changing! The technology market for seniors is developing more and more dynamically. It is becoming easier to find equipment that is useful in the everyday life of older people.
In this article, you will find examples of exciting solutions that are perfect for the elderly.
Life Alert Systems
Alarm systems for seniors – especially those living alone – are gaining more and more popularity. In the event of any emergency, such as a fall, disease, fire, or burglary, all they need to do is press one button. Emergency help comes very quickly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
System operators closely coordinate their efforts with doctors, fire brigades, and can also communicate with friends or senior family. Additionally, as stated in life alert reviews, some of the devices are equipped with carbon monoxide, fire, and smoke detectors.
Medication Reminders
An advanced age means more effort to maintain good health. That’s why seniors often take a lot of medication. Even a young person would be dizzy with this amount of pills to remember about. A medicine reminder can make it easier to stick to the established doses and not to forget about their medicine, which is of great importance to the elderly.
When it’s time for a medication, the selected compartment starts blinking. If it is not emptied on time, an auditory signal appears. The device can also send notifications via SMS or email.
Telephone for Seniors
Modern smartphones are sometimes too complicated for seniors. That is why devices explicitly designed for the elderly began to appear. They have large backlit keys that are easy to press. A senior also should be able to enlarge the fonts on display to read text messages freely. For people who have hearing problems, it is worth investing in a device with good speakers, so that conversations won’t be causing stress.
A simple menu is also an advantage in the case of a senior’s phone. Without it, they might feel that they are constantly lost. Young people cannot imagine life without smartphones and remember to charge them every day. However, an older person will not be so interested in this device. Therefore, a long working time on a single charge is a great convenience. Then, if an emergency happens, the phone will be ready for use.
Watch for Health Tracking
The new Apple Watch Series 5 could be the perfect device for every senior. It is the most advanced watch from Apple so far and contains fall detection apps, but can also monitor heart health. This watch can, for example, check the heart rhythm by reading ECG.
An electrocardiogram is a test that records the rhythm and strength of the electrical impulses that make the heartbeat. The doctor can assess heart rate and find any abnormalities in the heart’s rhythm by looking at the electrocardiogram.
In order to check your ECG, you need to rest your forearm (the one with the watch on it) on a table or your lap. Place the finger of your other hand on the Digital Crown knob. It is not necessary to press the knob during the recording. Then hold on. The recording takes 30 seconds. When it is finished, you will get a record of, for example, atrial fibrillation – a form of arrhythmia. Tap “save” to keep the selected symptoms, and that’s it.
GPS Monitoring
GPS technology is available in many forms. It can be found in a watch that is always attached to the wrist, but it could also be a smartphone application. Thanks to this technology, the location of an older person is tracked, which is especially important in the case of people who have dementia.
GPS devices can send the senior’s whereabouts to other individuals, and in the case of a long time without contact, it won’t be hard to find their exact location.
Conclusion
Technological devices for older people are designed to make their lives easier. The market is now full of various options, and everyone will surely find something that suits their expectations. The nature of devices for seniors is quite different from the ones for young people.
Young people are buying their devices for entertainment or showing their social status when the elderly purchase them to facilitate everyday functioning. This way, the technology can be used to help people in their everyday lives.
