As technology continues to evolve, gadgets have become an integral part of most people’s lives, regardless of age.
However, for older individuals, specific gadgets can be beneficial in enhancing their daily life and ensuring their independence, especially if they live by themselves or struggle with mobility or issues such as dementia. In 2023, more gadgets will be available to help with all aspects of home life, which can benefit to people with such daily struggles.
It is worth stating that, at this stage, these devices are not a substitute for elderly care. If someone lives in a care home or at home alone, they will still need care from people, so always ensure that your elderly relative is also getting real-life care from trained teams.
So, in this article, we will explore five gadgets designed to cater to the needs of senior people, making their lives easier and more enjoyable.
Smart Home Assistants
Smart home assistants like Amazon Echo or Google Home can revolutionize the daily routine of older individuals. With voice-activated commands, they can control various functions, such as turning on/off lights, adjusting thermostats, or playing music, without physically interacting with switches or devices. The Amazon Echo or Google Home assistants can also provide weather updates, set reminders, and answer questions, offering companionship and a sense of security, whether your elderly loved one is in their own home or a care home in Caversham!
This also allows your elderly relative to set timers on certain systems in their home and free up time for them to engage in other activities with friends and family. Great!
Medication Management Systems
For older people who need to take multiple medications, keeping track of dosages and schedules can be challenging. Medication management systems such as pill dispensers with alarms or smartphone apps can help simplify this process. These gadgets can store and dispense different medications at specific times, send reminders, and even notify caregiver’s of missed doses. In some cases, the notification can be sent straight to the caregivers mobile phone so that the issue can be managed straight away. By ensuring medication adherence, these systems promote better health and overall well-being and ensure that your elderly loved one is staying on top of their meds.
Wearable Health Trackers
Wearable health trackers, such as smartwatches or fitness bands, can monitor various health parameters and promote an active lifestyle. These devices can track steps, heart rate, sleep quality, and even detect falls or irregular heart rhythms, which are more common in older people. Older individuals can use these gadgets to stay motivated, set fitness goals, and share their health data with healthcare professionals. They can also set goals for themselves or compete with others in a rambling group or fitness club, which adds a fun, social element to staying healthy. Furthermore, some devices offer emergency features that can alert family members or emergency services in case of accidents or health emergencies.
Easy-to-Use Cell Phones
Traditional smartphones can sometimes be overwhelming for older individuals due to their complex interfaces, as well as having small screens and difficult-to-navigate apps. However, there are specially designed cell phones with larger buttons, simplified menus, and enhanced audio features, which can even read out the features displayed on the screen. These phones cater to the specific needs of older users, allowing them to make calls, send messages, and even access emergency services quickly. Additionally, some models include features like GPS tracking and programmable speed dial buttons for added safety and convenience.
Digital Personal Assistants
Digital personal assistants, such as Siri, Google Assistant, or Cortana, can be valuable tools for older individuals. These virtual assistants can perform various tasks, including setting reminders, sending messages, making calls, or even reading news and books aloud. By enabling hands-free operation through voice commands, these gadgets enhance accessibility and reduce physical strain, making them ideal companions for older people.
Interestingly, there are now even smart vacuums and mops, which can also be used with voice commands, so they can be used to keep your elderly relative’s home clean without them needing to lift a finger. These can be linked to personal assistants, so your elderly relative must give the command and their home will be cleaned!
As mentioned before, these devices will surely help enhance your elderly relative’s life, but they are not a substitute for fundamental in-person interactions. So, be sure to visit them regularly if they are in a care setting or in their own home to prevent social isolation.
