Senior citizens resisting change is an outdated stereotype. As Bill Birnbaum points out, the elderly aren’t resistant to the changes technology brings [1] , but they do view it differently than younger generations. Seniors want to know how the latest and the greatest will benefit them before making the investment and the switch.
The newest gadgets and apps are designed around making life easier for everyone, including technology specifically developed for the elderly. If Granny and Gramps are ready to see what current technology can do for them, they’re in for a pleasant surprise. Once you know what it is the senior in your life would like assistance with, it’s easy to match up the app and let the technology training begin.
Take Your Pills
When memories fail, it’s technology to the rescue with apps for smartphones and tablets that help remind when bills are due, when to take medication, and when an important date such as a doctor’s appointment or birthday is coming up. Most of the apps for reminding the user that it’s time to take medication are for Apple devices, according to iMedicalApps. But Medi Reminder [2] is available for Blackberry and Apple for as little as .99 cents, and a Medi Droid Pill Reminder app is free for Android users.
Pay Your Bills
If all it takes is setting up the Check app once, in order to never miss a bill due date or incur an overdraft or late fee again, then it’s not just the seniors who will want to download this nifty app. Besides tracking and organizing monthly bills, Check will even support online bill pay, according to AssistedLiving.com, and is free for iPhone or iPad download.
Zoom In
A lot of times, it isn’t technology that makes seniors want to avoid gadgets. It’s the small screens and how difficult they can be to navigate when aging fingers are no longer so nimble. Seniornet.org says that problem is easily fixed with the Silver Surf app for Apple devices. It features in-app help, a dynamic text-zoom slider for enlarging text as much as 200 percent and a hide/show option for the tool bar to increase the viewing area. Silver Surf requires OS 3.2 or later, according to the iTunes Store, but seniors with an iPhone [3] 5s will have no problem downloading this ingenious free app.
Exercise Assistance
Staying active is essential for mental and physical health as people age. Seniors will benefit from as little as three weekly workouts, but it’s vital that the exercising is performed correctly. Downloading the Elderly Exercise Tips (available at the Google Play store) onto an Android device is far more affordable than hiring a personal trainer. The app is free of charge and provides examples of flexibility, strength and balance exercises, information on the benefits of physical exercise, and tips on breathing and moderation for good health.
Portable MD
WebMD is the authoritative source that millions access on the internet for healthcare advice, to check symptoms and for local healthcare and doctors’ listings. The Pace Butler Corporation says that downloading the WebMD app [4] onto an Android or Apple device will put that same valuable information at your senior’s fingertips. From first aid tips to pill identification tools and the symptom checker, this free app will be a handy resource.
Keeping in Touch
Seniors tend to get out less and less, making it difficult to stay in touch with friends and family. Free apps for both Apple and Android include Skype for face-to-face visits [5] over long distances, and Postcards for Seniors (available only for Apple but also free) for sending and receiving videos, pictures and messages.
This is a guest blog post by:Â Dennis Freidland
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Links
- ^ the elderly aren’t resistant to the changes technology brings (www.billbirnbaum.com)
- ^ Medi Reminder (www.imedicalapps.com)
- ^ iPhone ( www.t-mobile.com)
- ^ WebMD app (www.pacebutler.com)
- ^ Skype for face-to-face visits (play.google.com)
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