How Tech-Savvy Seniors are Changing the Senior Living Industry
Technology is the future, and it’s because of innovative people like you! Four out of five Baby Boomers rely on technology to stay connected with family and friends, and about 85% of seniors use the internet for everything from shopping on Amazon to posting to Facebook. And the recent health crisis caused technological spending among seniors to rise 200% in 2020 across all device categories, including communication and telehealth. Now, it’s become the norm for this demographic to heavily incorporate technology in their lives, and that means the senior living industry must start investing in new technological advances. Here are some early steps senior living communities are taking to implement new technology in their facilities to appease residents and their loved ones’ needs.
Wifi Access
It sounds obvious, but granting residents access to high-speed wireless internet service, or wifi, allows them to get online wherever they are within the community. This encourages seniors to use technology how and when they want to instead of feeling disconnected from the world and left to their own devices—or lack thereof. Additionally, wifi entices visitors to stay longer and find new things to do with residents. Wifi is also necessary for video chatting, like FaceTime and Skype, so residents can stay connected with loved ones.
Smartphones, Tablets, and Computers
Having smart devices with accessible and adaptable functions opens up a whole new world for people. With larger buttons and font sizes and different options for how to command, whether through typing or speaking to Siri, people of all abilities and communication styles can use smart devices, like phones and tablets, to learn and connect in a way that works for them. The games available on these devices offer a great way to stimulate minds, promoting a healthy brain.
Health and Wellness Devices
We live in an age where we have access to advanced digital fitness tools worn on the wrist that can monitor your daily activity, steps, heart rate, sleeping patterns, calories burned, and overall progress. Seniors often need to be very mindful of their well-being, and having technology following you along your health journey and syncing stats to your phone is a helpful tool to take advantage of.
It’s also a normal part of aging for capabilities to decline. In order to grant seniors the most independence, they need to have access to assistive technology. This could be electric wheelchairs, scooters, and wearable safety gear that can detect a fall, like Life Alert, or when you’re getting out of bed and need assistance, like Virtusense.
Virtual Reality
You might think virtual reality (VR) is something silly that teenagers do, but it’s actually an incredibly beneficial mechanism for seniors. The VR platform gives residents in long-term care the opportunity to participate in activities, socialize, and even get moving if they so choose, as it’s a wearable headset and doesn’t require a computer.
Educational Classes
Not everyone comes into the world of technology on the same page due to different levels of accessibility and opportunity in each person’s life. For seniors interested in learning how to become tech-savvy or gain a greater insight into technology all around, communities can offer educational classes on things like:
- How to access the wifi and internet
- How to use a smartphone, tablet, and computer
- How to use video chatting apps
- How to text, email, and type
- How to use social media
- How to be safe on the internet and not get scammed
- How to use ChatGPT
Wondering what your future has to offer in your golden years? Learn about aging on your terms with our free ebook, Moving to a Senior Living Community: Make Decisions Your Way.
At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.