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Improve Your Life With Technology – Find Out How
In our fast-paced, modern world, technology has become a necessary staple of everyday life. In fact, many people can’t even remember a time when cell phones, computers, and DVDs weren’t standard equipment in every household.
But for many older adults — who didn’t grow up surfing the Internet or buying DVDs — technology may seem like the domain of younger generations. And yet many forms of technology hold great potential for improving the lives of older adults, helping them to maintain independence, physical health, and psychosocial well being.
“Technology can have a transformational role in the lives of older adults, assisting them with everything from staying in touch with loved ones to helping with their memories and monitoring key aspects of their health,” explains Philip Musa, PhD, PE, associate professor of management and information systems in the UAB School of Business. “Also, in an era of rising health costs, older adults’ universal access to technologies will ultimately reduce the cost of healthcare for society as a whole. As baby boomers age, this issue will continue to be of great importance.”
The Role of Technology – Opportunities and Challenges
Dr. Musa explains that technology is a very global term that includes a variety of components, including cell phones, land line phones, alarm clocks, televisions, DVDs and CDs, videoconferencing equipment, computers, the Internet, TIVO, and alarm systems — just to name a few.
“In its most basic form, technology can keep older adults connected to their loved ones and prevent other problems from developing,” he observes. “For example, if an older adult living in a rural area didn’t have a phone to stay connected to loved ones, loneliness, depression, and other health problems could set in.”
More advanced future uses of technology would enable older adults to monitor certain chronic health conditions — such as high blood pressure or diabetes — from home. “The data could be interfaced with a computer and transmitted to a healthcare provider,” explains Dr. Musa. “This type of home monitoring would eliminate the need to travel to the doctor’s office for routine health checks, which could be particularly important for older adults living in rural areas.”
Dr. Musa stresses that while technology holds great potential for improving the lives of older adults, there are three main barriers to older adults’ use of technology now and in the coming years:
- Cost
- Lack of training in how to use technology
- Access to technology
“For example, even if computers are made available in libraries, senior centers, and other facilities, we must address the issue of whether older adults have the means to access these locations,” says Dr. Musa. “Also, we need to provide training so that older adults know how to use the technology.”
He also explains that the issue of trust can prevent older adults from using the Internet — one of the most vast, easily accessible sources of information currently available. “Often, older adults hear about crimes that occur on the Internet. As a result, they associate all computer use — even word processing — with the Internet and don’t want to use a computer at all,” Dr. Musa says. “We must address these concerns with education and training.”
Gadgets That Make Life Easier for Older Adults
Dr. Musa explains that there are many basic technologies currently available to help older adults manage their health, stay connected to loved ones, and get better access to information of all kinds. Here are just a few devices that can enhance your life:
Memory-related devices. A variety of technologies are currently available to help older adults with memory. One such device, called Step Pad, allows you to record messages to yourself and then play them back as a reminder of simple tasks. The Time Pad — a memory device the size of a portable alarm clock — allows you to record up to five reminder messages and set an alarm to go off when certain tasks should be performed. When the alarm sounds, your pre-recorded voice commands remind you that you should take your medicine or check your blood sugar, for example.
Also, the recordable photo album can be an important way for older adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease to receive mental stimulation and stay connected to loved ones. The album, which can hold dozens of family photos, enables friends or family members to record information about each photograph. Then, as you turn the pages of the album, you hear a personalized description of the photos in your loved one’s own voice.
The GPS Tracker can be an invaluable technology for tracking the location of older adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease who may wander away from home. This device can pinpoint an individual’s exact location – down to latitude and longitude.
Voice Glaucometer. This simple instrument can be helpful for diabetics who also have problems with vision. The device measures your blood glucose level, then a computerized voice tells you the reading.
Computer Aids for Older Adults. Several devices are available that make using a computer easier for older adults. For example, oversized keyboards are easier for older adults to see and use. Also, the big track mouse — which is larger and easier to manipulate — is deigned for people with arthritis or other forms of limited mobility. For older adults who have difficulty typing, the Tablet PC will covert handwriting to a word document. Also, Microsoft’s Vista operating system enables you to click a button to enlarge all fonts on the screen.
The Jitterbug Telephone provides an easy way for older adults to stay connected to loved ones. This unique, prepaid cell phone provides unlimited calling to four or five predetermined numbers. It also has a built-in emergency button.
Videoconferencing. This technology — which enables you to have live, real-time video “chats” with others — can provide an important way for older adults who have recently lost a spouse to maintain contact with family members. “This technology can help to foster a sense of community for individuals who may be struggling with loneliness or depression,” explains Dr. Musa. “Knowing that they have a scheduled ‘video visit’ with loved ones can provide a motivation to get out of bed, get dressed, and become mentally prepared.”
Article last updated: July 2, 2009 3:56 PM