Upgrading Tech for 50+ Upgrades Life

More people over age 50 are embracing technology. This can be a great thing for you, your family, and your lifestyle. High tech also is used in your future long-term care.
Updated: January 10th, 2020
LTC News Contributor Kevin Wells

Contributor

Kevin Wells

Technology has been incorporated into every part of our lives in recent years, and these innovations continue day in and day out. Why? Good technology improves a part of life in one way or another, from increasing life expectancy to providing cat videos on demand.

After you've decided to invest in technology for a better life, sorting through all of the available products can become overwhelming. To make things easier for you, here are a few common problems seniors encounter each day, paired with available tech solutions. Improve your overall health and wellness today by picking up one of these products or learning how to use them.

Rely on Your Smartphone for Reminders and More

The older you get, the more complicated it becomes to get the necessary nutrients. Add on to that all the medication or supplements you're prescribed, and remembering everything can be a full-time job. Unload some of this information and use your smartphone and apps to track it all.

Setting a recurring reminder to take your medication or to attend your appointment is as simple as telling your phone about it. Apple's personal assistant, Siri, can help you make notes, set reminders, read and send emails, and make calls. Other smartphones might not have Siri, but their own personal assistant can help accomplish the same tasks.

Seniors can create a grocery list hands-free or browse the internet without typing on a keyboard. This can be helpful for the upcoming Medicare Open Enrollment. Between October 15 and December 7, read over your Plan's Annual Notice of Change, and compare your plan to others. Set a reminder to review your coverage with the free help of a professional.

Your smartphone's personal assistant can help tackle the most complicated tasks, leaving you to enjoy your day without fear of forgetting another pill or appointment. Using the tech tools around you can help maintain health, so you can start improving it.

Step Up Your Health with Wearable Technology

No matter how healthy a life you've lived, aging can affect your body in ways you never dreamt before. Daily activities might become strenuous or painful to complete as the years' pass, but you can negate or slow some effects with the use of wearable tech.

Fitness trackers are everywhere these days and for a good reason. A smartwatch that can also monitor your heart rate, track your steps, and act as an alarm keeps you in touch with your body's performance. A swipe of the watch screen gives you real-time information that you can use to make sure you hit your daily goals.

According to MBG Movement, walking can help lessen the physical effects of aging; the ideal number of steps per day is about 10,000. Since your data is tracked, you can see everything at once for a larger picture of your health. And if you can't get those steps in, consider alternatives.

Stick to It

Maybe your knees aren't cut out for 10,000 steps a day, or it's too hot or cold to be outdoors. In these cases, having a streaming device handy help you work out. Streaming sticks, which come in a variety of makes and price points, provide access to many different apps and channels full of workout content. With so many channels available to users, you're sure to find a workout channel that will work with your limitations and strengths. Since these are streamed, the picture is clear and in high definition, too. So, make no excuses.

Avoid Isolation

While your physical health is very important, remember to take care of your mental health as well. A large part of life is the social aspect of it, forming and maintaining connections with others. Stay connected to everyone through technology; use tablets, your laptop, or smartphone to have face-to-face conversations with loved ones no matter how far away they are.

Get involved with social media to stay up to date with everything your family members are up to, and make a few posts yourself. Seniors know better than anyone how quickly and drastically, things can change. With the help of technology, the changes can be much more manageable. 

Image via Pixabay

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