Throughout the pandemic, our Georgetown and surrounding area home care experts witnessed firsthand the crucial role of elder care technology in the lives of aging adults. As we move into 2021 and encounter the challenges of the new year, health and well-being are at the forefront of how we think about technology for older adults. In 2021, it’s expected that these technology trends will be the ones to look out for.
Video Conferencing Software
The importance of remaining connected when we can’t physically be close to our loved ones was a lesson learned for people of all ages in 2020, and is even more important for elderly adults. Products like Zoom, Skype, and Google Chat empower older adults to stay in touch with their friends and family, join virtual book clubs, social groups or classes, and help deter feelings of loneliness and isolation. Furthermore, as online health appointments gain in popularity among both health professionals and patients, apps like FaceTime and Skype are replacing telemedicine platforms to provide more convenience for older individuals.
Alexa Care Hub
“Alexa, check in on Dad!” As part of Amazon’s hospitality suite, the Alexa Care Hub is handy for older adults who live alone or in a community living environment. With capabilities that help caregivers oversee activity and promptly reach the seniors in their care, the Alexa Care Hub introduces new functionality in addition to its standard voice assistant offerings. Currently, Amazon Echo devices are used in senior living communities and residential homes across the nation with expectations for a surge in demand. The Alexa Care Hub takes things a step further with medication reminders, customized alerts, and numerous features that permit aging adults to preserve freedom while supplying assurance to their loved ones.
Meditation and Mindfulness Apps
Not just a trend for millennials, meditation and mindfulness apps can help improve both focus and sleep, and help aging adults build the skills necessary to let go of stress and feelings of anxiety. Apps like Headspace, Calm, and The Mindfulness App allow users to tailor meditation programs to work best for their needs, giving older adults the ability to develop a personalized habit. Meditation has even been linked with improving both long and short term memory, reducing loneliness, and improving cognitive function.
Smart Home Devices
From home security systems to ovens to medication organizers, there appears to be a smart version of just about every household object these days — and we can expect to see more smart tools on the market in 2021. Although smart devices are becoming common in our everyday lives, it’s important to think through the ways that these voice- and motion-enabled processes allow aging adults to remain independent throughout their daily activities. With this in mind, we anticipate seeing more smart home products created to meet the needs of senior populations while retaining the look and feel of your favorite technology devices.
At CareFor, staying connected with older individuals both online and in-person to counter loneliness and isolation are at the core of our mission and beliefs. We see the role technology plays in this mission and invite seniors and their caregivers to contact the experts in senior care in Georgetown at (512) 338-4533 for additional information about our home care services. For a full list of all of the communities we serve, please visit our Service Area page.