Silver Surfers Have More Fun: 5 Benefits of Technology for Seniors
Do seniors really need to learn about the internet and technology in general? Since they didn’t grow up with technology at their fingertips, it can be a little more challenging to learn, so is it worth it?
There’s more to technology for seniors than teaching them how to use Facebook and email. When you’re tasked with helping seniors with technology, you might need some outside motivation. Continue reading this article to learn the benefits of helping seniors with technology.
1. Keeping in Touch
As seniors learn more about the internet, one of their favorite things about it is being able to keep in touch. While seeing grandchildren might have required a long trip in the past, now with a couple of simple clicks of a button, we are transported into each other’s living rooms for a live video chat.
2. Safety First
Most of us want to stay in our homes as we age, but it can be scary when we might need help. We’ve all seen the falling and can’t get up commercials and we don’t want that to be us.
Now with technology, it is easier than ever to push a button and get the help we need within minutes. This technology can give the seniors and their families the peace of mind they need to live in their homes longer instead of needing to go to assisted living centers or having to move in with family members.
3. Mind & Body Exercise
The Wii changed the game when it came to games and movement. While games might have had us sitting in our chairs for hours as kids, the Wii allows us to get up and move.
Not only do these types of games get seniors up and moving but they also help with mental exercises. Even if seniors aren’t able to get up and move around, there are games available for phones and tablets that can keep their minds sharp and active.
4. Manage Medication
No matter your age, it can be easy to forget when you took your medication. You don’t want to over medicate so you might miss out on important dosages of your medication because of it.
When seniors start taking one or two different types of medications, it is easy for them to get confused. Now there are smartphone apps that can help remind seniors about medication times and track when the medications were taken.
5. Health Tracking
Using apps and cloud-based systems to track senior health makes it easy for caregivers and doctors to access their information and stay on top of necessary treatments and other things seniors need. Tracking health in this way allows everyone concerned to make the most informed health decisions possible.
Keep Seniors Safe Online
While it is great for seniors to be online, we need to make sure they are protected while using the internet. Here are some important things to remember when seniors are using technology.
Use Security Software
Help keep security threats at bay by using security software from a reputable source. Find anti-virus and spyware and malware protection that will protect the users as much as possible.
Make sure to warn the senior about pop-ups and emails that say their computer may be compromised. These emails are usually spam and are going to plant viruses and other things on the computer to track information and they can be potentially harmful — and definitely invasive to your privacy.
Create Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are a must so seniors won’t be easily hacked online. Teach them to use both uppercase and lowercase letters, to use numbers and special characters in their passwords. You also want to at least use passwords that are eight characters.
Use Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is another important step that will keep seniors safe online. One of the most popular ways to do this is by having a text with a code sent to a cell phone in order to verify that it is indeed the senior attempting to access their account.
Look Out for Phishing Schemes & Catfishing
Educating seniors about phishing schemes and catfishing is essential when seniors go online. Many people don’t know that there are people that are trying to get their information through sites that look like familiar sites that you use.
You might get an email from an address that looks like your email provider but it is actually a phishing email that is trying to get your password. Warn seniors to throw out any emails that don’t look like they are legitimate and to get help from an internet savvy individual if they aren’t sure.
Catfishing is another risk for seniors and people in general. Catfishing is when someone tells you they are a certain person but they are a different person. Usually, this is done to get information or to get money from someone but it can go even further depending on the situation.
Don’t Share Your Location
Various apps allow you to share your location with your friends. Make sure you turn all location sharing off on senior’s devices. You should also alert them that they may get a notification asking them if they want to share their location — and they should select no.
Log Out
Always have seniors log out of their accounts when they are done surfing the internet. If the computer is left open and they are logged into the account, they may be compromised by someone else at their location or by a hacker.
Technology for Seniors Can Be Life-Changing
As you’ve noticed from the information above, technology for seniors can make some serious positive impact in their lives. Want to learn more? If you’re wondering about other technical issues or general topics, we have many articles that can help you.
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