By Erin Denstaedt, Certified Concierge Care Advisor
Despite how helpful technology can be, many older adults are still reluctant to use new technology. Luckily, there are many advantages for the internet and smartphones. One of the prime benefits of using modern technology is how connected we are, and this is a great thing to bring up when talking with your reluctant grandparent or parent.
Many older individuals are looking to connect with long-lost friends and family and social media is the perfect way to do this. Sometimes all it takes is one step for someone to be fully committed to something. Technology for seniors can be made simple and, if older adults learn properly, they can easily navigate through their smartphones and the internet.Teaching your senior or loved one more about the internet and devices like smartphones will not only be a valuable learning experience but can also shield them from problems that they may be susceptible to.
There are a number of easy things that you can teach your older loved one about their devices to make their daily lives simpler. For instance, many seniors experience problems viewing their devices due to eyesight problems and other disabilities. Simply changing the font size on a phone can make using a device easier for your loved one. You can also enable voice commands on your phone to make navigating them easier. Turning on the voice-activated virtual assistant on iPhone, called Siri, can help users find directions, use the internet, text, and make calls.
If you don’t want to be the one that your grandparent, mother, or father goes to when they need help with technology, there is an easy solution: enroll them in a class so they can learn more about their device. Classes that offer seniors access to technology training classes where they will learn more about basic technology and how to use devices are becoming more common.
