How Tech Can Help Seniors Connect, Communicate

Technology is improving the quality of life for older adults at risk of social isolation and loneliness, reports The Oklahoman . "Unless they're living in a senior community they may have no interaction at all on a daily basis," noted LifePod CEO Stuart Patterson, whose company provides smart-speaker technology that engages with users, so caregivers can remotely watch and support seniors. LifePod utilizes a proactive voice and does not require activation by a command. A family member or caregiver instead encodes LifePod with programmed routines, schedules, and dialogue. The device can awaken a person with a friendly greeting, and offer reminders to take medications or perform other activities. Caregivers are sent text alerts to confirm what their charges have been doing. A recent study from the University of California, San Diego's Design Lab determined that seniors are often frustrated with new technology, with design obstacles and physical hindrances also noted. "You have to introduce the innovation and show them how to use it, but also give them the meaning and the purpose," said Davis Park with the Front Porch senior living provider. "If you provide that, they will light up and get excited about the technology. Curiosity is key."