Smart Tech for Seniors: How New Devices Empower Older Adults

Dishwashers and washing machines made domestic chores easier, security systems introduced a new level of safety to our homes, and remote controls for everything from TVs and garage doors to ceiling fans and air conditioners made using these devices more convenient.

Today’s smart technology devices make it easier for us to stay informed, pursue our interests, and connect with friends and family – and many offer benefits especially suited for older adults. Wearable devices can monitor health data and send emergency alerts, while voice assistants and smart home technology make daily tasks safer and easier for people with mobility issues. And with products being more mindfully designed for personal use, seniors have more options to choose from according to their level of tech familiarity.

So whether you consider yourself tech-savvy or you’re just starting to explore smart technology, you’ll probably be able to find devices that you’re comfortable using – and that use the latest innovations to enhance your quality of life.

Smartphones

Smartphones offer the obvious advantages of immediate connection and convenient access to a wealth of information and entertainment, but some models are better designed for the needs of older adults than others.

Lightweight smartphones with larger, sharper displays make it easier for seniors to navigate touchscreens. All of the latest smartphone models offer high-speed performance and excellent cameras for photos and video calls, with clearer images and smoother video streams. They also feature AI-powered voice assistants, like Siri and Alexa, that can set reminders, read books aloud, and provide information through simple voice commands and questions. The voice assistant interface eliminates the need for typing or swiping, making it easier for individuals with arthritis or other hand and finger limitations.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features an Easy Mode setting with simplified layouts, larger fonts, and bigger icons, making it especially suited for less tech-savvy users or people with impaired vision. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also comes with a stylus pen for taking notes and sketching. The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers a high-resolution screen and an intuitive operating system, with a long battery life that doesn’t require constant recharging.

Smartwatches

Smartwatches like the Apple Watch and the Fitbit Charge boast a number of features that have particular benefits for older adults.

Smartwatches can monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. They can also track sleep patterns, which can help doctors address insomnia and other sleep quality issues, and provide reminders on when to take medications and the correct dosage. Some watches can even detect falls and send emergency alerts.

The fact that smartwatches also perform most of the functions of a smartphone, like making phone calls, sending texts, and engaging with voice assistants, makes them incredibly convenient devices for older adults. And since they rarely leave your wrist, they’re less likely to be dropped or misplaced than smartphones.

Tablets

If you want a device that offers myriad entertainment and communication options in one convenient package, tablets like the iPad 10.9 and the Huawei MediaPad T3 may be what you’re looking for.

Tablets provide the large HD screens and speedy connectivity of laptops, but with a more versatile and intuitive user experience and a long battery life that lets you take them on the go. You can read books, access streaming services, and download any number of apps and games. The larger screen also makes tablets ideal for video calls with friends and family. Whether you feel like doing a crossword puzzle at breakfast or binge-watching a favorite show after dinner, tablets deliver all your favorite pastimes with the touch of a screen.

Smart Speakers

Smart speakers like Amazon Echo Dot and Google Nest (an upgraded version of Google Home) use AI technology and voice assistants to provide a range of services, such as making phone calls, streaming music, listening to audiobooks, and searching the internet to answer questions. Smart speakers have the convenience of being completely voice-activated and hands-free, making them a great tech option for seniors with vision or mobility limitations.

There are safety benefits to smart speakers as well. They can be connected to personal alert networks – like Ask My Buddy – which allows you to call your emergency contacts or send help requests to local emergency responders through simple voice commands. They can also provide reminders for everything from taking medication to lunch dates with friends.

Smart speakers can be personalized to your preferences. For example, the Amazon Echo Dot lets you rename Alexa, the voice assistant, to a name of your choosing. And while the AI isn’t yet advanced enough to have real conversations, studies show that interacting with voice assistants can reduce loneliness in older adults while also providing regular opportunities to practice clear speaking and active listening.

Smart Home Systems

Smart home systems allow users to control lights, appliances, and other home devices using voice commands to your smart home automation hub or through apps on your phone or tablet. As with smart speakers, the voice-activation feature makes these systems especially convenient for seniors with vision or mobility issues – or who just don’t want to get up every time they need to adjust the lighting or raise the shades.

Just about any device or function in your home that can be digitally connected to Bluetooth or wireless connections can be incorporated into a smart home system. Video doorbells let you screen visitors, smart outlets allow you to remotely control lamps and fans, motion detectors can activate low lighting if you get out of bed in the middle of the night, and smart air conditioners and thermostats let you adjust the temperature with your voice.

GPS Smart Sole

For older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, the risk of wandering and getting lost can be mitigated with the GPS Smart Sole device. This insole contains a GPS tracking device that fits easily inside sneakers or slippers and has a battery life of 2-3 days. Cellular and satellite technology lets family members or caregivers track the wearer’s exact location from a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

The device also lets you designate safe “Geozone” boundaries for your family member; you’ll receive an alert if they wander out of these safe areas. The GPS Smart Sole can be an invaluable senior safety device while also giving family members peace of mind.

Smart Senior Tech at Coterie

Coterie has embraced the benefits of technology for older adults at its luxury communities in New York and San Francisco. Every resident wears a CarePredict wristband, which monitors fall risks and allows for two-way communication with staff in the event of an emergency. Coterie’s Accushield visitor management system conducts screening and temperature checks of all arriving guests, employees, and vendors to minimize health risks to residents.

Each residence is equipped with the Coterie Smart Home System, letting residents control lighting, temperature, and other household functions through voice commands. The system features the Amazon Echo Show with Alexa, a portable HD smart display that provides information and entertainment – residents can use it to research recipes, call the front desk, cue up a movie, or listen to their favorite podcast or radio station.

The on-site Digital Innovation Directors are always on hand to offer assistance with any device or service, and Coterie’s tech team leads interactive classes on how to set up TikTok and Instagram accounts to give residents fun new outlets for creativity and connectivity.

Embrace the Potential of Smart Technology

Smart tech devices empower seniors in ways that seemed unthinkable even a couple decades ago. The latest innovations give older adults more control over their environments, more convenience and safety at home, and more versatility in their communication and entertainment options. For tech-savvy seniors, the future is now.