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Assisted Life Technology & Its Benefits for Senior Citizens

September 6, 2016
grandparents-1131890_1920It should come as no surprise that technology programs are being developed and implemented in numerous assisted care and senior living facilities. The faces of senior home care in Orlando are keeping up with the times! At BrightStar Care, we are so excited to see our patients engaging with various devices and communicating on so many platforms. Seniors are embracing technology and are eager to learn more. The benefits you will notice when your elderly loved one utilizes technology will range from subtle to dynamic. Here are the top three changes we have noticed with our patients who are using technology:
  • Technology helps them feel connected. Skype, Facetime, and other real-time face-to-face interactions with family and friends reduces the feeling of being isolated. This, in turn, can reduce depression and anxiety. If your aging loved one can talk to their children, grandchildren, and friends on a regular basis, it will do wonders for their self-esteem.
  • To use technology, seniors must learn new skills. Learning how to operate the device and access their programs or files is intrinsic to using technology. Whether it’s typing or using word-to-type programs, their brains are given a good workout helping them remain sharp and focused. Temperament will improve, unless the technology crashes, of course.
  • For most seniors, technology is still viewed as an amazing creation that opens the world up in ways they never dreamed of. This provides hope for the future and can help your loved one remain actively engaged in the process of living life. They are eager to see what may come next. The realization that they have the world literally at their fingertips is something they could not imagine.
Many traditional programs at assisted care and senior living facilities are being integrated with technology to enhance the experience for their residents. Art classes, music classes, poetry classes, and a host of others are employing white boards, flat screen televisions, iPads, Kindles, and other tablets into their sessions. The technology makes these activities very interactive and promotes camaraderie amongst the participants. As a caregiver, you can certainly provide the same stimulation and interaction with technology for your elderly loved one. If you are unsure how to start sharing technology with them, there are many resources available online for teaching seniors how to safely use it. Providing for your senior home care in Orlando can be greatly enhanced by contacting BrightStar Care. Our expert staff is available to assist you in all facets of caring for your aging loved one. Call us at 407-877-0720. You don’t have to do this alone.