Skip to Main Content
chevron-right
chevron-left
chevron-down
chevron-up
chevron-circle-up
chevron-circle-right
chevron-circle-down
chevron-circle-left
Facebook Logo
Twitter Logo
Linkedin Logo
Youtube Logo
Instagram Logo
Google Plus Logo
Vimeo Logo
Issuu Logo
Right arrow
Left arrow
Location
Search
Phone Icon
Services
Home Care
Senior Care
Home Nursing Services
At Home Therapies
Respite Care
Home Care FAQ
Hospice
Bereavement & Grief
Hospice & Alzheimers
Hospice Costs
Hospice Pet Therapy
Special Care Programs
Your Care Team
Specialized Home Care
Patient-Centered Dementia Care
Arthritis
Congestive Heart Failure
Huntington’s Disease
Hypertension / Blood Pressure
Coronary Artery Disease
Diabetes
COPD
Joint Replacement
Mental Health and Depression
Home Care Support for Multiple Sclerosis
Palliative Care
Paraplegia and Quadriplegia
Parkinson's Disease
Pediatric Care
Traumatic Brain Injury
Ventilator Care
Wound Care
Veterans Care
Staffing
Staffing FAQ
COVID-19 Vaccination Staffing
Careers
About Us
COVID-19 Update
Our Standard of Care
Our History
Franchise Leader
Executive Team
Caring Brands International
Press Releases
Honoring Veterans
Historic Milestones
Contact Us
Education Center
Aging in Place
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Home Health Aide
8 Dietary Tips for Improving Senior Heart Health
Talking About Substance Abuse as a Caregiver
How to Take Care of Aging Hair
4 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality for Seniors
Designing Outdoor Living Areas for Seniors
Getting A Grip: How and Where to Install Bathroom Grab Bars
Keeping Active: Tips for Senior Gardening
Alzheimer's and Dementia
Calculating the Cost
Certified Senior Advisors
Consumer Health Care Education
Advisor Care Giving Guide
Care in a Residential Facility
Check Your Home Care IQ
Elder Care Communities
Consumer Alert
Medicare and Home Care
Senior Care Resources
Senior Care Scams
Consumer Rights
Signs That Care At Home is Needed
Long Term Care
Fall Prevention
Mobility in Seniors
Falls FAQ's
Home Safety Checklist
Home Safety Tips
Hidden Hazards
Medications and Fall Risk
Reduce the Risk of Falling
Risk of Falling
Visiting the Doctor and Discussing Falls
What to Do If Someone Falls
Family Caregiving
Elder Care Videos
Hiring Your Own Caregivers
Family Care Giving Facts
Information for Seniors
Long Distance Caregiving
Starting the Conversation
The Stress of Family Caregiving
Taking Care Of Yourself as a Family Caregiver
Home Care Technology
Hospice Fact or Myth
In-Home Caregivers
Senior Health
Exercise and Older Adults
Senior Nutrition
Taking Medications
Tips for Lowering Blood Pressure
Seniors and Zika Virus
Savvy Senior
Stories From Home
Transitioning from a Facility
Independent Living Assessment
Blog
Facebook
Linkedin
Twitter
Youtube
Instagram
Home
>
Blog
>
June 2019
>
8 ways a voice-activated personal assistant can help seniors
8 ways a voice-activated personal assistant can help seniors
Posted: 6/12/2019 8:00 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Technological innovations are coming at a rapid pace in recent years. Their impact on our lives has been immense, but their potential for seniors is even greater. In particular, “smart” devices like the Amazon Echo or Google Home have proven to be extremely valuable for seniors (it’s important to note that seniors must have WiFi in their home in order to use these devices). With prices starting at around $40, the companionship and peace of mind these devices offer are often worth the small investment.
The interface for using these devices is simple -- in most cases, seniors (or any of us) simply use our voices to tell Google or Alexa what to do. Initially, setup typically requires a phone or more tech-savvy family member or friend to help. But once these devices are set up, they are incredibly intuitive for seniors to use.
CAUTION:
One common error with using them is forgetting to say the prompt, known as a “wake word” (like “Alexa” or “Hey Google”). The user must speak that word before posing a question or giving a command.
“Alexa itself is very simple, but it can also be tremendously expansive in terms of what it can do,” explains Davis Park, executive director of Front Porch Center for Innovation & Wellbeing. Based in Glendale, California, the organization explores innovative uses of technology to empower individuals to live well in their later years. Park says he was thrilled when he first heard about Alexa in particular.
In December 2017, the Center published a report based on six months of testing Alexa in a group of people with an average age of 87. Following the testing, 71 percent of participants said the device helped them feel more connected to family, friends and their community; 100 percent said Alexa made their life easier.
“For a lot of people, this may sound trite, but [Alexa] really opened up an entire world for them,” says Park. “When people can turn to a device and simply use their voice [to make commands], it is immensely empowering.”
How smart devices can empower your senior loved ones.
Smart devices can play music on demand, tell you the weather and serve as an alarm clock and timer. But they can also help seniors in myriad of ways. These eight (8) are just the tip of the iceberg:
1. Fight isolation.
Your senior loved ones can ask their devices to call a friend or relative, and even compose or read texts and emails. Certain devices can also conduct video calls, providing even more contact for your loved ones.
2. Remind them to take medications.
It’s easy to set daily reminders for taking medication and other tasks, like turning off the stove, drinking water, exercising, taking a shower and more. Devices can even be programmed to send responses to caregivers and keep them informed about seniors and their daily tasks.
3. Eat better.
Smart devices can search for recipes and then read them aloud. They can also compile shopping lists and share them with a family member or caregiver; or even order food delivery.
4. Get answers to questions.
Memory slips become increasingly frustrating with age. If your loved ones can’t remember information like the author of a book, the vice president’s name or even what day it is, they can ask their devices these and more questions. They can also answer simple medical questions like, “How do I treat a cut?” (Unfortunately, it can’t tell you why you walked into the room or in most cases, where you left your keys!)
5. Call a loved one for help.
If the person falls and can’t get up, they ask the device to call a caregiver or relative. It’s important to note that most smart devices are NOT able to call 911. Some devices may have this functionality; however, it’s important to be sure before installing or instructing your loved ones how to use the device.
6. Combat boredom.
Living alone in later years can feel incredibly isolating, especially for people with physical limitations. In addition to playing music, these devices can read aloud from audiobooks and tune to radio stations around the country. Google and Alexa can tell jokes as well, and can play a number of trivia and other fun games for all ages.
7. Control home functions.
Thanks to other smart devices for the home, Google and Alexa can grant newfound independence to elderly adults with disabilities including blindness or immobility. These devices can perform important tasks like adjusting the thermostat and turning on the lights with simple commands. Smart thermostats and light bulbs are becoming increasingly affordable and are simple to set up. For those who can see and get around just fine, it’s still nice to be able to change the thermostat or turn on or off the lights from bed or from a chair. For those with smart TVs, Google and Alexa can even turn up the volume, change the channel or turn on and off the TV!
8. Maintain a calendar.
Smart devices can schedule doctor and haircut appointments and provide reminders for social events like a weekly card game or a visit from grandchildren.
Today’s technology is making it easier than ever for seniors to stay at home.
When technological advances are partnered with home care services from a trusted provider like Interim HealthCare, you can relax and have the peace of mind in knowing that Mom or Dad is happy, healthy and well cared for at home. To learn more about
senior home care services
from Interim HealthCare, contact your nearest location using the locator below.
Find a Location Near You or Call
(800) 944-8888
Enter zip
Select distance
Select a distance in miles
5
10
25
50
100