Is Your Community Ready for the Rise in Senior Tech Adoption?

Older adults have shown a remarkable spike in interest in recent technology. Nearly two-thirds of adults 65 and older have reported owning a smartphone, with 73% of seniors now using the internet, a 59% increase since 2000. As older adults begin adopting more technological skills, senior living communities need to be prepared to support new behaviors emerging from this trend.

A New Age

‘Aging in place,’ or living independently, has become a sought after trend that three in four seniors prefer to follow. Before the implementation of technology in senior living communities and the individual homes of older adults, aging in place was not a possibility. However, new technology can help older adults achieve this goal and thrive where they are. 

By providing older adults with technology that allows them to track their health and get in touch with emergency services, communities give their residents the ability to age in place. Senior living communities that offer ‘age in place’ programs especially benefit from satisfying their resident’s growing interest in technology.

How To Prepare Your Community

Implementing new technology in your community and individual homes streamlines communication between staff and residents, while still giving seniors the autonomy they desire.

Providing all residents with smart devices, such as an iPad or tablet, can not only give them the ability to surf the web and keep in touch with loved ones via social media, it can also allow them to keep track of their health. A study by AARP found that 40% of respondents expressed interest in technology that gave reminders to take medication and notified their health-care providers when they took it.

Voice-activated home assistants can also be a great tool in independent living. Supplying residents with a home assistant makes it easy to contact staff in the event of an emergency, or simply offers companionship and assistance in the form of conversation.

While most older adults do own their own smartphones, tablets, and TVs, not all seniors know how to use them. A study by the Pew Research Center revealed that although seniors are generally interested in using these smart devices, low technology literacy stands in the way of seniors adopting these technologies. Offering support to residents and teaching them how to use this technology generates a greater understanding of its advantages and gives users more confidence in their ability to navigate it.

Wellzesta

Wellzesta encourages older adults to thrive where they are and provides its residents with all the resources necessary to do so. Wellzesta simplifies aging in place with multiple platforms centered around health, wellness, and communication and offers support every step of the way.

Wellzesta is a technology company that offers solutions in combating social isolations, nurturing sales, and enhancing communication in your community.

Click here to learn more about Wellzesta or connect with a member of our Sales team.