Technology for Seniors

The digital divide between retirement-aged and younger Americans has been closing rapidly since the early 2010s. Younger people tend to be more early adopters of new tech — and many of them have aged into retirement since 2010.

At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic fueled a tech buying boom among people 65 and older. Retirees increasingly bought new devices and turned to digital connections to buy products and services, pay bills and stay in touch.

But even as older Americans bought — or bought into — newer technologies, they still reported problems using them.

Frustration in learning how to use technology was one of the leading barriers leading to older Americans’ reluctance to use new technology, according to a 2019 study from the University of California San Diego.

More than half of people 50 and older — 54% — told a survey by AARP that they wanted a better understanding of how to use new devices. And 37% of those surveyed said they weren’t as confident as they’d like to be when using new technology while another 34% worried about privacy concerns.

Older Americans have been on a buying spree for new digital devices as they become more common and tech-savvy among Generation X ages. COVID-19 has also driven purchases of entertainment devices by older Americans.

Further illustrating this trend is a study by the Pew Research Center which reveals that smartphone ownership among people 65 and older has more than quadrupled and social media usage has tripled between 2012 and 2021.

Source: Pew Research Center

Digital devices — from smartphones to smart home assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant — are increasingly important parts of retirees’ lifestyles.

Smartphones provide a wealth of features that seniors can keep in a pocket or somewhere else on their person for quick access.

Digital tablets offer the same benefits as smartphones, but their larger screens are an added benefit for seniors as their eyesight fades with age.

A fitness tracker can be a great tool to help encourage seniors to keep physically active. Some models are even made with seniors specifically in mind. With a fitness tracker, like a Fitbit or Apple Watch, seniors have access to:

A smart home device allows voice control of many devices in the home, providing convenience — especially if mobility becomes an issue.

Recent years have seen significant advances in hearing aid technology, allowing the devices to connect to other devices and offer new features.

Digital services, from telehealth to food delivery, are available at the tip of your finger with digital applications. These apps can make your life easier, but also come with some downsides — namely, fees.

It pays to look for free services and free apps to maximize convenience and minimize cost. You can find these apps in the App Store if you use an Apple device or Google Play Store if you have an Android phone or device.

Food delivery apps fall into restaurant delivery (Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, etc.), homemade meal delivery (Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, etc.) and grocery delivery (Amazon Fresh, Instacart and various grocery chains).

Beware of delivery fees that can seriously run up the cost versus going to the restaurant or store itself. If you qualify for Meals on Wheels in your community, there’s also an app for that free food service.

Check with your doctor’s office, hospital system and pharmacy about the app each uses. These can save you time — and sometimes money — when you schedule an appointment or order a prescription refill. They can also organize your appointment schedules, medication list and reports on your latest visit or lab results.

There are over two million fitness apps to choose from. Narrow your field by choosing one for your particular activities like walking, yoga and training. Or look for one that allows you to choose from a list of workouts. Many smartphones, smartwatches and fitness trackers come with their own fitness apps included.

You can also check for the highest-rated apps with the most reviews and look for reviews for ones that are user-friendly.

To connect to the internet, you need an internet service provider, or ISP. These are companies that connect your computer to the internet. The big-name providers include Xfinity, AT&T, Spectrum, Cox and CenturyLink.

But seniors — and others on a fixed income or with limited resources — may have other options that could save money on their monthly bills. Some options include special programs offered by the big-name ISPs.

Medication management apps help you keep track of when — and if — you’ve taken your medications on time. You can set these apps to send you reminders when it’s time to take a particular medication.

They also include other features to help you manage your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines.

They may also come with features you can customize to your particular needs.

There are over 300,000 medication management and other health-related apps available through the App Store for Apple devices and through Google Play for Android.

Look for one with high ratings from many reviewers that matches your medication management needs.

Roughly half of Americans 65 and older do not have access to public transportation. That becomes a problem when you give up driving as you age.

There are apps that can help you catch a ride, whether or not you have public transportation access.

Video calling apps zoomed to the forefront of communication apps during the pandemic. They were a way to give a sense of face-to-face connections between seniors and their family and friends. But they aren’t always easy to use.

Some easy — and free — video calling options are available that can reduce your frustrations.

Combining available apps allows users to create virtual retirement communities, including virtual assisted living.

The idea took form during COVID-19 as families combined food and drug delivery, transportation and other apps along with smart devices to help provide care for family members who needed assisted living.

The devices and apps can reduce demands on adult children assisting aging parents and may extend a senior’s ability to stay in their home longer. Prior to the pandemic, the average age for people entering assisted living facilities was in the mid-80s.

People with limited mobility, hearing loss, visual impairments or other conditions can face complications with digital devices that make it much more difficult to use them.

You can address many of these through accessibility options on the device.

To adjust accessibility features, you typically need to go to the “Settings” control on your device and click “Accessibility.” From there, you’ll find a list of options — but different devices may have different terms for each function.