Most younger people take their smart devices for granted. It’s natural for people in that age range to forget that people in earlier generations didn’t use smartphones, tablets, and similar devices. However, this has created a serious issue for aging populations. Older people stand to gain a lot from modern technology. However, elderly people are often unaware of the potential technology holds for them–from customized senior TV programming to video chats with their grandchildren. Thankfully elders who live in retirement homes have the benefit of caring staff to help them. Of course, this leads to a question of where a retirement home should begin introducing smart technologies to its residents. 

Begin with tablets

It’s best to begin a smart technology education by introducing tablets. The iPad is usually an excellent way to start. The tablet’s larger size makes it easier to use for people suffering from various disabilities. One can make an iPad easier to use for people with visual issues by increasing the tablet’s font size. The fact that tablets have a larger display than smartphones will instantly make it easier to use for people who have issues with manual dexterity. 

What’s more, people using tablets for the first time will quickly start to see just how much they can do with them. Finding new ability to communicate with friends and family, seeing how much easier the Internet can be to use, and generally being able to explore on their own can help motivate people. 

Move on to smart assistants

So-called virtual or smart assistants such as Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa are a close second to tablets in their overall user-friendliness. There’s a wide variety of virtual assistants to choose from. However, Google Home has a slight advantage in being more self-contained than many of the alternatives. All of the virtual assistants will respond to voice commands. What’s more, most of them can also work with a variety of other electronics. This can be a huge help to people with mobility issues. Consider just how hard it can be to get up to turn a light on and off. Being able to do so by just giving a quick verbal command can make a huge difference in people’s lives. 

A virtual assistant can also provide significant help for people suffering from memory issues. One can easily set and respond to alarms with reminders about important events. It’s also quite easy for people to create lists and add items to it as they occur. This, too, is a huge boon for people with mobility issues. People who haven’t struggled to walk often forget just how many steps are involved with writing something down on a list. Being able to forgo writing utensils can be a life-changing event for people with a wide variety of disabilities. 

Handling the complexities of medication

Automated pill dispensers require more in the way of initial setup time and upkeep. It won’t fully remove the work involved with medications. However, when these devices are used in the most efficient way possible, it can prove to be a huge benefit for everyone involved. People will experience different benefits from automated pill dispensers based on their own unique situations. 

If an elderly person handles all of their own medication needs by themselves, the main benefit will come from the organization. It’s easy for people in the prime of mental and physical health to make a mistake or two with their own pills. Most people who take vitamins on a regular basis can attest that they’ve had moments where they can’t recall whether they had taken it that day. However, the issues involved with a young person’s nutritional supplements and an older person’s life-saving medications are quite different. 

An automated pill dispenser will ensure an elder is taking his or her medications as directed. It removes any concerns about taking too much or too little. What’s more, the fact that it’s automated means that everyone involved with the individual’s treatment can easily verify compliance with a medication’s prescription. This type of easy verification gets around potential issues with people’s memories. The dispensers also help remove the danger of common mistakes, such as the use of expired medications. 

The end effect is that an older adult’s health has an additional layer of built-in security through the use of an automated pill dispenser. And of course, the person taking the medications also benefits from ease of use. It’s significantly easier to just pick up automatically dispensed medications than it is to constantly go through bottles of medications. 

Building upon a solid foundation

It’s important to remember that these examples are only the beginning. These smart devices cover some of the biggest advantages for the average older person. However, versatility is one of the greatest things about smart technologies. It’s almost a given that any particular need will have a compatible service in the realm of smart devices. And by learning the basics covered here, an elderly person can feel confident making use of them.