Seniors are notoriously late arrivers to the latest technological bandwagon. Having lived the majority of their life without these new gadgets, who’s to say that they are a necessity for life? Perhaps they aren’t essential—but there’s no denying that having a cell phone, more specifically a smartphone, can definitely make life a lot easier these days.
As the years go on, however, more and more seniors are becoming technologically savvy, coming to terms with the many benefits of smartphones that make millennials rave. In fact, the Pew Research Center has found that now 6 in 10 adults over the age of 65 use the internet regularly. It is becoming increasingly more obvious to most older adults that these technologies are here to stay, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
The truth is, having a smartphone carries many benefits for seniors. From staying connected to providing health-monitoring apps, here are a few reasons why you or your loved one should consider getting a smartphone as soon as possible.
Find long-lost friends
It used to be that if you wanted to stay connected with someone through the years, your only option was to keep track of his or her phone number or take out the old phone book and hope that your friend was listed. That or you could get in your car and go knock on the door and hope that he or she still lived there.
Now with social media platforms like Facebook, you are able to reconnect with those people that you haven’t seen in years with ease. Having a smartphone makes that even easier—a study released by comScore in 2015 found that smartphones are now the preferred method of browsing social media.
Get help quick in case of an emergency
As you get older, you are more susceptible to incidents that may threaten your life, especially if you live alone. There have been great advances in emergency alert systems for seniors, and smartphones have been able to take that technology a step further.
Now you are able to download these emergency alert tools directly to your smartphone. One example is Medical ID, a free app that allows you to download important medical information to your phone that is sent to first responders in case of a medical emergency. It also has a function that sends out a text message to friends and family to alert them of an emergency.
Keep up with the grandkids
There’s no denying that the latest generation of kids are the most connected. It is a rare sight to see a kid these days without a smartphone. While one can make arguments about the detriment of so much screen time, it can also have many benefits for families.
When you have a smartphone, you are able to share photos with your family instantly. You are also able to stay up to date with their lives easily. From the first lost tooth to high school graduation, you will be able to keep up with all of your grandkids’ life events no matter where you are.
Monitor medical needs
A smartphone can be thought of like a pocket physician. There are apps that can give you important vital information like pulse and blood pressure and even help you track weight and fitness goals.
One company, Lionheart Innovations, has also developed a software for your smartphone that allows you to keep track of medication schedules and to share your medical information with your doctor or caregiver immediately.
Smartphones can be a daunting and confusing technology to face at first. However, once the effort is made, the boundless life-enhancing opportunities and perks will pour in. From medical needs to staying connected with family and friends, smartphones are a decidedly wonderful invention that you can customize to assist you in your everyday needs.
