Benefits of Technology in Later Life

Technology can provide fantastic benefits in later life and if you’re not yet a convert, we’re going to take you through some of our top picks — as well as innovations that are still in the early stages of adoption.

Tablet Computers

Many of you may own a tablet already and research shows that tablet ownership is on the rise. If so, you will know the joy of using such a device without the need for a clunky separate mouse or keyboard to navigate the device and the bountiful possibilities it opens you up to. One of the instant benefits of a tablet is the way in which they can connect you to friends and family; apps such as Skype or FaceTime use the inbuilt camera and microphone to allow video calls between devices. This means no more missed celebrations with the grandchildren, catching up face-to-face with friends rather than over the phone and even seeing a GP from the comfort of your own home. While we’re not suggesting that digital time can replace seeing those you care about in person, it’s great to know that you’re just a video call away when there’s a celebration in the family.

Social Media - Connect with Others

The internet has made the world a much smaller place and while this can often seem scary, it allows us to be connected with each other like never before. 2bn people across the planet now use Facebook and while you may think that this is something for younger audiences, the platform is increasingly reaching older users who benefit from being able to share stories and news like never before. Recent reports show that over-55s will now become the second biggest demographic on the platform. Again, as we mentioned above, social media is a fantastic way to keep up with loved ones, whether it’s photos of a family day out or photos of a new home — it’s easy to keep up to date with those who are important to you. 

Not only that but with the worry of loneliness can be dashed when you introduce social media into your life, not only can you connect with old friends but it’s possible to make new acquaintances and bond over shared passions. There are pages and groups on the platform for everything you can think of, whether it’s lamenting over good times with pages themed around growing up in the 50s/60s or catching up with politics on the page of your favourite newspaper — if you’ve not tried it then it’s well worth jumping in to the world of social media. 

Driverless Cars   

This one is definitely more futuristic than the others and comes with mixed views as to whether we’ll all be giving up the steering wheel anytime soon, the idea is that cars can now drive themselves — allowing you to take in the scenery and not have to worry about others on the road causing accidents. While this may seem like something from a sci-fi film, in Florida it’s already happening — The Villages, one of the largest retirement villages in the world is trialling the service for its residents. Whether it’s taking a trip to the shops or heading out for an evening meal, this could be the future of concierge and allow a greater level of freedom in retirement communities with a great availability of transport available at the touch of a button. 

This is just a snapshot of the way in which technology is looking to improve later life and here at Inspired, we pride ourselves in providing state-of-the-art solutions to all our villages including tablets in all properties connecting you with our team as well as allowing you to keep in touch with loved ones. 

To discover Inspired Villages for yourself, request your free brochure today or call one of our team.