Older Adults Are Closing the Generation Gap on Technology Usage

Today’s older adults are utilizing the benefits of technology in maintaining their health, independence and connection to others. The pandemic has only amplified this adoption of technology, with 61% of adults 65 and older owning a smartphone now, up from just 13% in 2012. This also provides family caregivers an array of options that can help lessen the daily demands of caring for an aging loved one.

“The comfort level seniors have with technology has increased over the last several years,” said Mike Burwell, director of sales for UScellular in Central Illinois. “From smartphones and tablets to smart homes, older adults are proving they are willing and able to use technology or allow a caregiver to do so on their behalf.”

Older adults are using mobile devices most often for video chatting, online searches, entertainment, and social media. That said, according to the AARP, seniors are helping to drive the growth in smart home technology as well.

In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, UScellular experts offer the following insight on how older adults and family caregivers are using technology today.

• Smart Homes. Smart home devices, like the Google Nest Hub Max, serve as a command center for other smart home devices and have the added benefit of providing a video screen that allows people to stay in touch with family, friends and caregivers in a more personal way than a just phone call.

• Virtual Assistants. From scheduling daily activities to connecting to the outside world, voice-activated speakers like Amazon Alexa or Google Nest Audio are a great option. By connecting a virtual assistant to other compatible devices, older Americans can have a fully automated home in no time. A virtual assistant can adjust the lights, unlock or lock doors and have the news or messages read to you. They can even start the coffee, all from your smartphone or tablet. Virtual assistants can also allow users to set reminders to take medication, provide doctor appointment reminders and update your grocery shopping list.

• Medication Reminders. The latest smart pill boxes like Sagely Smart Pill Organizer can connect to your smartphone to provide daily reminders when medication needs to be taken. More advanced boxes can even notify a family member or caregiver if you miss a dose.

• Smart Watches. Today’s smartwatches like the Apple Series 8 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 have the ability to provide much more than time and weather. Users can monitor their heart rate, blood pressure, and even activate settings to alert a family member or caregiver of a fall.

• Security. A smart home can offer numerous ways to keep safe both outside and inside a home. In fact, 59% of older adults use home and security technology, like Google Nest Outdoor Camera, to see who is at the front door and 48% to monitor their doors and windows. Google Nest Protect is a smoke and carbon monoxide detector that warns of danger by voice and siren and sends smartphone alerts to as many as six contacts. Thirty-nine percent of seniors also rely on fall detection and emergency help detectors.

• Connection. By far, staying connected to family and friends using smartphones and tablets has increased dramatically the past two years. Older adults are emailing (89%), texting (92%), and video chatting (74%).

• Entertainment. Adults 70-plus have a particular fondness for tablets with more than half (53%) owning one - up from 40% in 2019 - with 69% of them using them daily. Devices are being used to attend a live, virtual event like an exercise class, and older adults are logging in more often to streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and Disney+, with 58% saying they are streaming weekly.

For further information about how technology can benefit an older adult in your life, visit www.uscellular.com or stop by one of UScellular’s local retail stores.