Embracing Technology Can Benefit Seniors

Do you know the fastestgrowing demographic for Internet use in Canada? It’s people age 65+.

Seniors still lag behind their younger counterparts when it comes to using the Internet and Internet-linked technologies, but the gap is closing. That could be a really important development for ageing in Canada.

A growing body of research shows that going online and owning a smartphone or tablet can provide surprising health benefits for seniors. For example, recent studies by the US-based Pew Research Centre found that seniors who use technology

• feel more connected to others,

• are better engaged in the community and the world around them, and

• are more informed about current events.

That should be welcome news to the 92 per cent of Canadian seniors who say they hope to agein-place at home for as long as possible. Loneliness, isolation, and mental decline are all-too-common problems for at-home seniors. The Pew results suggest a solution may be just a few daily mouse-clicks or finger-touches away.

Falls are the leading cause of injury among older Canadians with 20 to 30 per cent of seniors experiencing one or more falls each year. While falls can commonly lead to broken bones, the worst health outcomes are often not a product of the fall itself—medical situations can develop due to the time spent on the ground afterward.

With a home medical-alarm, you can call for help with just the push of a button on a monitoring device—or even on your cell phone. Many newer-model monitors can auto-detect falls and are GPSlinked to provide support for seniors wherever they go.

2. Maintaining Community and Connections with Loved Ones

Here are ways technology may help seniors continue living independently longer.

1. Ensuring Personal Safety

There are a plethora of homemonitoring and security systems that can help you feel safe and protected in your own home. For many, the most important technology may be a home medical-alarm.

Numerous studies link staying socially active with

• myriad health benefits for seniors,

• reduced risk of depression and dementia,

• improved cognitive abilities,

• better capacity to cope with loss, and

• a longer lifespan.

Unfortunately, many seniors struggle to maintain their social connections because reduced vision, hearing, and mobility challenges conspire to limit their outings and keep them at home more often.

After a couple of years of COVID lockdowns, you likely already know how video chats, texting, and social networking sites like Facebook and Instagram can help you stay connected with those you love when in-person visits aren’t possible.

A growing number of online community forums continue to pop up, too, providing a place for seniors to connect regarding shared hobbies and interests, or to make new relationships.

3. Providing Companionship

If you’ve ever owned a pet, you know cats and dogs provide us with companionship, fun, and a nonjudgmental ear. They can be a lot of work, however; some seniors can no longer manage walking, feeding, or caring for a live animal.

Fortunately there’s a growing body of evidence suggesting robotic pets can provide seniors with many of the joys of pet ownership, without the inconveniences. In fact, Eldercare Foundation already has a program that provides robotic cats and dogs to seniors in long-term care.

Other studies in that area are looking at a wide range of robotic designs that help seniors manage their health needs and daily tasks for living—think “Siri” or “Alexa” that can move and interact with you, so you never have to feel alone.

4. Improving Your Mental and Physical Well-Being

It turns out Super Mario can be super for your brain. A 2020 study in the US found that playing Super

Mario helped boost memory after just a few weeks of game-play. The researchers concluded that novel stimuli, paired with rich 3D environments, can work together to improve cognition and memory in ageing brains.

So the next time you tell the kids or grandkids to get off the computer and go outside, maybe it should be so you can play with it yourself!

Mario isn’t alone in offering benefits, either. Tetris, Solitaire, Sudoko, chess, and several braintraining apps have also been shown to help with memory and problemsolving skills.

Nintendo Wii and PlayStation both offer motion-controlled games that make at-home exercise fun. Fitness trackers like Fitbit can encourage movement and provide real-time feedback on important health metrics. Virtual reality devices are also showing promise for both brain and body engagement, and may be particularly helpful for seniors with limited mobility.

5. Staying Informed about News and Current Events

Many seniors still prefer to get their news from more traditional media like the newspaper or TV local news, but seeking trusted news sites online can have many positive benefits.

In an instant, you can view coverage from all around the world and check out different viewpoints about the new and emerging stories. Many publishers now offer more content online than they do through more traditional channels. It’s a simple way to engage your brain in a new way and stay up-to-date on happenings local and global. ▲

Lori McLeod is Executive Director of the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation. www.gvef.org