How Smartphone Technology Can Help Keep Seniors Health

(An article contributed by a free-lance writer, Katybeth Dee)

If you think seniors are still not down with technology, you’d be wrong. Fifty-three percent of people over age 65 own a smartphone. With that statistic rising, it’s important to discuss how technology — smartphones or other devices — can help keep seniors healthy. Here are some examples of how you can use the technology of a smartphone to achieve wellness support.

An Upgraded Phone

Yes, your phone matters, especially if you want to use it to help with your health. With so many things a smartphone can do these days, getting one or upgrading to the latest version is a must. If possible, look for a newer device and find a phone that fits your data plan and budget, as well as one that will still give you the benefits you seek. Some providers offer perks for shopping through them, and if you time it right, you might get the phone for free.

For instance, if you’re an Apple fan, check out the latest iPhone XS Max. Features like extended battery life, strengthened glass on the front and back, facial recognition ID, and a machine learning chip that makes it an app-running powerhouse are all desirable. If you’re more of an Android phone user, the Samsung Galaxy S10 is fantastic. The larger screen is virtually seamless and notch-free, you’ll get excellent security protection with fingerprint ID, and the phone uses technology to personalize the experience especially for you.

Smartphone Apps

There are numerous apps intended for smartphones (either at App Store or Play Store) that are beneficial and useful, especially if you need extra support with certain tasks. You’ll find a multitude of health-based apps that do things like monitor medicine, give insight into potential health problems, communicate with your doctors, monitor heart rate, and more. Apps can also help caregivers or family keep up with your health. Some apps make life in general easier and are convenient additions to your arsenal. And, some apps help pass the time, keep you up-to-date on the latest news, or make you feel more connected.

Many apps have free versions, but some require a fee. A listing of free personal safety apps that can call for help to let our family or friends know you’re safe, GoodRx saves you money on meds, and PillBoxie is a medication reminder app.

You can also Click Here for listings of smartphone helpful apps that suits for a senior like you of which some had been mentioned above. These mentioned ingenious apps are designed with aging adults in mind and can simplify and enhance your life. Seniors may use these apps to transform cutting-edge technologies into easily accessible tools for everyday chores, social experiences, and entertainment.

A Relevant Example

Let’s look at this from a legitimate example of how your smartphone can help manage your health. If you don’t already know, Medicare Open Enrollment is happening now. When deciding on your health coverage, your smartphone can come in handy.

First, your smartphone is portable; you can use its technology anywhere. If the text is too small to read the website, you can use these tips that help make your smartphone work better for you, like increasing the text size. You’re not restricted to your computer, and you can take the information with you to talk to whomever you need to about the questions you have. Or, use an app like FaceTime or Skype to video chat from your phone and pick your daughter’s brain on which plan is right for you. You don’t have to make the decision alone.

If you plan to do research and enroll at the end of the window, you can use the note-taking or talk-to-text apps to record your thoughts. You can also use a health app to track your health for the next month or two to learn patterns and what you need the most from your health benefits.

Use GoodRx or a similar app to research your prescription medications to see if you can get cheaper costs than the Medicare plans offer and then factor that into your decision. Or, use an app that lets you ask a health specialist questions so that you can ask about things you’re wondering about anytime you have a question. There are dozens of ways the technology that a smartphone provides can benefit you during your Medicare enrollment process — it’s just about finding what works for you and utilizing what the phone offers.

Is Technology the Answer for You?

There are many other ways that technology is benefiting seniors everywhere. If you haven’t tried adding a smartphone to your life, now might be the time to do so. With technology improving daily, it can only get better from here.

kdee@selfexam.org