Seniors and Using Alexa
Alexa, what’s the weather today?
Alexa, play Tony Bennett.
Alexa, please change the thermostat to 70 degrees.
Isn’t it amazing what Alexa can do? It’s like having a personal assistant right there in your home, always ready, willing and able to help you with your tasks, provide information, remind you of important activities or dates as well as many other functions that make life easier. I’ve actually heard people say, “I don’t know what I did before Alexa” and I get it, I really do!
Many people consider technology to be more “appropriate” for those that are young, but in the case of Alexa, nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that Alexa is an absolutely fabulous tool for seniors, offering support, services and help that weren’t so readily available before.
Consider these obstacles that many seniors experience:
- Challenges with reduced mobility that makes certain tasks difficult to accomplish
- Difficulty remembering specific tasks, dates, and information
- Reduced opportunities for entertainment and mental stimulation
- A need for information that may be difficult to access
Well, Alexa can help with all of these things and much more.
But not everyone is going to fall in love with Alexa. There can be some resistance, all of which should be able to be overcome especially in light of the benefits. For instance:
Many seniors are intimidated by technology, however, once set up, Alexa is very easy to use. If a family member isn’t available to do setup and training, there are various services that will do in-home setup and technology, whereby the senior can become comfortable with Alexa.
The fear of privacy invasion is something that is being addressed in the media almost daily and certainly, there is a very real concern with companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook having “private” information about us. With that being said, since January 2019 over 100 million units have been sold and while privacy is still a concern for many people, for millions more the benefits offered by having Alexa far outweigh the negatives.
Here’s just a partial list of things that Alexa can do for you:
- Medication alerts and reminders about exercise, physical therapy, and doctor’s appointments
- Information about date and time
- Entertainment including music, jokes, riddles, audiobooks
- Answers to questions about pretty much anything and everything
- Conveniently turn on/off lights, raise or lower the thermostat, turn the television on or off
- Shop for food and other products
- Wake-up alarm
- Make phone calls
Of course, no matter how helpful Alexa can be, nothing takes the place of a human companion. A Right at Home companion can provide assistance with daily routine, personal care, companionship and more.
Just give us a call or contact us online and set up an appointment with us today.
