Page 4 - Demo

Page 4 Senior Times - March 2026Socialization is key for everyone, including aging adults. Connecting with another individual is critical to self-worth and healthy aging. Communication can be direct with words or indirect with touch or gestures. The connection to the world outside of our home can be a way of checking in on those that we care about.Did you know that aging adults continue to buy new technology nearly at the same rate as their younger counterparts. The new technology advances can also support the aging adult to remain safely in their home. A 2023 AARP survey finds that older Americans are about as likely as those under age 50 to own a smart phone, tablet, or other device. Notably, as overall spending on tech dropped from $912 per person in 2022 to $798 in 2023, tech purchases by adults in their 60s and 70s went up. In the last year, 69% of adults over 50 bought at least one tech product. You may be surprised to read that only 11% of adults 65+ owned a smart phone in 2014. Aging adults are clearly aging swiftly into the use of technology. Just as important as new technology is, the ability to use it to ones best advantage requires a bit of support, training, and patience. While a large percentage of aging adults have a smart phone, many are apprehensive about using all of the applications or adding new ones. Sometimes the significant risk for fraud will lead to a %u2018wait and see%u2019 attitude and keep them from jumping in with both feet. Fraud is no joke for older Americans. Nearly three-quarters say they have been the target of a cybercrime, 19% have been a victim, and 43% know someone who was a victim. As a result, generative AI leads to only more hesitancy. As far back as ten years ago, more than half of the adults over 65 used the internet daily, and a third used social media. It offered a regular way to interact with family and friends. Since COVID the number of families meeting by zoom increased the fluidity, ease, and desire for aging adults to become even more tech savvy. Today, however, like their younger counterparts, older adults are migrating toward less traditional platforms. Streaming among the 50-plus population has climbed to 86% in 2023, with those over age 70 showing the highest increase. The most popular streaming platforms are Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. More than 50% of older adults are occasionally enjoying Facebook as well as getting their news or learning new skills on YouTube. Your willingness and ability to use new technology can support the desire to live safely in your home. It may require an openness to learn new skills, but if connection is the goal then technology could very well be the tool of advantage. Do you already use your smart phone to manage lights in your home? What about other conveniences such as adjusting hearing aides, door locks, setting alarms for all sorts of things from the morning alarm to the managing medications, or even managing your calendar? But there are far more devices available for the home that technology can support including communication and even entertainment options, which are critical for connection and safety. According to AARP, many Americans say they want to remain in their homes as they age, although use of smart home devices to help enable that remains relatively flat. Nearly half of older adults are aware of smart home devices for lighting and appliances connected to Wi-Fi that can be operated remotely, but less than half are interested in buying them. Some respondents simply say they don%u2019t need or aren%u2019t interested in smart home devices. Others say they are too expensive, don%u2019t trust them, or just prefer more old-fashioned methods of securing their homes.As we all reflect back just consider how some of the devices that we consider to be commonplace today had an apprehensive acceptance in their beginnings as well. Think TECH SAVVY SUPPORTS CONNECTION By: Sherii Sherban, PublisherTHE STAFF ATEVERGREEN ARE THEofHEALTHCAREHEROESFACILITY FEATURES:%u2022 Rehab to Home%u2022 Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services%u2022 Long-Term Skilled Nursing%u2022 Respite Care%u2022 Admissions 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a week%u2022 Private Rooms Available%u2022 Cable and Wi-Fi111 EVERGREEN ROAD, SPRINGFIELD, MI 49037 | 269-969-6110 | www.evergreenscc.com