7 Ways to Use Google Home for Compensatory Strategies

If you were among the millions of viewers of this year’s Super Bowl LIV, one commercial likely struck a chord with you if you work with older adults. Google featured an ad simply titled “Loretta”.

The ad shows off how an older adult could use their Google Home device for compensatory strategies. As the narrator, Loretta’s husband uses the device to remind him about things he loved about Loretta.

They show how being able to repeat details can assist with memory recall.

With a giggle, Loretta’s husband tells Google, “Remember Loretta hated my mustache.” “Remember she always snorted when she laughed.” and “Remember Loretta loved going to Alaska.” Each time Google replies, “OK, I’ll remember that.”

The ad tugs at our heartstrings for sure but it also highlights the benefits of compensatory strategies. Beautifully paring that idea with an emotional example of what their device is capable of.

Closing with the line, “A little help with the little things,” Google does geriatric therapists a great service by eloquently summing up what we do.

By Nicole Trubin, MS, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

True story: I have a 96-year-old great aunt who knows how to handle an iPhone better than I do and is actively involved on Facebook. I also have grandparents and patients in their 80s and 90s who don’t know how to send a text message or don’t understand the concept of FaceTime. The reality is, we as occupational therapists, work with patients who know tech like my great aunt and other older adults who aren’t quite as savvy. Many patients have no desire to learn this new skill. Or they may be unable to learn due to an underlying issue. Yet as technology becomes more and more advanced, it’s playing a larger role in helping people stay or become independent.

We are living in a time where we have a major technological advantage. So how do we use this advantage and apply the use of assistive technology with our older adult patients who may not be as tech-savvy?

Assistive technology is defined as “any item, piece of equipment, or system, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities,” according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Occupational therapists play an active role in assessing patients and determining appropriate interventions to help them age in place and maximize their independence.

For patients with visual impairments, this is especially true.  We can educate patients and his/her caregivers on various strategies using assistive technology and making adaptations, such as enlarging the print on recipes and contrast lighting.

HOW A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT, LIKE GOOGLE HOME, BENEFITS OT INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH POOR VISION

There are a variety of assistive technology solutions available today that could benefit older adults. What’s one type of technology that is underutilized as a tool for the visually impaired? Voice recognition devices such as the Amazon Echo or Google Home. Many patients could benefit from voice recognition devices, specifically patients with low vision. Patients with low vision may have difficulty reading and operating with technology. With voice recognition apps and devices, it is now easier than ever to stay connected with loved ones and help patients age in place.

“Remind me to take my medication every day at 8 a.m.”

Writing tasks down is a great way to remember for some. However, papers can easily get lost or accidentally thrown out. And patients with low vision may have a hard time writing things down and reading it later if they are unable to see clearly. On the modern end of the tech spectrum, using a smartphone or iPad may not be easy to learn, especially for those living with low vision. Although you can adjust the settings to magnify print and adjust contrast, it may still be difficult for these patients to navigate and operate these devices.

Using a voice recognition device can be a useful alternative for patients with low vision. These voice recognition devices may seem like more highly advanced assistive technology, but with help for the initial setup, they are easy to use and set up to follow your voice commands. After the occupational therapist assesses which device would be most useful for the patient, they can help with set up or work closely with the family or caregiver to determine appropriate voice commands.

There are many convenient commands you can do using voice recognition. They are even compatible with home devices such as smart thermostats and certain lighting systems to help conserve energy and make a home more comfortable. Listening to music, ordering pizza, and requesting an Uber are a few other useful examples of how anyone can benefit from these smart devices. And this list of possibilities is said to expand over the next year. They will be working with more companies for more compatibility features to make it easier for people to simply use their voice for access to various services.

VOICE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY AIDS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PATIENTS EXPERIENCING COGNITIVE DECLINE

Patients with a mild cognitive decline may also benefit from voice recognition devices. As a clinician, you can help the patient’s family or caregiver program the device to set specific alarms and report the news for patients to stay up to date.  This will allow your patients to know what’s going on in the world or locally.  In return, this can improve and spark communication with loved ones. You can also set alerts to manage medications and doctors’ appointments. Using voice recognition to set medication reminders can help older adults to take their medications at the appropriate time of day and on the right day.

More advanced devices can allow older adults to video chat with their family and friends. These features are especially beneficial for patients who are motivated to age in place. Adult children can feel more at ease with their aging relatives being on their own with the help of these devices.

One of the many amazing features of these devices is that you can create a sequence of events that are activated with a simple command. For example, you can create a command by stating “good morning” that sets the actions for the lights to turn on, news reports, weather updates, medication reminders, and appointments or calendar reminders. Older adults with memory loss won’t have to worry about remembering their schedules when the device is set to remind them of their tasks. Making a calendar with voice reminders can even remind older adults of their loved one’s birthdays and anniversaries. It is amazing what technology can do to connect all of us.

Older adults with visual and cognitive impairments often stop participating in leisure activities they enjoy. For example, a person with glaucoma may no longer read books because their vision has become too blurred. Or perhaps your grandfather who used to practically live in the kitchen isn’t cooking as much because of his memory loss. With the help of voice recognition devices, people with vision or memory loss can enjoy listening to music, hearing an audiobook, following recipes, or playing games again. Even grocery delivery services are being used with voice recognition. You can keep track of lists by saying a command such as “Add basil and tomatoes to my grocery list.” No writing or typing is required.

As this type of technology advances, there will be even more features that could benefit to people of all ages. You may think all this new technology is for younger generations to enjoy. But really as voice recognition technology continues to advance, older adults may be the ones to most benefit.

HOW CAN WE GET OLDER ADULTS TO ADAPT TO NEW TECHNOLOGIES?

So how can we help get more older adults to usefully engage with technology?

For starters, talk to them and show them all the exciting things it will allow them to do. Then, discuss these features and how they can help them live more independently. Voice recognition devices can do many things, but not everything may be relevant for your patients or loved ones. Start with one feature at a time, such as medication reminders, and if they respond positively, you can slowly introduce new features to help make their lives easier.