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Alexa Who? Fostering Older Adult Independence Through Technology

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04/15/2022
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By Briana McFee, MS, OTR/L Occupational Therapist, NY Staten Island

All FOX clinicians know that fostering and encouraging independence in our patients can prevent illness, injury, and disability among this expanding population. And in this day and age, technology is a potential resource to facilitate and improve aging in place.  The ever-changing world of tech can play a vital role in assisting patients of all backgrounds. When we foster an older adult’s understanding of helpful technology, these patients can see better success with:
  • Completing daily tasks
  • Assisting with reminders and alerts
  • Helping families easily supply older adults with necessities
  • Accessing new tools for maintaining health and safety 
But what do we do when this particular population feels unequipped or insufficiently educated to adopt new technologies? A recent survey from AARP states that nearly 4 in 10 older people (37%) admitted they weren’t confident about using newer technologies, yet more than half (54%) admitted they want a better grasp of the devices they’ve acquired. Below are some tips for ways clinicians can assist older adults to use the technology they have to its full potential.

1. Find the Best Available Technology for Older Adult Patients

Once you get to know a patient and develop rapport, it may be a good idea to inquire about how they are using tech in their day-to-day lives.  Do they use a cell phone (or have one they refuse to use)? Do they have access to a voice assistant like Alexa, or an iPad collecting dust in a corner of their house? Does your patient’s house have access to the internet? Inquire what the patient has available and begin to brainstorm how it could be further utilized. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to both the families and caregivers as well.

2. Using Tech in Occupational Therapy

Build parts of your session to include the technology your patients are comfortable with or want to get better at using. For example, regardless of discipline, a voice assistant device like Amazon Alexa or Siri can be used to set a timer for exercise or memory/auditory processing games. An iPad or other tablet can be used to show our HEP (via Medbridge app or email) or utilize programs for memory management, organizational skills, visual scanning, or really any type of therapeutic intervention you can think of.  Once your patients see how you incorporate tech into your treatment and can observe how it is used, they foster confidence around utilizing it when you are not there. 

3. Educate Older Adults on Using Tech in Their Day-to-Day Lives

I can't count how many patients I've encountered who simply won’t use their tech because they don’t know what it’s used for in the first place. Between Amazon, apps for grocery shopping, accessing important telehealth appointments, etc., the possibilities are endless. But all of these applications can be overwhelming for someone who’s not used to using them.  Start by identifying the tech that will benefit your patient the most. Find out what appeals to your patients and families and start small in order to avoid overwhelming them. Education should also include avoiding scams and protecting sensitive info, connecting to families with texts and calls, and participating in leisure—such as a game on a computer.

4. Set Realistic Technology Goals

During the height of the pandemic in 2020, a little more than a quarter of my patients had some sort of technology or communication goal. This percentage has grown over the past few years. The tech goals you set with your older adult patients don’t have to be too advanced. These goals could include simple tech habits that you and I might take for granted. Some good goals include:
  • Practicing sending texts 
  • Making telehealth appointments online or through an app 
  • Using voice assistance to start organizing and managing medication 
  • Learning how to use Facetime or social media to stay connected with loved ones 
These are just some of the activities I would work on with a patient in order to make them feel more confident with their devices. But technology also helped to keep them protected and feel less isolated in such a lonely and fearful time. Some of my former patients will still text me to this day a silly picture or emoji in order to let me know how grateful they are for learning this skill to be able to contact their loved ones. Technology isn’t going anywhere. And as it continues to evolve and become more and more important to all our daily lives, it is now more helpful than ever for older adults to have confidence in using their devices. It’s one of the best ways for them to continue to remain as independent as possible and thrive in their environment as factors change.  Growing more comfortable with technology will allow our patients to live better and more fulfilled as they are able to continue to engage in what means the most to them. 

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