With more Americans choosing to age in place than ever before, there is an increased demand for technological day-to-day support. Ideal pieces of technology for seniors not only provide some sort of service that aims to improve overall quality of life but also enhances independence at home. If you have a loved one who is aging in place, consider one of these tech-forward gifts for them this holiday season:
Everything on the Internet: Amazon Prime Membership
Amazon Prime started out as a membership that gained you free shipping on all items purchased via Amazon.com, but has since evolved into a program that provides a variety of benefits. As an Amazon Prime member, your aging loved one will have free 2-day and same day shipping on eligible items purchased on Amazon.com, access to Prime Video streaming services (which includes Emmy-nominated original series’ such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the Golden Globe-winning Goliath), as well as unlimited access to over 2 million songs through Prime Music. Additionally, an Amazon Prime Membership will grant you special discounts when shopping at Whole Foods Markets and the ability to borrow books with an Amazon Kindle via Amazon Prime Reading.
Amazon Prime is a wonderful technology for elderly and young adults and also quite affordable for all that is included. A membership is $12.99/month, or one annual payment of $119.
Easy Food Delivery: InstaCart Gift Card
Food shopping can become more challenging with age—from mobility issues, to transportation challenges, to not wanting to go out in inclement weather—there are a variety of reasons why older adults stop going to the grocery store. But thanks to advancements in technology, you can have groceries delivered from your favorite stores without ever having to leave the house. As long as your loved one who is aging in place has access to a computer or smartphone, InstaCart will help them access thousands of products they love with guaranteed same-day delivery. A gift certificate for InstaCart can go a long way this holiday season, especially on a particularly cold or snowy day.
Voice-Activated Fun: Amazon Echo
When you live alone, having the ability to talk to someone throughout the day is a small thing that can have a big impact on your psyche. With the voice-activated Amazon Echo products, all your loved one would have to say is “Alexa…” followed by a command and a variety of functions will follow. The Amazon Echo Dot can stream music, tell you the weather, set important alarms and timers, and fill you in on the day’s news. If your loved one would prefer a screen instead of just a speaker, you can get the the Amazon Echo Show with a 5.5” display screen that allows them to use Alexa to pull up recipes, play games like Jeopardy!, and manage their calendar or to-do lists. As an added bonus, when the Echo Show isn’t in use, it can serve as a digital clock.
The Gift of Freedom: Ride Sharing Gift Card
Technology is a truly amazing thing; for those who no longer have access to a car and do not want to be homebound while aging in place, ride-sharing services like Lyft and Uber, will pick you up and take you where you need to go, whenever you need it. Unlike taxi cabs, ride sharing services do not accept cash and can be summoned on-demand from your smartphone. When you purchase a Lyft or Uber gift card for your loved one, you cover the cost of their rides instead of them having to put it on their credit card. Whether they need to go to the doctor, the hair salon, a restaurant, or out to run errands—these ride sharing apps can help them get there!
Help Around the House: TaskRabbit Gift Card
TaskRabbit is a technologically enhanced way to connect your loved one with a local handyman or helper. Taskers, who are all trained and vetted by the local TaskRabbit office, can help with a variety of household tasks, including: home repairs, yardwork, house cleaning, and running errands. Taskers are there to help support your loved one successfully age in place. Although TaskRabbit is available to customers of all ages, it’s an ideal technology for seniors, especially if their family members live far away or are working during the day when they need help with things around the house.
Never Lose Keys Again: Tile
Is your loved one prone to losing or misplacing things? With Tile products and its corresponding app, you won’t have to worry about them losing their phone or keys again. With bluetooth-enabled products that can fit on a keyring or stick to the surface of a phone or camera, Tile serves as a homing device which you can then track through an app on a smartphone. And if it’s the smartphone that’s gone missing, have no fear—double pressing the tile button can trigger an alarm to go off on the one that is attached to the phone, helping your loved one remember where they misplaced it, even if the phone itself is on silent mode.
Safety with Style: Upgraded Medical Alert Device
For those looking for an extra layer of protection, peace of mind, and immediate emergency or non-emergency assistance for a loved one aging in place—Medical Guardian’s upgraded medical alert accessories are a great gift. New this year, is the Limitless Icons Collection, which reimagine the standard medical alert pendant as beautiful, quality jewelry. The pendants sold as part of this collection are discrete—looking more like jewelry than a medical alert device and are just as effective as the regular pendants. They are by far the chicest way for your loved one to remain safe as they age in place.
Medical Guardian also offers a wearable medical alert smartwatch, Freedom Guardian, which incorporates features that provide day-to-day support and value for users and their loved ones. Freedom Guardian is a wearable device which easily blends in with everyday activities—ensuring connectivity, safety, and reliability. Its features were designed specifically with the senior in mind, including unlimited Emergency/SOS Calls, Speech-to-Text Messaging, Calendar, and Appointment Reminders, Local Weather Forecast, and more. Additionally, a caregiver or family member can easily and conveniently check on their loved ones directly through Freedom Guardian’s Companion Mobile app.
Happy Holidays From Medical Guardian
While gifts tend to be the main focus of the holiday season—the true meaning of the holidays cannot be purchased. Love, gratitude, and health are all gifts that we take for granted throughout the year. And although you do not need to buy material items to convey these messages to loved ones—any one of the above gifts will also convey those messages. May your holidays be filled with love and good health this year!
