In
the huge auditorium filled with enthusiastic people, all one can hear is pin
drop silence. The crowd is attentively sitting in their chair, with their focus
on the stage. An elderly actress is seated on the floor. Another character glides
onto the stage along with a tray. The tray carries a teapot, cake and some
biscuits.
The
new entrant lowers the tray on the table, fills the cup with hot tea, carefully
places well cut pieces of cake on the plate and serves the biscuits. If you
observe the new entrant in a pink apron, you will think of it as an oversize
garbage can. She is about 3 feet tall and has a plastic head with glowing
lights in the shape of the eyes. She says, ‘Your tea is served, madam. Can I
take the day off? I am not in the mood to work today.’. The words from the
robot sound too automated and monotonous.
This
was a scene from a Japanese stage play. The play was about robots, our new
automated friends, who are depicted as machines with emotions. It was all about
how humans and machines, both cope up the challenges of a developing emotional
automaton. The technology expert from solvemyproblemm.com has a lot to speak if
technology is a friend or not?!
Won’t
you like to know if the personal robot is finally here?
You
may find it quite odd to read about automatons when we are here to know more
about technology as a new friend for our elderly. Well, the future is seen at a
glance from the stage play mentioned. Soon, our elderly will have to rely on
these machines for their daily needs and help. These machines will definitely
prove to be a boon for those who live alone and require assistance in their
daily life.
The
world’s elderly population is rapidly growing due to better health care
facilities available. The progress of medical science has helped improve the
quality and longevity of life. But the fast paced world today has no time for
the elderly. People are living further away and there are many factors that
increase loneliness in our older generation.
Thus,
they now have to depend on the machines and technology as an interactive tool
at home as well as outside. Don’t you think this robot could one day serve as
an assistant to our elderly?
The Challenge of Loneliness, speaks
psychology expert
The
ageing society today is becoming lonelier. They feel isolated, ignored and even
abandoned. There are many reasons as to why they feel so depressed and
isolated. Every day 1 in 10 elderly person feels this way. Imagine living a
lonely life each passing day of your aged life when you need company the most.
This can lead to depression, a serious health condition.
In
order to overcome the sadness in life, people take on to smoking and alcohol
consumption, that increases their health problems. It decreases the quality of
life and the person passes away lonely and sad. So, why are today’s elderly,
lonely?
One
of the reasons is low income. As the financial condition of most elderly is not
so stable, they have little option for recreation and enjoying the sunset of
their lives. Most have few or little friends to share their feelings and lives.
Children have grown up and settled down in their own lives. They have little
contact with parents who live separately. Some elderly have difficulty moving
around due to old age, thus avoid going out and having social contact. Some or
most of these factors contribute to loneliness in the elderly.
The
only thing that gives the company to our aging population is sadly the idiot
box. Spending time in front of the television is the only option left for the
old.
Can there be solutions in the
world of technology that helps our elderly overcome the depression, loneliness
and overcome the need for assistance in their ripe old age?
Yes, Technology Today Can Be
A Friend For Our Elderly
One
of the greatest gift technology has given us is the Internet. It brings the
world at our fingertips and helps us stay connected with every person who is
online. Even telephones have evolved into mobile phones and tablets that help
us not just speak to our loved ones, but also message chats, video chat, sends
and receive photos & videos and even play games. The gadget expert feels it
can be a friend.
Our
aged population is closer to technology that the previous ones. This is because
the technology is getting simpler and easier to handle. If we bring this
simple, yet useful technology closer to our elderly, it will help them stay
connected with their close ones.
Use
of applications such as Skype will help them speak and meet their loved ones
regularly. Easy and cheap text services like WhatsApp helps them message
friends and family as well as share photos and videos that makes them feel
closer to those far away. See their grandson’s first step or hear their great
granddaughter sing in the school choir all brings smiles on their faces that is
worth a million.
Facebook
helps them connect with long lost friends and relive their old days. It also
helps them make new friends and acquaintances. Even the elderly with low
incomes can use technology for their benefit.
Are there any studies that
find social media use beneficial for the overall health of the elderly?
Yes,
a report in the UK and Italy has shown that the elderly as well as the
vulnerable people found it helped improve their cognitive capacity, increased
the sense of self-competence as well as having a positive impact on their
mental and physical health. How does social media help elderly? What are the
uses of social media.
Other
than keeping in touch with family and friends, there are many other ways
technology proves to be a friend of the elderly. A smartphone today comes with
many applications that make life easy for our elderly friends. For example,
there are applications that remind them when it’s time to take which pill as
well as its dose.
There
are many emergency applications that on just a touch of a button send SOS
signals to family members, friends, doctors, ambulance services as well as 911
to help and assist them during a medical or any other emergency.
Our
gracefully aging women can use technology for their most favourite thing in the
world. That is, shopping! Yes, online shopping will help our elderly order
groceries, clothes, shoes, home and kitchen products as well as anything and
everything under the sun! This is beneficial for those who cannot move out
regularly or need assistance walking.
Can Coupons and Other Discounts
Help Save Money for Our Seniors?
There
are many schemes and offers that appear when you shop online. These deals are
not just a fun thing to do, but they provide a lot of opportunity for our
elders to save money. This proves a boon to many such seniors who face a
financial crunch in their age of retirement. The finance expert has good
options to recommend when it comes to, Does discounts save money?.
Travelling and technology.
Travel
expert from solvemyproblemm.com feel technology is friendly while travelling
too. Technology can also help make
travelling easier for the seniors. GPS is another such technology that will
help our elderly navigates their way in a new destination. Thus, they can
easily take on a new adventure in their retirement life, by arming themselves
with the latest GPS applications as well as gadgets.
Those
who are too weak to type or still consider themselves nascent of contemporary
keyboard knowledge can try applications that do not require typing. Just
dictate your instructions to the application and get your task completed.
Can Technology Help The
Elderly Be A Part of The Community?
As
a part of a social media group or a chat group on their smart phone, many
seniors no longer feel isolated at home. This is very important for those who
cannot move out of the house due to health constraints. It helps them stay in touch
with old friends as well as make new friends. They can carry on with
congregation without ever having to leave their house. Our seniors can no
longer feel lonely as they are able to see their family in photos and videos
shared as well as keep everyone updated about their present whereabouts.
People
with vision problems can use applications that help them hear all that is
happening on their smartphone screen. Thus, making it easy for them to connect
calls, read messages as well as send messages.
In
simple words, technology helps improve social contact. It helps them connect
with their families, neighbours, and friends as well as remain a part of the
community. A simple chat over a video call helps them feel less lonely and left
out. Those who have difficulty walking can even use a battery operated
wheelchairs that help them remain mobile. Thus, they can move out to parks and
malls as well as catch up with friends.
Can Technology Keep the Elderly
Safe and Protected?
Security
expert from solvemyproblemm.com recommends technology to be in par with
advanced security. Technology even helps keep our elderly safe and protected.
With the rising crime rate, one can fit security cameras in and around the
house to make sure our elderly remain safe. There are door security monitors
that help them see who is knocking at their door. If they feel safe and find it
convenient, they can allow access to the person calling on them. Surveillance
cameras help avoid theft and protect their savings from getting robbed. In many
cases, security alarms can help save lives from murderous intentions.
However,
technology can never help fill the gap that a human touch can. Stay connected
to the older people around you. A friendly chat while riding the lift or
helping them carries their grocery will make a world of difference to someone.
Loneliness is a type of a slow poison that reduces self-worth and increases
depression. Whatever our age, we all need friends. And technology helps bridge
the communication gap between the elderly and the community at large.
Technology can, therefore,
prove to be a great friend for those in their twilight years and help them age
independently.
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