by C.A. Bryson
My late-mother, then in her fifties, used the new PC’s (personal computers, that was in the 1980s), in data analysis for her job as a computer consultant for the Royal Commission on the Hospital for Sick Children. She was truly an innovator in her field, assisted by my sister, Mary, then a graduate student.
This was big news In the 1980s. Now,40 years later, we use technology throughout our day without even thinking about it: using the touchpad on the microwave to make our morning tea, programming our washing machine, booking hotel rooms, checking email, logging onto Facebook, and so on. In fact, we are so immersed in technology in our daily lives that many experts advise a weekly ‘digital sabbath’.
But I am not, as you may be also, a digital ‘native’, meaning, I didn’t grow up with computers (though PacMan was all the rage in my senior year of high school.) So it’s been rather a steep learning curve for me. In this post, I’ll go over the salient facts of what I could glean from a webinar on the (relatively) new field of ‘gerontechnology.’
Events>Web Seminars>Home Instead Senior Care Series>Seniors and Technology
Firstly, some stats (U.S. based):
- Americans, 50 years old and over, spend on average 85 Billion a year on technology products
- 42% of those 65+ own smartphones
- 67% of older adults use the Internet
So boomers, and their elders, are a huge market for tech products. But gerontechnology (the fusion of the field of gerontology with that of technology), is about more than just bigger buttons or louder audio. Rather, gerontechnologists strive to involve older adults in the design of new technology. For example, what is called PERS (Personal Emergency Response Systems) or MedicAlert bracelets, are sometimes not used by older adults because of the stigma related to needing this kind of care. Thus designers of these products wish to make more unobtrusive ones. In addition, issues such as privacy (as we shall soon see) and risks such as being victims of online fraud scams or identity theft, are also of concern.
With the advent of ‘smart homes, the surveillance of the elderly by caregivers living a distance away became possible. For example, caregivers can be notified when their loved ones turn on the TV in the morning and started to make their morning coffee (hence, their loved ones are safe). This kind of surveillance brings up an issue of privacy, however. Do these individuals want their families to have this kind of information? Mind you if they have a bad fall, these same systems can alert caregivers who in turn call first responders.
Gerontechnologists suggest making an inventory of their loved one’s technological needs, and truly see the older person as an individual, and not as part of a homogenous group. Could they have independence, social needs, health or cognitive (i.e. mental training) needs? With the help of cloud-based tracking systems, information such as medical history, physician contacts, medication schedules, and health care conditions can be accessed at the touch of a button. Some devices can track blood pressure, and issue medication reminders. During the pandemic, many older adults are encouraged to make use of telehealth services. See:
https://www.telus.com/en/health/personal/babylon
see also:
https://www.telus.com/en/wise/workshops
That being said, technology, if used judiciously, can be a huge help to caregivers. Another real benefit is that during the pandemic, technology can help older adults stay engaged. Personally, I subscribe to a low-cost language learning tool called ‘russian pod 101.’ Also, I make use of smartphone apps such as the free ‘Mindshift’ app. NSCR Caregiver Program Coordinator Melissa Wade also addressed the issue of how technology can reduce loneliness and isolation, for example, the online Caregiver Support groups are now offered through Zoom (and her post provides a Zoom tutorial.). Older adults may prefer just getting a low-tech phone call, however. (See: Easyfone Prime A1 3G, an Unlocked Senior Flip Cell Phone, $89 on Amazon.) I am told some computer programs have algorithms that can detect depression in a person’s voice. Mind you, if I know the person well, I can do that too. Another example of a low-tech form of connection is just to write a letter. Last summer, I got a handwritten letter from a volunteer of the BC 211 program (see image above.)
https://www.bc211.ca/safe-seniors-strong-communities
(text 2-1-1 8:00 am to 11 pm)
(information from Seniors First BC)
Nevertheless, nothing can replace the soothing tones of a human voice, or soft loving touch (and let’s not forget our furry friends!!) We must be careful not to depend on technology so much that it becomes a substitute for face-to-face contact (provided safety measures are in place.) Indeed, sleep experts advise that one to two hours before bed, people should refrain from logging on to their devices, as the blue light they emit impedes sleep. Instead, why not try some poetry therapy, such as:
Lead Kindly Light
Lead, kindly light,
Amid the encircling gloom.
Lead thou me on;
The night is dark,
And I am far from home,
Lead thou me on.
Cardinal John Henry Newman
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost
Honestly try it, it works!
All in all, then, technology is basically only a tool in the service of humanity—not humanity in the service of technology. In the coming years, I believe we need to stay mindful of that distinction.
Acknowledgements:
American Society on Aging
David Frank Gomes, Mindfulness Instructor and Life Coach, who taught me Mindfulness through Huddol last September, and inspired me to include this 19th-century innovator.
And of course, my late mother Anne (1934-2020), ever the innovator
North Van Caregivers 