Our seniors are some of the most vulnerable members of our families and of our communities. They can also be some of the most tech savvy. As new technologies emerge, seniors are finding ways to make their lives comfortable, easier, and in some instances safer.

Here are some technologies that the beloved elders in your life might benefit from:

GPS Trackers

A device such a gps tracker that goes into the sole of shoes can be helpful for seniors living with dementia. If your senior leaves a set perimeter you can set it to get a notification, as well as track them using GPS.

Fitness Trackers

Wearable trackers enable seniors to monitor their daily activity, exercise, and sleep patterns. Some wearable trackers will monitor your heart rate and alert you when it is high or low. You cannot replace the knowledge and expertise of a doctor or health professional; however, fitness trackers can help inform you about your habits and other significant patterns that are important to your health.

Estate Planning Apps

Platforms and apps like MyDirectives, Everplans and Trust & Will can assist in managing your last wishes, your wills and trusts and other important documents. Vaults that are digital can help to ensure that important files are accessible. According to US News, tools such as StoryWorth and other legacy tools give seniors the privacy and confidence to leave personal messages that their love ones can access after they pass. You can also manage social media accounts with services such as GoodTrust.

Brain-training apps and cognition centered games help seniors maintain mental sharpness and monitor their progress.

Technologies such as Zoom and FaceTime can help seniors stay connected with family, friends. Video call apps can make it easier for seniors who may be less mobile to have online appointments with their attorney, financial advisors, and other service providers. You can also use these technologies to access online exercise or art classes or join meetings for remote work.

MedMinder, for example, provides tools so that our elders can be reminded of refills and ensure that they take the correct dose of medications.

Home Assistive Devices

Smart home systems may be able to detect falls--Amazon Alexa and Google Assistance are great for reminders, playing music playlists, and controlling smart home devices with voice commands. They can even turn on your cleaning devices.

Smart Watches

A smartwatch with cellular capabilities, can allow you to use the phone app to call for help in an emergency. The app can be found in both Apple smartwatches and Android smartwatches.

You will likely need a service plan for your watch with a cellular data provider.

A smart watch can also have many of the apps available in a fitness tracker, see above for some of the technologies offered by wearable trackers.

Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft make it easier for elders to travel independently without reliance on family or public transportation systems that can be unreliable for seniors who may be seeing their doctors or attending religious services. They can schedule rides to appointments or weekly activities in advance. Older adults may choose to walk to a destination and if necessary request a car from a ride-hailing app to return home.

For all of these tools, we recommend researching them thoroughly. For medical emergencies seek medical help from a doctor or hospital.