Technology can be intimidating, there’s no doubt about that. However, a large number of older adults are becoming more tech savvy, it’s increasingly evident that technology can have a positive impact on the 65 and up crowd. Keep reading for ways your phone, tablet or other smart devices can keep you on the straight and narrow path when it comes to healthy eating, socialization, mental stimulation and more.
Home nutrition
If you’re still healthy and active, you can keep yourself that way by paying attention to what you eat. With age, your dietary needs are going to change and it’s up to you to keep up with your body’s needs. But shopping is a hassle and popular media constantly changes its opinion on what foods are healthy and which are not. Enter technology. As a senior living in the 21st century, you have access to a range of apps and services that can fill your fridge and help keep money in the bank. Chowhound offers information on some of the most popular grocery delivery services, some of which have monthly fees, others only requiring a small payment at drop-off.
If you’ve never been particularly good at counting calories and looking at your food’s nutritional breakdown, there are plenty of apps that can help you there, too. In addition to nutrition trackers, a quick Google search will reveal numerous ways to find healthy recipes and even instantly locate coupons for needed items. If all else fails, The Food Oasis note that you can always have ready-to-cook meals delivered.
Fitness for seniors
Maybe you can’t run a marathon anymore but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your physical health. Exercise is important regardless of age and studies suggest that seniors who exercise have less downtime due to disability and injury, meaning you can stay independent longer by simply dragging yourself off the sofa. Marketwatch’s Nancy Fitzgerald reports that more than three-quarters of seniors who try fitness apps found them useful. The site lists several geared toward seniors including a seven-minute workout, which was designed specifically to improve heart health. If you’re looking for a way to keep an eye on your activity level, an activity tracker is a nonintrusive way to do just that. Many also offer heart rate and sleep monitoring.
Mental stimulation
Find-a-word books and crossword puzzles are excellent ways to keep the mind active and sharp. But these can get boring and there’s a whole world of brain-boosting fun waiting for you inside your tablet. Amazon’s Kindle is one of our favorites since it’s inexpensive and offers numerous free games along with cloud hosting. Some of the more popular mobile games for seniors are Tetris, Words with Friends and Candy Crush. The National Institutes of Health reports that there’s great potential in the digital world to help older adults maintain or even improve their cognitive abilities.
Socialization
Fun and games are not the only entertaining way to stay healthy. GreatSeniorLiving.com explains, “Social engagement is important for people’s well-being, regardless of their age. Yet, it’s probably most vital during a person’s senior years because older adults and the elderly are more susceptible to social isolation than younger people.” But making friends post-retirement can be difficult. You no longer have the benefit of adult interaction at work and your adult children have likely started a family of their own. The Internet is a great way to search for senior-oriented social networking groups including volunteer organizations. If you have a specific interest such as card games or travel, you can quickly find others who share your passion.
Technology has made the world a much smaller place. Websites give you access to information when you want it, meaning you are never more than a mouse click or finger swipe away from opportunities to improve your physical and mental health.
