Back in 1935 when the retirement age was set at 65, the average life expectancy was about 61.7 years. Today, the average life expectancy in the U.S. is almost twenty years longer at 82 years, and in general, older adults are staying more active and more involved than their parents and grandparents did. Traditional nursing homes are a thing of the past, due to new technologies and the living of vibrant, active lifestyles.
Aging in place has never been easier since retirement communities have incorporated innovative, new technologies into their amenities and range of health services. Since technology has exploded in the last twenty years, this article will fill you in on some of the new advances people are using to live longer and fuller.
1. Smart-home technology
Our lives are easier now more than ever thanks to smart-home technology. Voice-activated smart home technologies, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home, make setting reminders, creating grocery lists and playing upbeat music as easy as saying a short command. Other smart-home technologies helping people live longer and fuller are safety features you can install in your home. These include fall-sensing technologies, smart security cameras, smart doorbells which let you view who’s at your front door and smart locks, which allow you to still get in and out of your home in case you ever forget your keys.
2. Computers for health information access
The advent of computers and the world wide web offers unlimited access to health information at your fingertips. Thanks to the encyclopedic level of knowledge that is easily found with a quick Google search, you can now live fuller by taking a more active role in your health care decisions. Be sure you are reading reliable information—you can almost always determine whether a source is reliable by who published the information. It’s likely reliable health information if it has been published by a hospital such as the Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic, a national health organization like the National Institutes of Health or CDC, or a trusted organization like the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association.
In addition, you can now have virtual doctors’ appointments with telehealth, allowing you to access doctors with specific specialties and obtain second opinions from home. You can even ask a doctor about your health using an online medical forum, where you can often get an answer back in less than one day.
3. Apps for brain health
If you have a smartphone, you may already know about specific apps designed to keep your mind sharp and challenge your memory capacity. These apps are a way to flex your brain just like the way we do for our bodies when we go to the gym. You may have heard of a few of them—Lumosity, Peak, FitBrains, and Elevate are all examples of apps you can download on your phone or tablet to keep your cognition and memory sharp.
4. Portable, wearable medical devices
The innovation of portable medical devices has enabled individuals to have the freedom to manage their health. In fact, you may already have one. Devices such as Fitbits and Apple watches monitor your steps and heart rate each day. Some experts recommend trying to get 10,000 steps a day. Wearing a smart watch like these can help you achieve your daily fitness goals, even if that means taking an extra stroll around the neighborhood to meet your daily step count.
5. Health management devices
Other technologies that make life easier and can hook up to your smart phone include portable health management devices. You can link things such as smart EKG monitors and blood pressure cuffs with affiliated apps, some of which are even able to alert your doctor if you have a bad reading. Many of the apps can also show a change in readings over time, letting you and your medical professional know whether your current care plan is working or not. These technologies make it easier to manage your health, especially if you have a chronic condition.
6. Skype and other video messaging services
Technologies like Skype, FaceTime and other video messaging services allow you to see your family more often, especially if your family is scattered around the country. Many researchers agree that maintaining family ties and social bonds with who you love and care about has multifactorial benefits for keeping you healthy, both physically and mentally. These interactions may reduce any sense of loneliness, which directly reduces your risk of developing depression. So, mark your calendar for monthly chats with your loved ones to keep connected!
7. Entertainment
Boredom can wreak havoc on the body, reducing memory capabilities and potentially leading to mental health concerns such as depression. Luckily, we now have a wide range of technologies that utilize various forms of entertainment to keep our minds and interests occupied. This is especially true for those who struggle to leave home regularly, as we have a variety of avenues for entertainment these days. Entertainment may include sources like the television, YouTube and similar video-sharing platforms, the computer, social-networking websites, online forums and Q&A services, apps and games on your phone or tablet and more. Not to mention, the trusty standby—the movie theater—still acts as one of the best date night options or places to visit with friends or family.
Technology for a better retirement
Using technology is one of the many ways you can live a happy, healthy, vibrant retirement. It seems that almost every day, new technologies are being unveiled that make life easier, simpler, and more exciting!
Sun Health Communities encourages residents to engage with technology as a part of our promotion of active, independent lifestyles. It’s part of our commitment to the overall health and wellness of those that call our communities home. By offering residents the benefits of independent living with a range of health services all within a socially active community, residents of Life Plan Communities can truly live life to the fullest. Contact us to learn more today!
