8 Practical Ways For Seniors to Use
Virtual Assistants Devices
It is an invigorating and innovative time in the world of technology. But we understand that sometimes it feels like technology is just too complicated for many of us including our parents. Well to counterbalance that discomfort we are going to focus on the technology that is playing an important role in helping all of us age with dignity. This article is about the increasingly popular Virtual Assistant Devices (VAD) like Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Home, and Apple’s Home Pod.
Simply- Virtual assistants like these three above can play music on demand, control smart-home gadgets such as dimming the lights, locking doors, or adjusting your thermostat. Obviously Virtual Assistant devices are terrific tools to help make life easier for Seniors. Here are 8 incredible ways a Virtual Assistant Device can help our elderly loved ones.
- Help in Finding your Cell Phone
We all have experienced our cell phones mysteriously disappearing, later to find out it had fallen beneath furniture, slipped between cushions, or was hiding wherever we have forgotten we put them. With a virtual assistant like Apple Home Pod – instead of turning your office or home upside-down while looking for your phone, just ask Siri and say “Where is my iPhone?” and let Siri device find your phone for you!
This is also available on Google and Amazon, depending on what phone you have. All you need to do is say “Alexa, find my phone” and your phone will receive a call that will set off the ringer so you can find it.
- Calling for Help
What happens if your phone is not available when you need help, need physical assistance? Sending a text or making a call is great for this, but your phone may not always be accessible when you need it.
Amazon’s Alexa has a ‘Ask My Buddy’ notice so you can contact a loved one. With the Ask My Buddy skill, if and when you need help, say “Alexa, ask my buddy to send help” and your already added contacts will receive alerts.
Note: Ask My Buddy is not a substitute for 9-1-1. In the event of a true emergency, be sure to contact 9-1-1 immediately.
- Intercom
Yelling across a house as a way of communication in the house can be completely eliminated with your (VAD), like Siri Home Pod, or Amazon Echo’s Announcements feature as an intercom. You can speak to someone in the kitchen while you’re in the bedroom. We recommend you place your VAD throughout your home so that you will always have a device within earshot.
- Night Light Skill
It is a common problem that Nighttime trips to the bathroom can become a dangerous proposition without light to clear a walking path. Your VAD is the perfect solution. Simply tell it to turn on a light. No more fumbling around in the dark for a flashlight or a light switch, use your Echo device instead.
The Night Light skill in your Amazon Alexa account to will create a night light out of your Echo devices, and it can control your smart-home switches and lamps to turn with your voice.
- Call Nurse
The folks at Vigil have been working hard to integrate VAD into Senior Livigin environments to make it easier on the customers. Now Vigil’s Nurse call system can integrate with Amazon Alexato allow residents in senior living communities a way to call a staff member by using only their voice. When a resident experiences a fall and can’t operate a switch or a button or can not move, they simply need to ask their device to “to send help.”
- Alleviate Loneliness
VADs are known to alleviate loneliness in Seniors. We all know that getting older can be a lonely experience. Having a friendly voice to take care of your needs is truly a wonderful friend to have.
- Daily Encouragements
Want a surefire way to wake up on the right side of the bed? How about a little encouragement to get your mood on a positive track in the morning?
These three VADs all have he Daily Morning Affirmations and will share a word of encouragement. Just say “Alexa, open Daily Morning Affirmations” and make your selection from there. Start your day off right!
- Have Control of your Cell Phone
VADs can control your phone remotely to make communicating with others and staying up to date easy. With a VAD you can simply tell it what you want to do, such as “Hey Google, text message Daniel and tell him that I love him” and boom, it will be done.
As more technology is being released throughout the year we are on the search to find new and interesting ways to help our aging seniors. Our goal is to enable all seniors the security and knowledge so they can enjoy this wonderful technology safely.
Give us a call at (619) 400-7581 for more information.
