Two related issues that affect older adults — social isolation and lack of mobility options — could be greatly improved by introducing more user-friendly tablets and smartphones to help them communicate.
Although many smartphone apps now are catering specifically to seniors, some legacy apps have begun to take older adults’ needs more seriously, according to recent news that was distributed courtesy of rideshare giant Lyft.
Health tech experts have raised the alarm that, even as devices aimed at the older adult market become more sophisticated, that many apps and tech tools still fail to account for seniors’ specific needs, including difficulty navigating small, overly complicated buttons.
The problem is significant enough that tech developers are even creating augmented reality tools to better guide seniors’ smartphone usage within a virtual, three-dimensional space, the McKnight’s Tech Daily reported Monday.
Although Lyft undoubtedly is hoping to stand out among transportation options for older adults, the possibility that major apps are taking the needs of seniors seriously could represent a promising shift in thinking.
Relevant to senior living providers, improving ease-of-use for acquiring transportation could make a huge difference for older adults who still rely on in-person clinical appointments outside of their residences.
In addition to making adjustments to Lyft’s app to account for older adults’ needs, the company has partnered with device developers, such as Lively’s Jitterbug phone for seniors, so that older adults can access services through those tools, Lyft said.
The rideshare story also highlights the single-button tablet device, Komp, which helped facilitate better communication between seniors and family members, one recent study showed.
Other companies that have worked to make tech tools more user-friendly for older adult include Meta, with apps that include Facebook and Instagram, although that company has the added desire to move services onto its virtual “metaverse” platform. Senior living communities, as well as their surrounding communities, also continue to introduce tech literacy programs to help ensure seniors are taking advantage of the myriad of technology now available to assist them.
Several senior living operators — among them Ascension Living, Brookdale Senior Living, Erickson Senior Living, Revera and Sunshine Retirement Living — previously tested Lyft or Uber models, including ones that enabled senior living communities to order rides on behalf of residents. Additionally, tech companies such as grandPad and GreatCall have tested transportation offerings for older adults with Lyft.
