These days, it seems everyone and everything is “going mobile.” Mobile devices have become an essential component of life in modern America, yet not all senior living communities have adopted these technologies.
It’s clear that not everyone is going to want a mobile device. Some simply have no desire while others are a bit wary, tentative, or even a bit frightened of them. For a senior living community or other health care association that has been dragging its proverbial heels regarding mobile technology for patients or residents, the time is fast approaching when they could very well be left behind by technological advances.
New Services Only Offered Via Mobile Devices
There are certain services being provided and developed each year that will only be available through apps and those apps may only be downloadable to tablets and smartphones (i.e. mobile devices).
What’s going to happen in the near future when some of these services are considered essential and an aging population is simply unable to utilize them because they never adopted mobile technology?
One key example involves communication. While Skype is available on laptops and desktops as well as mobile, FaceTime (the Apple alternative) is not. FaceTime is predominantly a mobile device app that allows people to have a telecommunication conference or call.
The Benefits Outweigh the Risks
Many people are wary of mobile technology because of certain risk factors, including health issues and cyber security threats. As far as health issues are concerned, there have long been questions surrounding certain cancers and other health issues that may arise from the repeated use of mobile technology.
Currently, no viable, health journal published research exists indicating that physical harm can be caused by mobile devices, but moderation is always key. There are also concerns about vision related problems arising from the excessive use of mobile devices with backlit technology, but these can be tempered with moderation.
Staying connected with family, friends, news outlets, and more are some of the vital benefits that help communities care for the seniors in their charge.
Some seniors worry about losing these small devices or having them stolen and then what happens to their personal data and information? For those concerns, knowledgeable, virtual IT teams can monitor and manage these devices, locating them and securing them to offer peace of mind. It’s also possible to restrict what certain users can do with mobile devices.
Education Is Fundamental
One of the core concepts that help people become more comfortable with certain technologies is education. Having an experienced IT professional provide workshops, seminars, or coaching can offer essential information to help seniors understand the technology better, become more comfortable with it, and go beyond the basic healthcare apps that may monitor their vital stats, keep them connected with doctors and nurses, and so forth.
Cost Savings
Some senior communities become tentative about mobile technology and devices because of the cost. Buying individually can be cost-prohibitive, but with an experienced, dedicated IT team like CareServ, volume discounting and leasing arrangements are possible, which is not generally available through private retailers.
On top of that, by utilizing these services, it provides the distinct advantage in that senior living facilities don’t have to hire additional IT staff to monitor and manage mobile devices. The IT team can keep watch over these devices, know which ones may have gone missing right away, possibly locate them, lock them down, and keep everyone safe.
Mobile technology is becoming an instrumental component of modern life, no matter a person’s age. Implementing and introducing these mobile devices to the residents in your senior living community will help them communicate with friends and family better, stay in touch with the world around them more effectively, and enjoy the growing number of benefits technology offers.
