Seniors are not digital natives. They didn’t grow up Googling every question or answering emails left and right. That doesn’t mean they don’t want to benefit from the many capabilities of today’s technology, though. Here are five gadgets your older loved one may enjoy:
A weather station
Many people check the weather before getting dressed for the day, but they do it by turning on the TV. Instead, gift your senior loved one a weather station. These gadgets gauge the temperature, cloud coverage and even provide up-to-date forecasts for the local area. Your senior will love having his or her own view on the exact weather near the community where he or she resides.
A tablet
Since seniors don’t need a lot of digital storage space, they don’t necessarily need an expensive laptop. Most older individuals enjoy surfing the Web to check the news, communicate with far-away grandkids and shop online. Tablets are perfect for these activities! Plus, these gadgets are much less costly than a full computer. Tablets also take up little space, and won’t require taking up an entire desk space in your loved one’s living space. Your friend or family member will love being able to take photos, Skype with pals, and prep for birthdays and holidays by buying gifts on the Internet. You can even download helpful apps to assist the senior in remembering when to take medications or to schedule doctor’s appointments.
A Wii
Seniors can play video games too! A Wii is a great way to get older people involved with something their grandkids will love! The whole family can digitally bowl, golf or even have a dance party to earn points. Playing games with a Wii offers a chance for everyone to partake in some low-key physical activity together.
An Apple TV
Instead of purchasing a massive cable subscription your senior may or may not use, why not grab an Apple TV? These small devices hook up to a television and provide the senior access to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. You can also subscribe to specific interest channels, like Discovery, the Travel Channel or MLB TV. This way the senior can watch what he or she wants without flipping through a million channels.
A fitness tracker
Is your older loved one trying to lose weight? Maybe he or she just enjoys going for walks. Or, perhaps a competitive streak runs in your family and you want to get a senior involved in your fight to get fit! A fitness tracker can serve as encouragement to get a senior moving. It’s fun to watch the stop counter climb higher, and can be a great motivator. These devices don’t just track steps. They can serve as sleep and heart rate monitors, and some even offer a GPS function to make sure the wearer doesn’t get lost while exercising.You could even challenge the individual to a little competition to see who can get better sleep or walk further in a week.
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