By Emily Frye

The sayings such as, “Home is where the heart is,” or “home sweet home,” or “there’s no place like home,” really do ring true for many people, older Americans especially, who have built their livelihood for the past thirty years or more, in one house. Thanks to technology, the upcoming years could make these sentiments stay true by allowing older individuals of the retirement phase, to stay in their homes longer.

Between the years of 1946 and 1964, around 76 million people were born. This created what is known as the Baby Boomer Generation. For the next twenty years, retirement will be dominated by people from this generation, estimated in about 10,000 people per day retiring, according to the Washington Post.

While many look forward to the luxuries of not having a nine to five job, five days a week, and spending their time enjoying the finer things of life, others worry about declining health, or potential capability to live independently. Companies such as Grand CARE Systems and Health Sense realize this concern, and in an effort to allow senior citizens longer independence, and to ease the burden of the massive amount of retirees in the upcoming years, they have developed new technology that will allow such independence. [Read more…]

More people – older adults included – own smartphones than ever before. In fact, according to a May 2017 report from the Pew Research Center, 42 percent of adults age 65 and older own a smartphone, a figure that jumps to 59 percent for seniors between the ages of 65 and 69. The proliferation of smartphone usage has led to a natural increase in the number of mobile apps that aim to improve health and wellness, from fitness apps to brain-training apps, diet and nutrition-focused apps, and more.

There are ample options suitable for older adults who want to increase their physical activity levels or start monitoring activities and dietary intake to discover how they can make improvements, from exercise videos and equipment that’s well-suited to the needs of seniors to fitness trackers and other wearable tech devices that provide useful data for anyone wanting to improve their health and well-being. Smartphone apps can work with or alongside these tools – or on their own – providing cognitive benefits, access to resources, and other perks for older adults. Here’s a look at a few such apps that are well-suited to the needs of older adults. [Read more…]

By Chris Holbert

Baby boomers are retiring in droves. Only 23.6% of Americans age 65 and older remained in the workforce by the fourth quarter of 2016 according to reports from Bloomberg. But older Americans are not ready to just sit at home and pass time on the porch. People are staying active, engaging in new hobbies, traveling to wish list destinations and living life to the fullest.

Retirement lends people the freedom and time for activities and interests that was not possible while they were working, however, the reality is boomers bodies are aging. At 65 normal daily activities might be easy, but by their mid-70s many people start noticing problems with balance, arthritis, and a loss of strength. Tasks that used to be simple may seem more challenging and more accidents begin to occur. An active lifestyle can be hampered by the risk of falls and other health issues. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one in four adults over age 65 falls each year. As people age they are also more likely to develop symptoms caused by diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia.

The good news is, older Americans have no reason to limit their activities or to worry that they will not be able to enjoy retirement in the comfort and security of their own homes. New technologies are enabling people to live more fulfilled, healthier lives by keeping them in touch with loved ones and emergency medical response teams should an emergency occur. Many people are already familiar with fitness wearables that track their steps and caloric burn. But as the years go by, there is another technology to consider, mPERS (mobile personal emergency response system). [Read more…]

Baby boomers witnessed and experienced a lot in their formative years, such as the Cold War, the space race, political assassinations, the Vietnam War, Civil Rights protests and Watergate.

Now they are reaching an age when many may want to pass along their experiences, memories and family stories to their children and grandchildren – and that urge couldn’t be happening at a better time.

Over the last several years, science and technology have been making game-changing strides in the world of genealogy and boomers have at their disposal the tools to verify and strengthen those family stories that weren’t available just a few decades ago.

“It’s amazing what we can learn today about ourselves and our ancestors, and the role they may have played in history,” says Ceil Lucas, a sociolinguist, amateur genealogist and author of How I Got Here: A Memoir, which chronicles her early years growing up in Guatemala and Italy. [Read more…]

By Sandra Bernardo, Consumer Education Manager Experian

While anyone can be a victim of identity theft, seniors may be at even more of a risk then the general population. According to the Department of Justice, the number of elderly victims of identity theft increased from 2.1 million in 2012 to 2.6 million in 2014. This increase is likely due to the fact that seniors often live alone and crave companionship, and also have fading memories, which makes them easy pray for identity thieves who take advantage of their loneliness and vulnerability.

What’s more is that identity theft in seniors can be truly tragic as bank accounts are drained and retirement funds vanish, leaving these seniors without any resources in their golden years.  Protecting our aging parents can be simple if you know where to start. Here are five ways to keep them, and their nest eggs, safe. [Read more…]

By Mike Whitmire, iTOK VP of Marketing

Technology touches almost every part of daily life, but it can be difficult for older adults to learn how to operate the latest gadget or download popular new programs. Does change always have to be so challenging? Adopting a positive mindset and taking small steps to understand the functions of a tablet or laptop can go a long way in easing the pains of technology adoption.

Embrace new software for optimal results

Microsoft recently unveiled its newest operating system, Windows 10, and offered the software upgrade for free. Despite the opportunity to download new technology without any monetary obligation, not everyone took advantage of it. In fact, an iTOK survey found that 64 percent of Windows customers over age 55 were indeed reluctant to get the free update, because they thought it might impact their ability to stay connected with friends and family.

Many seniors connect online as a convenient and inexpensive way to stay in close contact with people who might live far away. They don’t upgrade their software because they’re comfortable with it, and after all, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” However, not upgrading software is more likely to make applications such as FaceTime and Skype incompatible with outdated versions. Therefore, it’s best to install new software periodically instead of once every couple of years. This makes it easier to adapt to incremental technology changes. [Read more…]

Technology has become a huge part of life. Computers, smartphones and mobile devices of all sorts open the world of information. Sites like Wikipedia, Wikileaks and others have made information at the forefront of everything the Internet is. Email and Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr have made connecting with like-minded people easy and fun, but this can all be baffling for new computer and technology users. If now is the time to teach your elderly parents how to use the Internet, here’s how to do it:

What They Want

Identify what they want. Don’t over complicate computers with lots of options. Computers are capable of so much, new users can easily get lost in options and settings. They might even delete files essential for the use of the operating system. So sit down with mom and dad and make sure you all have similar expectations. An estimated 6.5 million people over the age of 55 have never used the Internet, according to MyAgingParent.com. There may be many reasons for this. A lack of confidence with the machines or a fear of wasted time for little gain. Whatever it is, address the reasons why he or she hasn’t used the Internet, and why they can and will learn, given time. [Read more…]