Doris Bersing, PhD
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The Best Senior-Friendly Tech Tools to Keep You Engaged in the World

Now more than ever before, it’s important for seniors to connect with their loved ones and engage in the world around them — even if they’re doing it from the safety of their homes. Senior isolation and loneliness are growing concerns amidst COVID-19, but tech devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, and e-readers give older adults a chance to stay in touch with the outside world and pursue their passions while staying safe at home. To explore some of the best tech tools for seniors, check out these suggestions.

Smartphones, Laptops, and Tablets

Among some of the most common senior-friendly tech devices are smartphones, laptops, and tablets. These devices can help seniors connect with their loved ones, learn new skills and hobbies, get help in an emergency, pursue passions, and experience a better quality of life overall. Here’s what makes technology so great, especially in the age of COVID-19:

  • Video chatting. Seniors can use smartphones, tablets, and laptops with built-in webcams to video chat with loved ones via popular apps such as Zoom or Skype. According to Lifehacker, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger Lite, and WhatsApp are some of the simplest video chat apps for seniors.
  • Calling, texting, emailing, and sending photos. Seniors can use their smartphones to send and receive phone calls, text messages, emails, and photos. Plus, they can access a variety of mobile apps such as MedWatcher, Senior Phone, and Kindle.
  • Browsing the internet. Since laptops and tablets feature larger screens, these tech devices are perfect for visiting social media sites, playing online games, watching videos, and browsing the internet. Plus, seniors can join online communities and connect with other older adults from anywhere in the world.
  • Volunteering. Through AARP and other websites such as VolunteerMatch and DoSomething.org, seniors can find remote volunteer opportunities that allow them to pursue their passions from home.
  • Books, podcasts, and audiobooks. With their tech devices, seniors can listen to podcasts and audiobooks — and read electronic books, magazines, and newspapers.

Before accessing the internet, seniors need to have a plan in place for protecting themselves from identity theft and other types of suspicious activity. Check out Verizon’s tips and guides to learn all about identity theft protection, cybersecurity, and online safety.

Educational Apps and Websites

In addition to using their tablets, laptops, and smartphones to video chat with loved ones, browse the internet, and search for remote volunteer opportunities, seniors can continue their education with online courses, programs, and tutorials. It’s never too late to learn something new, and the internet makes learning easier than ever.

According to Helen Jarden of MoneyPantry, educational websites like Alison, Academic Earth, Coursera, Khan Academy, and Duolingo offer free online courses for seniors. Coursera, for instance, offers free courses on everything from psychology and marketing to nutrition and animal welfare. Seniors can also put their creative abilities to the test with free drawing and sketching classes. As another option for seniors: an abundance of free online tutorials and classes are available on YouTube, including those on knitting, calligraphy, yoga, dance, sewing, cooking, and more. Whatever their hobbies, skills, and passions may be, seniors can find everything they’re looking for online.

The Bottom Line

If you or your senior loved one is struggling physically or mentally amidst COVID-19, some other strategies can help. In addition to using technology to connect with others, exercising daily, eating nutritiously, and rekindling old hobbies and passions are some of the best ways seniors can improve mental and physical health.

With access to the internet, seniors can easily reconnect with their passions and learn new hobbies, which will help to keep their minds and bodies healthy, young, and happy as they grow older. And for more tips and resources that empower seniors to age well, connect with Doris Bersing for geriatric consultation. Schedule a counseling session today.


How to Find and Buy the Perfect Property for Homesteading as a Retiree

When you retire, you will have significantly more time on your hands. The big question is, how do you want to spend it? You can prepare to make the most of your newfound leisure time by moving to a larger property. With a bigger home, you can easily host children, grandkids, and friends at any time.

If you’re a fan of the great outdoors, consider getting a more remote piece of real estate so you can pursue homesteading. Homesteading is all about self-sufficient living. With a bit of land, you can take up hobbies like raising chickens or cutting your own firewood. Spending more time outdoors will also preserve your health as you age, resulting in improved immune function, better sleep, and higher energy levels.

 Doris Bersing can help you figure out if the homesteading life is a good option for you. If you conclude that this is the route you want to take in retirement, you have to secure an appropriate piece of property. This guide explains how to find and buy a larger home as you prepare for retirement.

Define your ideal property.

Make a list of what you’re looking for in a house. If you’re going to be homesteading, you need to consider characteristics like land size, for example. When it comes to the actual house, consider how many rooms you’ll need to accommodate visiting family and what purposes those rooms should serve. For example, young grandkids might want a playroom. When buying a house you also have to think about your own needs, of course. Consider what you might need now and in the future. Seniors with limited mobility do better with single-story homes that don’t require them to use stairs, for example. Meanwhile, individuals with Alzheimer’s require safety precautions in the bathroom, such as grab bars.

Figure out your financial capacity.

Next, take stock of your financial situation. Keep in mind that to buy a home, you will likely have to take out a mortgage. In order to get a low-interest rate, most lenders require you to make a down payment of 20%. If you pay this minimum upfront, you also have the advantage of foregoing the cost of private mortgage insurance. If you have unpaid debts, getting a good mortgage interest rate may be challenging. Improve your odds of securing a favorable loan by quickly eliminating and paying down what you owe. Consult local debt relief and assistance resources. A debt relief expert can offer advice based on characteristics like how much you owe and your employment status.

Close the deal.

 If you do find the perfect property, you will likely have to move quickly to secure it. The real estate market is competitive and you don’t want to let a great opportunity slip through your fingers. In this case, it’s possible that you may have to buy your new property before you can sell your old one.

There are a few precautions you should take. Note that you can request an extended closing. This will buy you some extra time to unload your old home. If you’re struggling to sell your old house, enlist the help of a realtor. They can ensure a more streamlined process. Finally, you can consider renting out your old home until it sells.

Enlist assistance for the move.

 When the time comes to make your move, don’t go it alone. Moving is strenuous at any age and even more so for seniors. Hire professionals to handle the heavy lifting and avoid injury. You can also get a senior moving consultant to help. They will manage the entire process, taking you from A to B — old home to new home — in a streamlined and stress-free manner.

With the above tips, you can find the perfect property to spend your retirement. With effort and persistence, you’ll soon be settled in a new home where you can make the most of your golden years.

For more resources and inspiration on how to live the best life in your golden years, turn to geriatric consultant Doris Bersing. Schedule a consultation today.

Photo Credit: Pexels.com

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