How Technology Helps Older Adults Stay Connected

As an older adult, staying connected with your loved ones is essential to prevent social isolation and nurture your emotional well-being and mental health. Luckily, even if your family and friends are scattered far and wide, technology can bridge the gap and provide various ways for you to stay engaged with them.

The Impact of Loneliness on Older Adults

According to the CDC, nearly one in four adults aged 65 and older report feeling lonely. Chronic loneliness and isolation can trigger or exacerbate a variety of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive issues, and even contribute to physical health troubles, such as a weakened immune system or an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Enhancing Social Connection Through Technology

Fortunately, modern technology offers many opportunities for you to stay connected socially and regularly engage with loved ones, including:

• Social media: Social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, make it easy for you to stay updated with family events and milestones and provide an easy outlet to engage with them, comment on their photos, and even reconnect with your old friends. However, be sure to stay informed and up-to-date on common online threats, like phishing messages and suspicious activity, and learn how to maintain password security to stay safe online.
• Video calling apps: Video calling apps, such as Zoom, Skype, or WhatsApp, offer the perfect solution for face-to-face interaction with the touch of a button, even when family members live far away. Setting up the apps is easy – just a few quick installation steps and you’ll be chatting face-to-face regularly with your loved ones in no time.
• Online communities: If you are looking for new friends with similar hobbies and interests, joining online forums or virtual groups can help you connect with others and offer you a sense of belonging. From online book clubs to forums dedicated to gardening or knitting, these groups will help you meet and chat with others who share your passions. There are also many online support groups that provide a space for you to share your emotions with those dealing with similar issues, such as groups for those grieving a loss.

How Using Technology Can Benefit Your Mental Health

• It reduces feelings of isolation: Studies show that older adults who regularly communicate with family report lower rates of depression and anxiety. Using technology makes it that much easier to stay in touch with loved ones, which can significantly improve your mental health. Even if you live alone, you can use Zoom to chat with and see the faces of your grandchildren who live across the country. Engaging in frequent, tech-based interaction will stave off feelings of isolation and provide a sense of connection to your loved ones.
• It nourishes your relationships: Time and distance can negatively affect relationships, causing communication to dwindle and families to lose touch. Technology offers many outlets and opportunities to ensure you stay close to your friends and loved ones no matter how far apart you are.
• It helps with cognitive stimulation: Beyond helping you maintain social connections, technology also offers many ways to keep your mind sharp. You can learn a new language with the Duolingo app or exercise your brain with online puzzle apps like Wordle or Sudoku. Continuing to expand your knowledge and stimulate your mind helps improve your cognition and stave off boredom, which in turn boosts your mood and promotes mental wellness.

Learning How to Use Technology Effectively

• Address your technological anxiety: One of the biggest challenges for older adults when using new technology is getting used to unfamiliar features or processes. However, watching an online tutorial, reading an informative article, or simply asking a friend or loved one to show you the basics can go a long way in easing these anxieties. Many organizations, such as AARP and community centers, also offer free tech classes for older adults to learn to use online apps and technological devices confidently.
• Consider accessibility: If you have any visual or auditory impairments, you may want to consider customizing your devices to make using technology easier. Many smartphones and tablets offer settings such as adjustable font sizes and screen brightness, screen readers, and hearing aid compatibility, making them more accessible.
• Keep your antivirus software up-to-date: There are many free antivirus options to protect your smartphone, laptop, or tablet from hackers or malicious viruses and software. These tools run in the background on your device to keep it secure. It’s important to remember to install any updates to keep the software working properly.

Learning how to use technology effectively can help combat feelings of isolation and help you feel more connected to your loved ones and the world around you. Taking advantage of these helpful tools will ensure you are able to maintain close relationships and stay socially stimulated, which promotes good health and mental wellness.