Technology at the service of older adults, the bet that would change the way we age.

Do you know what ICTs are? It stands for "Information Technology" and refers to the infrastructure behind the transmission of information in the current era, something that older adults can also access.

This is what Juan David Holguín, a member of ACOGER Gerontological Community , talked about. It's an organization focused on connecting professionals, businesses, institutions, volunteers, and families to benefit older adults.

He did so during the webinar "Digital Transformation for the Lives of Older Adults," organized by Theramart and ACOGER . Catalina Zapata and Juan Camilo Álvarez, also members of the organization, also participated.

Can ICTs improve the quality of life of older adults?

It's often thought that technology and advanced age are unrelated. However, as Juan David highlighted during the webinar, with proper digital literacy, this connection is possible .

"We have stories in which we teach older people how to manage social media and connect with their friends, and this leads to improvements in their abilities and quality of life."

In fact, he highlighted a number of advantages of ICTs for older adults. Some of these benefits relate to generational and emotional integration, greater convenience, finding friends and family , access to services, developing cognitive skills, and, clearly, increasing personal autonomy.

ICTs and older adults in times of quarantine

According to the expert, the current pandemic has compounded the above. The global health emergency has forced many people to become more familiar with technology , including older adults, who have had to connect with family members, watch movies, or share content.

“This quarantine forced us to undergo a much faster digital transformation and a direct disruption of technology. This showed older adults that they can do so much more.”

Holguín shared that in his native Colombia , they've worked with organizations to train older adults about technology , social media access, and video calls, with interesting results. "Our older adults can learn and have the tools to do so."

Can you imagine having care robots to assist you with your tasks? We'll tell you all about it in this article: CAREGIVER ROBOTS FOR ELDERLY ADULTS? LEARN ABOUT "ZORA" AND "MABU"

Free apps for seniors

Similarly, the expert discussed the current platforms that have allowed older adults to stay connected : from WhatsApp to Google, YouTube, Facebook, email, video conferencing platforms like Skype, HangOut, or Zoom, and even apps.

In this regard, he shared that there are several health company apps designed for this population group. Some of them are:

• GuiAdultos Mayores . Developed by the Carlos Slim Foundation, it offers online assistance, an emergency button, family notifications, a geolocation system, care reminders, and information related to older adults.
• Senior Fitness, a home workout for the elderly . This is an exercise app for seniors, to do at home with a professional trainer. It includes text instructions and illustrative videos. Click to download: available on Android .
• Listonic . Ideal for making grocery lists and saying goodbye to writing them down. You can manage multiple lists, share them with friends, and add prices and quantities, and the app itself will do the math. Click to download: available on iOS and Android .
• Safe365 . It's designed to care for parents, grandparents, and older relatives. It has geolocation to track their whereabouts, a panic button, medication reminders, and notifications to let you know if they've actually taken the medication. Click to download: available on iOS and Android .
• Big Launcher . It offers a quick solution to a common problem for older adults: poor vision prevents them from clearly seeing what's on their phone. It offers a quick and easy-to-use home screen with large buttons for making calls, sending a message, taking a photo, or asking for help. Click to download: available on Android .
• Sudoku . As you well know, this math game has traveled the world and captivated people. Seniors can also take part in this game. Click to download it: available on iOS and Android .
• Medication and Pill Reminder: Medisafe . Remembering to take each pill at the right time can be confusing for older adults. This app includes a calendar, reminders, and alarms to keep track. Click to download: available on iOS and Android .
• Salud Total Móvil. With this app in Colombia, users can instantly complete procedures and inquiries, update their information, check their medical history, and request and cancel appointments, all while receiving an online advisor. Click to download: available on iOS and Android .
• Medimás is a face-to-face service channel to avoid waiting in lines for medical services in Colombia. You can schedule and cancel appointments, check updates and incapacity status, and access a direct communication channel.

Finally, he also recommended what, in his opinion, would be the best device for an older adult.

“We always recommend a tablet. It's the easiest, due to its size, to adapt to the needs of an older adult. They're lightweight, portable, large, and easy to handle.”