Technology has made the world easier to navigate than ever. Gone are the days when we penned letters and waited weeks for a reply. Faxes, corded landlines, and boxy televisions that only received a few local stations are all a thing of the past. We can now make video calls to loved ones on the other end of the country, set up virtual doctor appointments, and find our favorite books in minutes without leaving the house.
As technology rapidly evolves, there’s an increased ability for seniors to maintain their independence. Amazon’s Alexa is one such tool that makes living alone and aging in place easier than ever before.
Read on to learn more about the basics and benefits of Alexa for seniors. Plus, you’ll find the top eight ways you can use Alexa, from making phone calls and tracking to-do lists to simplifying your smart home functionality.
Basics of Amazon Alexa
The Amazon Echo is a hands-free, voice-activated device that works as a virtual personal assistant. The assistant, known as Alexa, listens to your voice commands and carries out your requests. It’s an incredibly useful tool that can help seniors manage doctor’s appointments, shopping lists, entertainment such as music and books, and so much more.
Alexa can be accessed on the Amazon Echo device as well as smart devices, including some televisions, third-party smart speakers, smartphones, and through the Amazon Alexa app on your cell phone or tablet. There are several different Echo devices, including the Echo, Echo Show, Echo Spot, Echo Dot, and Echo Studio.
The Echo Dot is the most affordable device and is a great choice for seniors who are looking to try Alexa without making a big investment. A new Echo Dot costs around $40 though there are often discounts that make it even more affordable. The Echo Show 10 and the Echo Studio offer more advanced features, making it a better choice for seniors who prefer top-of-the-line smart devices. PC has a great breakdown of the different features across the devices if you need help choosing the best one.
In addition to the Echo devices, Alexa works on a range of other units including Ring cameras, Ecobee thermostats, and August WiFi smart locks. This compatibility makes it easy to use Alexa voice commands to adjust the heat in your home or to boost security for seniors. Here, we’ll explain the benefits of Amazon’s Alexa for seniors.
Benefits of Alexa for Seniors
Alexa can make life easier and more enjoyable for seniors aging in place. It can help with basic tasks such as managing appointments and to-do lists as well as providing entertainment opportunities and scheduling transportation.
Seniors can use Alexa to find out the weather for the week or the best place to find a particular home good. If you have Amazon Prime, you can also use Alexa to place orders on Amazon including Amazon Pantry to get groceries delivered straight to your door. Plus, Alexa helps make daily joys like cooking and listening to music even easier and more enjoyable.
Alexa is particularly useful for seniors who want to stay connected and entertained. The device offers built-in skills known as Alexa Skills to help with daily functionality. It can play music or audiobooks from your Kindle or Audible as well as local radio stations and major news sites. Some Echo devices, including the Echo Show and Echo Spot, feature a digital display screen where you can read recipes, conduct video calls, and play games.
In addition, Alexa offers connectivity with some smart home devices, making it easier than ever for seniors to control indoor temperature and security. If your Echo device has a screen, you can easily see who is ringing your Ring doorbell or monitor footage from your Arlo home security cameras. Alexa can also be used to control Philips Hue and some Ikea smart light bulbs.
Whether you’re looking for a gadget that can help you remember appointments and listen to music or something more advanced like integrating with your smart home features, Amazon Alexa is a great choice. It’s the perfect way for seniors to stay connected with the latest trends, news, and loved ones and family members. Read on to learn more about how seniors can use Alexa to enjoy their golden years.
Top 11 Ways Seniors Can Use Alexa
Alexa is a useful tool for older adults who may enjoy additional assistance with tasks such as creating lists, setting reminders, and making smart home functionality easier. Caregivers can also use Alexa to stay on top of appointments and doctor’s visits when caring for patients such as those with Alzheimer’s or dementia that may need additional memory support.
Here are a few of the top ways you can use Amazon’s Alexa for seniors.
1. Alexa Care Hub
One of Alexa’s latest features is the free Care Hub. This feature establishes a connection between your Alexa and an Alexa device or the Alexa app at your loved one’s home. It enables loved ones to check in on you and can contact emergency services if you ask for help. It can reassure loved ones who may worry about you being on your own and offer you peace of mind. Help is just a moment away if you need it.
To set up the Care Hub, you and your loved one will need to provide permission to connect the two Alexa accounts. You can decide what information is shared so you can still maintain your privacy. In addition, your loved one won’t be able to see minute details of your activity, only a general overview. For example, they can’t see what book you read or what you said during a phone call, but they’ll be able to see that you chatted with a friend and read a book.
With Care Hub, you can make your loved one an emergency contact if something goes wrong. If you have an emergency and need help, say “Alexa call for help,” and Alexa will send a notification to your loved one via the Care Hub. Your loved one can then stop by to check on you or contact emergency services if needed.
2. Adjust the Thermostat
When paired with a compatible smart home thermostat such as Google’s Nest, Ecobee, and Honeywell devices, you can control your home’s temperature with a simple voice command. One of the best Alexa skills is communicating temperature changes, so you can just ask Alexa to turn up or down the heat as needed.
3. Play Music or an Audiobook
Prompt Alexa to play your favorite music by saying something like “Hey Alexa, play ‘70s hits.” You can also ask Alexa to play a specific playlist from your Spotify account or request a particular song from an artist. The same goes for your favorite audiobooks or podcasts. Alexa also integrates with Audible, so you can listen to your favorite audiobooks, songs, and even fall asleep listening to Audible’s Sleep Collection of meditation and soothing sounds.
4. Make Phone and Video Calls
Alexa Echo devices with a screen make it easier to stay connected with loved ones. Just ask Alexa to make a phone call or video call with your friends and family. She’ll dial the phone number so you don’t have to lift a finger. Best of all, if you fall inside your home, you can ask Alexa to contact emergency services or your emergency contact.
5. Receive Medication Reminders
When you’re living a full life and enjoying your golden years, it can be easy to forget to refill or take your medications. With Alexa, you can set reminders and she’ll prompt you when it’s time to take your medicine. You can also use Alexa to give you a reminder when a prescription is running low. Best of all, you can call your doctor for a refill by simply asking Alexa to dial the number.
To set up medication reminders, you need to enable the “Giant Eagle Pharmacy” skill and link your Alexa account. Then say, “Alexa manage my medications”. She’ll review your current prescriptions and set up the appropriate reminders with your instructions. If you forget what medication you’re supposed to take, you can ask “Alexa, what medication am I supposed to take right now?” You can also direct Alexa, “Refill my prescriptions” when you’re ready for a refill.
6. Create and Keep Track of Lists
With Alexa, you can create all sorts of lists from to-do lists to grocery shopping lists. That way, you don’t have to worry about tracking down that post-it note you scribbled on. Just ask Alexa, “What’s on my to-do list?” or say, “Add tomatoes and pasta to my shopping list.” If you order groceries online, you can prompt Alexa to complete an order on Amazon Pantry or another compatible app. At the store, you can use the Alexa App to keep track of your list and cross things off as you go.
7. Check the Weather
Have big plans this weekend and want to make sure the weather is favorable? Just ask your Echo device, “Alexa, what’s the weather like in my area this weekend?” She’ll give you a full forecast, and you can ask her for specifics such as wind speeds or rain chances if you want more detailed information.
8. Control Your Home Security System
Alexa offers peace of mind for seniors living alone or otherwise aging in place. You can set your security to “at home” or “away,” or disarm it completely with a simple voice command. You can even lock up as you go to bed with a quick command so you don’t have to check all of the doors and windows yourself. Check out this list of Alexa compatible home security systems that make living alone feel safe without a lot of hassle.
The Amazon Echo also offers a free feature known as Alexa Guard. It’s a home security system that will notify you if it hears certain sounds, including smoke alarms or breaking glass. It’s a great way to stay safe and keep an eye on your home if you’re away visiting loved ones and family members.
9. Tackle Basic Daily Tasks
You can use Amazon Alexa as an alarm clock and have her wake you up at the desired time each morning or after a quick cat nap. Within the Alexa app, you can also set up routines that are completely customizable. You can have Alexa wake you up with a game of trivia or your favorite music — she’ll even start a pot of coffee for you if you have a smart coffee machine.
Routines can be location-based so you never miss a beat, even if you’re on vacation or visiting the grandkids.
10. Set Timers
With Alexa, you can set timers to help you wake up at the right time or keep an eye on making dinner. You can even use a timer to monitor the length of a chess game, play hide and seek with your grandkids, or do your daily exercises.
11. Get Groceries
Alexa takes the hassle out of grocery shopping, helping you organize your list and even order items without even leaving your home. When you think of something you need to pick up at the grocery store, simply say, “Alexa, add eggs [or another item] to my list”. This way, you won’t forget to write the item down or draw a blank on what you need when you’re in the middle of the grocery aisles.
When you’re ready to get groceries, you can have Alexa read your list at the store. Alternatively, you can ask Alexa to add all of your list items to your Amazon Fresh cart and order a grocery delivery straight to your home.
Maintaining Privacy With Alexa
As with most technology, privacy is a common concern. Fortunately, you don’t have to give up much privacy to enjoy the benefits of Alexa for seniors. Alexa’s privacy settings allow you to control what information you share. This includes allowing the app access to your home address (for services like grocery delivery), your name, and your medication history. You can change these settings at any time in the app’s privacy settings area.
In addition, Alexa only records when you speak to it using the wake word “Alexa.” You’ll know when it’s recording, as the ring light will turn on. If you aren’t using your Alexa and don’t want it to record, you can turn the microphone off. Note that you’ll have to remember to turn the microphone back on when you want to use it again.
All of your recordings and spoken conversations are encrypted and stored in the cloud to protect your privacy. You can manage how long your recordings are stored on the Amazon Alexa Privacy page. To ensure your privacy, use strong passwords and consider requiring a pin number to confirm voice purchases.
How Tech Can Help Seniors
Voice assistants can improve life for seniors by managing daily tasks so you can focus on doing the things you love most. Alexa is a great device for seniors that are aging in place as well as those who are independent but need a little more support.
If you have mobility issues, Alexa’s voice-activated commands reduce your need to move around constantly to get things done. For other seniors, the Alexa device can help you keep track of your schedule and make grocery shopping and medication reminders as easy as pie.
In addition, tools like Alexa for seniors and Snug make it easier than ever to stay connected and check in with loved ones. Snug is a free daily check-in service designed for seniors who are living alone. You’ll get a free check-in message every day in the app. If you don’t respond, the app will notify your emergency contact so they can check and make sure everything is alright. It’s an easy and free way to stay connected while maintaining your independence.