From Voice Assistants to Health Monitors: AI Is Making Aging Easier

By Lois Thompson

While Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has been around since the 1950s, the rate at which it is expanding is astounding.  It's therefore understandable why seniors who aren't tech-savvy may be uncomfortable with the idea.  But numerous devices or apps can be easy to use and can be quite beneficial in enabling seniors to help themselves live better and more independently. Voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri can be programmed to handle small tasks like turning lights on and off, or setting reminders to take medications.  Smart health devices can use AI to monitor certain health conditions, such as heart rates or sleep patterns.  iRingo Pro, which connects to the FitnessMax app, is a health-tracking ring that can help monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels directly from your finger, without needing to wear a wristband.

Memory Lane Games is an app especially designed for people struggling with Alzheimer's or dementia.  It helps to stimulate memory, along with the language and speech areas of the brain.  It can also help address sundowning and reduce agitation.  Playing the games is simple and can trigger positive memories and conversations.  And with thousands from which to choose, virtually anyone should be able to find a topic to spark interest.  Such results can benefit caregivers, too!