As our elderly relatives, perhaps our parents or grandparents, become older and less in tune with newer technologies, it’s always good to help them see where such assets can be beneficial to their lives.
For example, they may find joy in having access to modern streaming services so they can watch the content they most wish to see, or perhaps even help them with smart appliances like a top-of-the-line coffee machine they enjoy using.
However, not all elderly people are comfortable using these devices. That might seem hard to understand on the surface, but you can imagine what the state of technology will be when we’re elderly too, and the AI robots attending to our housekeeping needs seem overwhelming to deal with.
Projections aside, let’s stick to the here and now and consider how to help our elderly relatives feel comfortable in their homes, leveraging the tech that benefits their quality of life:
Keep Each Node Simple & Write Down Essential Information
It’s important to make sure each “node” of the home network is clearly labelled so your elderly relatives know what the function of that is. So for example, you might add a small label to your WiFi booster denoting what it is, and why it’s plugged into the second floor landing socket. You can also write down simple information they can keep safe, like the WiFi password, the PIN number for your smart television, and the slightly altered passwords and 2FA login codes you’ve applied to each streaming account. This way, they can easily refer to it, and the information will be offline and secure.
Automate Their WiFi Experience
After learning what is SSID for WiFi, you’ll be able to take further steps to make sure their internet is as reliable as possible. This might include ensuring the router updates its firmware based on its automatically-updated settings. You might change the administrative password to something they can remember, and download their service app onto their phone so they can easily pay their bill each month. You may also opt for a one-touch provider that allows them to press a button on a smart device and a smart router to connect them, without having to jump through typing 24-string passwords into each UI.
Seamlessly Sync All Devices Together
Most modern devices are able to sync together or work from a centralized app which can be helpful. That might include making sure all modern tech devices used in the home are synced with your voice assistant or home assistant such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa device. This will enable your relatives to more easily control what they need to with their voice, with limited boundaries between that. It’s important to make it clear that not all devices will be compatible, but drawing a handy diagram of which devices are connected can be helpful. You can also take time to sync all these accounts and compatible devices, even just through Bluetooth, to manage the right outcome.
With this advice, your elderly relatives will more easily understand and operate their home tech devices.