Individuals over the age of 65 are at a higher risk for developing a host of physical and mental ailments, including diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and pneumonia. Although there are some genetic components to these developments, the best way to ensure a higher quality of life throughout your golden years is to lead a healthier lifestyle overall. This means consuming a well-rounded diet, exercising consistently, attending regular wellness checks, and maintaining a positive outlook. If you have had an aversion to the most recent developments in gadgetry, you might be surprised at the ways in which technology can help you achieve your health goals.
Use Your Laptop to Educate Yourself
For many seniors, Medicare seems like a mystery wrapped in an enigma. While the system may seem overly complicated at first, there is more than enough information online that can help explain the inner workings in detail. This makes it easy to educate yourself on all of the varying Medicare Advantage plans and what each offers. Since some seniors are in need of additional medical services, these plans can help you save in the long run if you are willing to spend a little extra in the short run. Medicare Advantage plans can cover preventative care benefits, hearing and vision treatment, dental care, and expanded prescription.
Utilize Organizational Programs
Everybody 65 years and older is eligible to enroll in the Medicare system. Unfortunately, enrollment is not open year-round; seniors only have a two-month window from October 15th to December 7th to claim their benefits. Utilizing organizational programs is the best way to approach this complicated process. These web-based tools or computer programs can simplify your enrollment in Medicare by housing pertinent information such as your medical records, organizing phone numbers, sending you reminders, and allowing you to organize a calendar with important to-dos. These organizational apps can greatly simplify the enrollment process.
Turn to Apps
These days, there is an app for just about anything you could think of, and when it comes to health, the options are practically limitless. This turns your smartphone into the perfect personal assistant, making it easier to stay on top of your physical and mental health. There are apps for medication reminders, workouts, healthy eating and recipes, blood sugar monitors, and even emergency call apps.
Invest in a Smartwatch
A smartwatch is just a fancy way of describing new devices that fit like watches yet have the ability to perform some complex functions. Many of the watches connect with smartphones from the same company and allow users to take calls, answer text messages, and control apps without having to take out their handheld devices. There are some smartwatches that operate independently of phones as well. Seniors may want to consider investing in a smartwatch for its health-tracking capabilities. Depending on the watch you choose, you will be able to track your heart rate, blood sugar levels, sleep cycles, steps, and more.
Try a Smart Yoga Mat
Despite being a 5,000-year-old tradition that has been wrapped in mysticism since its inception, yoga has been proven time and time again to be beneficial — both mentally and physically. Since seniors are already at a greater risk for falls and associated injuries, it would behoove older individuals to try some simple yoga poses. Smart yoga mats are recent innovations that help practitioners maintain their posture through guided lighting and helpful readouts. These mats have a balance reading that can show seniors which way they need to lean in order to maintain their positioning. There are also designated lights that show people where to place their limbs during poses, making yoga a much more approachable activity for seniors.
Technology is a gold mine for helping seniors simplify their health goals. Familiarizing yourself with these devices can make it easier to track important health indicators, make smarter food choices, and maintain an effective exercise routine.
Bob Shannon created SeniorsMeet along with his wife, Mary. Their goal is to create an online meeting place for seniors like themselves who thrive on community. The site offers information and resources that are helpful to seniors as well as ways to keep in touch.