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Recent Additions: Better Aging Library

Can Alexa Help Fight Isolation and Loneliness?

Perhaps it seems counterintuitive that an artificial intelligence(AI) might help combat isolation and loneliness. But as our Longevity Explorers evaluate the latest version of Alexa, paired with the Amazon Echo Show, which has an excellent video call capability, we are starting to see great potential for these products to do just that.

And while there are a variety of initiatives evaluating the potential of interactions between older adults and Alexa (Amazon's artifical intelligence) as a way to reduce loneliness, we think the communication capabilities of the Echo Show may make possible deeper human to human interactions (with friends and family for example) as well.

Read: "Can Alexa Help Fight Isolation and Loneliness?"

Amazon Echo Show: Older Adults Explore

Our Longevity Explorers have been testing the Amazon Echo Show and exploring its capabilities. With the ability to make phone calls and video calls on request, Alexa and the Amazon Echo Show have added important capabilities since our community of older adults first explored Alexa back in 2017. Learn what these "seniors" think is (or is not) useful about it; what questions they have; and what they think needs improvement.

Read: "Amazon Echo Show: Older Adults Explore"

Medical Alerts: Just Tell Me What To Buy!

"I don't want to become an expert on medical alerts. Just tell me what to buy." is something we often hear. We've found the answer depends enormously on the specific lifestyle of the person enquiring.

Most people fit within one of a handful of broad "personas". Choose which persona best matches your lifestyle, then see which medical alert devices we recommend for that persona.

Read: "Medical Alerts: Just Tell Me What To Buy!"

An App to Make New Friends: Intergenerational Brainstorming

Ever thought "I need to make new friends: There should be an app for that"? Longevity Explorers and design students brainstormed the features they would like to see in an "App to make new friends" at an intergenerational design workshop at the 2018 Stanford Centre on Longevity Design Challenge.

Read: "An App to Make New Friends: Intergenerational Brainstorming"

Smartwatch as Medical Alert?

For years we have been hearing older adults complain about how ugly and stigmatizing medical alerts are. As one lady told us: "My medical alert button makes me look like I escaped from the Intensive Care Unit. So I hardly ever wear it".

In 2018 a handful of products came to market that look like smartwatches, and in some cases have some or all of the functionality of stylish smartwatches, but also work as medical alerts. We wanted to see how well they worked, and set out to test them — hoping they might change this dynamic. Here are the results.

Read: "Smartwatch as Medical Alert?"

Technology & the Future of Aging

This is a live recording (slides and audio) of a talk given by Richard Caro entitled "The Future of Aging, & the Intersection of Aging & Technology".

This talk was given in October, 2018, as part of a course, organized by architect Susi Stadler. The course was entitled "Life at Home and Aging in Community".

Read: "Technology & the Future of Aging"

Overcome loneliness and social isolation. Combat loneliness as we age

Isolated and Lonely: How Can We Avoid This?

How do you avoid becoming isolated and lonely as you get older? Are there things you can do to help prevent this?

Isolation and loneliness is a very real fear for many older adults. Many of us know of someone suffering from it, and it can be very sad. Our Longevity Explorers came up with some practical tips to help avoid this problem.

Read: "Isolated and Lonely: How Can We Avoid This?"

When to Stop Driving: Who Decides, & How?

No-one wants to cause an accident. But for many older adults, being able to drive is a sign that they are still in control of their own destiny, and a strong symbol of liberty and freedom. So the question "When to stop driving?" is a thorny one. Equally important are the questions: "Who should decide it's time to stop driving?" and "How to decide?"

Read: "When to Stop Driving: Who Decides, & How?"

Intergenerational Design Opinions

What happens when you bring together a group of older adult Longevity Explorers and the teams participating in the Stanford Longevity Design Challenge? You get some interesting and contrasting opinions about what the differences should be between designing for a 25 year old and designing for an 85 year old.

Read: "Intergenerational Design Opinions"

Technology they want vs technology you think they need

What They Want vs What You Think They Need

I've said it before. Most of the products for older adults that we see are frankly not very good. This article is about two especially common pitfalls. I think of them as the "eat your broccoli" error, and the "I know how to market to 40 year olds" issue.

Read: "What They Want vs What You Think They Need"

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The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

Description:

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning is a book intended to guide persons in later life in organizing and de-cluttering household goods and records to leave an orderly home for survivors.