Can Alexa Help Fight Loneliness and Isolation?

Alexa: Tool to fight loneliness

Perhaps it seems counterintuitive that an artificial intelligence(AI) might help combat loneliness and isolation. 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 artificial 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.

Amazon Echo Show: Older Adults Explore

Alexa Calls, with Amazon Echo Show

  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 (the Longevity Explorers) first explored Alexa back in 2017. Learn what these … Read more

Medical Alerts: Just Tell Me What To Buy!

medical alert device recommendations

    “I don’t want to become an expert on medical alerts. Just tell me what to buy.” If the above is your point of view, this article is for you!   Many people love our in-depth, hands-on, testing of medical alert devices — and the Learning Module we have built. But not infrequently we hear comments like … Read more

Medical Alert Recommendations: “Go, Go” Persona

Medical Alert recommendations

This page contains specific medical alert recommendations for a specific type of person: one that fits a “persona” we call the “Go, Go” persona. These recommendations were updated in December 2023. If you are not sure if this is the right persona for you, start at our Medical Alerts: Just Tell Me What to Buy … Read more

Medical Alert Recommendations: “Slow Go” Persona

Medical Alert recommendations

This page contains specific medical alert recommendations for a specific type of person: one that fits a “persona” we call the “Slow Go” persona. These recommendations were updated in Feb. 2025. If you are not sure if this is the right persona for you, start at our Medical Alerts: Just Tell Me What to Buy page (or review all … Read more

Medical Alert Recommendations: “No Go” Persona

Medical Alert recommendations

This page contains specific medical alert recommendations for a specific type of person: one that fits a “persona” we call the “No Go” persona. These recommendations were updated in Feb. 2025. If you are not sure if this is the right persona for you, start at our Medical Alerts: Just Tell Me What to Buy page (or review all … Read more

Medical Alert Recommendations: “Needs Some Care” Persona

Medical Alert recommendations

This page contains specific medical alert recommendations for a specific type of person: one that fits a “persona” we call the “Needs Some Care” persona. These recommendations were updated in Feb. 2025. If you are not sure if this is the right persona for you, start at our Medical Alerts: Just Tell Me What to Buy page (or … Read more

Medical Alert Recommendations: 24/7 Care Persona

Medical Alert recommendations

This page contains specific medical alert recommendations for a specific type of person: one that fits a “persona” we call the “24/7 Care” persona. These recommendations were updated in Feb. 2025. If you are not sure if this is the right persona for you, start at our Medical Alerts: Just Tell Me What to Buy page (or review … Read more

Smartwatch as Medical Alert?

medical alert watches 2021

  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“. Could these products change this dynamic?   In 2018 a handful of products came … Read more

Technology & the Future of Aging

Richard Caro talks at Commonwealth Club

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 March 2019, at the Commonwealth Club, San Francisco.