Is Your Parent “Too Old” for Technology?
Home Care in Centreville VA
If you are like many family caregivers, you have heard your aging parent say that they are “too old” for one thing or another. Using age as an excuse is an easy way for seniors to avoid trying new 
things or to get themselves out of the responsibility of handling new things ineffectively. This, however, does not have to be the case, especially when it comes to technology. Even if your aging parent is feeling uncomfortable with the rapid advancement of technology and afraid to try new things, there is no reason for them to feel as though they are “too old” to take advantage of all of the benefits that technology can offer. Helping them to see that technology could enhance their lives and empowering them to learn more about it is a great step toward helping your parent have a stronger, healthier mind, and more control over their own life.
Use these tips to help your parent overcome feeling as though they are “too old for technology” and start learning to embrace these advancements in their life:
- Talk about their concerns. Talk to them about why they are nervous about technology. Hearing their specific concerns can help you to address these issues and alleviate their concerns in a way that makes them feel more comfortable about trying new things.
- Start small. Your parent does not need to dive right into advanced technology in order for them to gain benefits from it. Instead, start small with them and build up as they are interested. For example, introduce them to email if they have not used it before and show them how to send messages to friends and family. If they are already comfortable with email, consider teaching them how to send a text message. As they learn these simple skills they will feel more comfortable with technology and confident learning more.
- Keep it basic. Unless your parent develops a true fascination for technology and wants to expand into the more advanced devices, it is likely that the most basic of technology will be enough for them. Choosing simpler devices is also an easier and less intimidating way for your parent to get accustomed to technology and be willing to try it. For example, if you want to encourage your parent to use a mobile device, consider one that is designed for seniors with limited functions and large buttons rather than a complex smart phone that may just confuse them.
Home care is a fantastic way to help your parent get more active and engage more with the world around them. Through a personalized approach to care, this in-home senior care services provider can help your aging loved one learn more about technology and utilize it in safe, effective ways that improve their health and quality of life. This care provider can also be a valuable resource in helping your parent to understand the potential dangers that technologies such as the internet can present to them, and how they can avoid these dangers.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Centreville, VA, call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today. 703-273-8818
Medical Professionals On Call has such a caring, professional staff who are available to step in with whatever level of care necessary for loved ones and to relieve you of that stress.
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