Technology for over 70's | Glenvale Villas

Devices

Knowing where to start can sometimes be the hardest part. You may already own a device, but you also may be overwhelmed by the hundreds of choices on the market. The good news is, having so many options means there’s most likely one right for you! The most obvious and common option is a smart phone such as an iPhone or an Android. A touch screen phone now holds almost all the capabilities of any other device, making it an easily accessible option. The chances are you already own one of these. All 3 of the app recommendations we make are all available on your smart phone as well, making them super accessible and easy to use.

One of our favourite devices for anyone, especially those over 70, is an iPad. With an identical interface to that of an iPhone, it’s a truly great option. The much larger screen means it’s very easy to use, and great for watching movies or reading on it. There are many different options of iPads to suit any lifestyle as well. And if you’re not one for Apple products, many other brands make tablets that work in a similar way.

Applications

In 2021, there was estimated to be over 2.2 million apps available for iOS (Apples app store). The number is always growing, and there is an application available for almost anything. Having a quick search through categories can provide you with a great idea of what is available for you to download. However, if you need some recommendations, here are our favourite apps for over 70’s (or anybody really!)

Facetime

This is one that you are most likely familiar with. Facetime is Apple’s video calling service. This is an amazing application for staying in touch with family and friends and is extremely easy to use. As long as you have somebodies’ mobile number (and they also have an Apple device) then you can call them and video chat straight away! If you don’t use Apple devices, apps such as Skype work similarly and can be used no matter what brand of device somebody owns. Furthermore, these video calling apps can be used across phones and tablets!

Goodreads

Goodreads is an app for readers where you can browse recommendations, enter challenges, and tally what books you’ve read. It’s fantastic for those who are always on the hunt for new books. You can follow friends and authors and scan their virtual libraries for what they have read, and even access their ratings and reviews. You can log what books you have read, as well as your rating of the book (0-5 stars) and write a written review. Goodreads also has an option where you can add books that you’re interested in reading into a virtual library, so that you always have books to reference when you’re next at a bookstore.

One of the best aspects of Goodreads is its yearly challenges. These challenges allow you to set a reading goal for the year and log your progress. This is a fantastic way to set a challenge for yourself and see how many books you can read!

Duolingo

This application is one of the trending apps of 2021. It allows you to learn up to 19 different languages. It’s free and promotes learning in 10–15-minute sections a day for the best results. Its interface is fantastic and makes learning the language relatively easy and fun. While entertainment is a bonus, learning a language is great for cognitive function and keeping your brain active. This is especially important over 70, so why not try something different and learn a language? It’s never too late to start!

Whether you’re a well-versed technology user or have never opened a smart phone in your life, all these applications are fun and easy to use. They’re not only great for entertainment but cognitive function and keeping in touch. There’s also so many more wonderful apps out there to provide endless hours of fun! Try reaching out to a loved one to assist you if you’re new to using smart devices and apps, or searching the app store for some new apps to get you through 2022.