Technology can change the face of retirement
As technology continues to evolve so too do the realities of retirement. This generation of retirees can expect to live happy, healthy lives for longer than ever, and as technology continues to change so too will their everyday life. We’ve taken a look at the ways technology can change the face of retirement in the coming years, and how it can make a positive difference for today’s seniors.
Staying in work
There was once a clear line between work and not working, but now even though your career is complete your days of working might not be over. That being said, dealing with the preconceptions of bosses and co-workers regarding the abilities of older workers is probably something that will remain a challenge. Technology may help us start to think of their abilities in a new way.
Smart phones and tablets allow retirees to be productive from home, the internet makes it simple to seek colleagues or brush up on job skills and open online courses can help retirees stay competitive.
Staying connected
It’s easier than ever to maintain a healthy social life in retirement thanks to technology which helps keep vital connections with family and friends, as well as general social interactions. It can also be a great means of coping with the loneliness that comes after the loss of a spouse.
Skype can help you connect with grandchildren while social media makes it easy to stay connected with friends, as well as giving you the opportunity to meet new people. Even augmented reality technology such as Google Glass can help people connect from other sides of the world.
Staying mobile
Decreased mobility is an unfortunate side effect that comes with aging but technology is offering some solutions. For example, in terms of vehicular transport, autonomous technologies like automatic parking, collision warnings and blind-spot detection make it possible for retirees to keep driving longer then they previously thought they would, and completely autonomous vehicles could increase this even more. Services such as Uber could also help transport retirees who don’t want to deal with the burden of owning a vehicle without the hassle of calling a cab for every trip.
Accurate health monitoring
One of the things about retirement is that often people find themselves forced to deal with multiple chronic conditions as their ability to do so diminishes. But technology could help change this, by helping seniors and the people who provide them with care stay on top of their health. This could be anything from smart toilets to smart watches monitoring someone’s individual blood level.
Related links:
5 step guide for building a financial safety net
How to spot fake Apple products
Google can now write email replies for you