Find a Community

Creating a Caregiver Back-Up Plan for a Senior

When you are the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one, you probably know their medical history as well as you know your own. You can easily explain the details of their treatments and medication schedule. But what would happen if you were suddenly unavailable to provide that care? How would others know what your aging family member needs, especially if your loved one has memory loss?

Having an emergency caregiver in place is important.

Creating a caregiver backup plan is a two-step process:

  • The Plan: The first step is to document and organize your loved one’s complete medical history including medications and necessary treatments.
  • Educate Others: Making certain others understand the plan and have access to it is equally important.

Step 1: Creating a Health File for Your Senior Loved One

Begin by pulling together everything someone else would need to know to be able to care for your loved one including:

  1. Complete medical history: Create a complete file for your senior loved one that includes past medical issues, health conditions, surgeries, and any known allergies.
  2. Medication list: It is also important to keep an updated list of all of their medications in this file. Be sure you list the prescribing physician, pharmacy name and address, dosages, and times.
  3. Back-up Caregivers Contact Information: Create a list of back-up caregivers along with their phone numbers. If you have identified a few senior living communities that would be a good fit for your elder family member, list those here too.
  4. Physician contacts: Keep an updated list of all of the physicians and health professionals who are involved in your family member’s care. Include their contact information along with what condition your senior loved one sees the physician for.
  5. Medicare and Insurance Information: Keep copies of your aging family member’s Medicare card, health insurance card and prescription cards in your file. Also make sure back-up caregivers know where and how to access the originals.
  6. Miscellaneous Health Documents: If your senior loved one has documents that explain their wishes for future care, such as a durable power of attorney or living will, include copies of them here.

Step 2: Share Your Caregiver Back-Up Plan

It is equally important to make sure the people you are counting on to pitch in and care for your family member are comfortable with the plan and know how to find it. Some families have also found it helpful to use technology platforms and apps to store this information. Caring Bridge and Care Zone are two you might find helpful.

Contact Us Today

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form
*Select an option:*
Not all living options are available at all communities. * All fields required.

Note: If you are looking for employment with Five Star Senior Living, please visit our career site.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

What Is Legacy Planning?

Let’s look at the difference between estate planning and legacy planning, so that you, your loved ones, and your legal advisors can decide together which may better fit your situation.

Estate Planning Is…

Estate planning relates to arranging for the distribution of your assets after you’ve passed on. It involves writing a will and potentially setting up trust funds for children or grandchildren.

Estate planning may also include legal medical documents such as a living will and a durable power of attorney.

Legacy Planning Is…

Legacy planning takes into account a number of other factors. These may include:

  • Determining future charitable contributions and setting up foundations
  • Preserving family history
  • Establishing a business succession plan

Legacy Planning Represents Who You Are, Not Just What You Own

While estate planning ensures your assets will be divided the way you want, legacy planning looks not just at your assets, but at how future generations may conduct business and how they will be perceived. In short, it’s setting up your legacy for future generations.

A key part of legacy planning involves determining what legacy you want to leave. Meet with your legal and business advisors, as well as close family members and even business colleagues, to determine your personal mission and values.

What important aspects of your values do you want to preserve after you’re gone? How can you best convey these values to future generations?

Here’s what you should know:

  • Charitable Contributions: Establishing charitable contributions or setting up a foundation for a favorite cause in your name can ensure you’re remembered favorably for generations. It can also ensure your wealth goes toward causes you support.There are a number of ways to ensure continuing charitable contributions after you’re gone. Legacy planning helps determine the best ways  while limiting tax liabilities so more of your money goes toward the causes you believe in.
  • Family History: Preserving your family history, through written documents or spoken word, is another important part of legacy planning.You don’t want all your family stories to die with you. Make sure you’ve recorded significant moments, values, belief, and knowledge. And store them in places where your loved ones can access them.
  • Material GoodsYour material goods also represent a part of your family history. This may include first edition books, arts and other collectibles, antique furniture, and real estate. Ensure property and collections will remain in the family through legacy planning.
  • Business SuccessionFinally, legacy planning often involves a succession plan for the business. Another family member may not always be the best person to take over your business when you can’t continue it.Your successor could be a key employee or someone else who’s been involved in the organization and understands how to keep the business running successfully.

    Establishing a succession plan in advance, as part of legacy planning, can help prevent conflict when the business owner passes on.

How Are Estate Planning and Legacy Planning Different?

Estate planning represents the most basic preparations for someone’s death. Legacy planning is a more in-depth process that covers distribution of wealth, charitable contributions, family history, and a business continuity plan.

Expert advisors can help you determine which level of planning you need, and help you put together a plan that will ensure your wishes are carried out after your death.

Find Peace-of-Mind at Five Star Senior Living

Once you know your legacy will live on, it’s time to find peace-of-mind in the here-and-now. Five Star Senior Living ensures the quality of life you deserve and have worked so hard for. Find a senior living community near you to get started today!

Contact Us Today

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form
*Select an option:*
Not all living options are available at all communities. * All fields required.

Note: If you are looking for employment with Five Star Senior Living, please visit our career site.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

5 Ways Respite Care Services Benefit Caregivers

As a family caregiver, your days are likely hectic. Caring for a spouse or parent whose health is declining leaves little time for anything else. Caregivers are often unaware that self-care should be a vital part of a senior loved one’s caregiving plan.

When a spouse or adult child fails to care for their health, they may experience burnout or a medical crisis of their own. Initially, it may be minor health problems, such as headaches or fatigue. As time passes, however, caregivers may experience serious health issues, like back injuries, diabetes, and depression.

Respite care can be a solution for helping busy caregivers make time for themselves.

What is Respite Care?

Respite care services are designed to support family caregivers. They assist by giving the senior a safe place to stay while their caregivers take a break or enjoy a vacation. Respite guests can stay at an assisted living community for a few days or even a few weeks. Despite how easily accessible these programs are, few families take advantage of them.

According to a study by the National Alliance of Caregiving and AARP, only 12 percent of family caregivers utilize respite care. Many times it is because the caregivers are unaware of respite, other times it is because they feel guilty turning a loved one’s care over to someone else. Experts say routinely using respite services actually makes the family member a better caregiver.

For more information, read our “What is Respite Care? Everything You Need to Know About Respite Care Services” guide.

How to Use Respite Care Effectively When You Are a Family Caregiver

Here are a 5 of the main reasons why caregivers should explore respite services for a loved one:
 

  1. Time to recharge: Caregiving is mentally and physically exhausting. No matter how much you relish caring for a loved one, taking time out to recharge is vital.
  2. Maintain health: Caregivers are notorious for neglecting their own health while caring for a loved one, including falling behind on routine physicals and health screenings. Remind yourself if you take a little time now to stay on top of health needs, you will lower your risk of a medical emergency that prevents you from caregiving altogether.
  3. Catch up at home: While cleaning out closets or scheduling a handy man to do household repairs isn’t very exciting, they are tasks that must be done. Scheduling respite care on a routine basis will give you the time you need to feel more in control of your own life and home.
  4. Enjoy family time: Caregivers frequently experience bouts of loneliness or even depression. While caring for a loved one may be rewarding, it can also be isolating. Respite services allow caregivers to take time out to enjoy themselves without worrying about their loved one.
  5. Create an emergency plan: No one likes to think the worst will happen. When you are a caregiver, however, it’s important to have an emergency backup plan. In the event you experience a medical crisis or are otherwise unable to care for your loved one, knowing there is a plan in place will allow you to rest easier. Trying the respite care services at an assisted living community in your area will allow you to be better prepared.

Respite Care at Five Star Senior Living

Short-term respite is a popular service at Five Star Senior Living communities across the country. Respite guests enjoy the same services, support, and amenities as long-term residents. Contact us to learn more or to schedule a respite stay for a senior loved one today!

Contact Us Today

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form
*Select an option:*
Not all living options are available at all communities. * All fields required.

Note: If you are looking for employment with Five Star Senior Living, please visit our career site.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

How to Recognize Seasonal Depression in a Senior

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, can affect people of any age. From children to seniors, SAD leaves people feeling blue. It occurs most often in the winter months following the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Knowing how to spot the signs that you might need to intervene and get help for a senior loved one is important.

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder in Older Adults

If the senior you love always seems a little down during the winter months, it might be more than just the post-holiday blues. The long grey days of winter and lack of exposure to sunlight may actually be the culprit.

A few of the common signs that might indicate an aging parent or older loved one is battling more than a case of cabin fever include:

  • Sleepiness and fatigue
  • Feelings of sadness that don’t go away
  • Lethargy or a loss of energy
  • Problems sleeping including both insomnia and sleeping too much
  • Unintended weight gain or weight loss
  • Feeling worthless
  • Withdrawing from favorite groups, hobbies and organizations
  • Difficulty concentrating and maintaining attention span
  • Change in personal hygiene
  • Short-tempered and irritable
  • Tearful or weepy

If the senior you love is exhibiting one or more of the symptoms listed above, it is likely time to talk with their primary care physician. He or she is the best one to be able to decide if it is the post-holiday blues or something more serious that requires professional medical treatment.

Helping a Senior Overcome Seasonal Affective Disorder

There are steps you can take each winter to prevent yourself or a senior loved one from developing SAD. They include:

  • Avoid alcohol or limit intake to just one or two glasses a week
  • Eliminate sugary foods, sodas and sweets from your daily diet
  • Commit to 30 minutes of daily exercise, like walking or swimming
  • Adopt a mindful form of exercise, such as chair yoga or Pilates
  • Eat a healthy diet consisting of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables
  • Spend time with family, friends and loved ones on a regular basis

Finally, mental health professionals often recommend a device referred to as a “light box.” It helps people suffering from the winter blues by decreasing the amount of melatonin in the body. Less melatonin helps you feel less fatigued. Talk with your primary care physician to see if this might be an option for you or the older adult you are a caregiver for.

Contact Us Today

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form
*Select an option:*
Not all living options are available at all communities. * All fields required.

Note: If you are looking for employment with Five Star Senior Living, please visit our career site.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Kitchen Safety Checklist for Older Adults and their Family caregivers

The kitchen is often the hub of a home, and that is true for seniors too. Besides baking and cooking it’s the room where many of us read, create craft projects, pay bills, and more. But kitchens can also be places where safety issues hide. From slip and fall accidents to fires, older adults need to be aware of potential dangers and take the necessary precautions.

Conducting a kitchen safety audit to identify and correct problems is one step adult children can take to keep an older parent safe.

Kitchen Safety Checklist for Seniors and Caregivers

The first step is to assess the room for potential fire hazards and other general risks:

  • Remove any dish towels hanging on oven handles or on the wall over a stove top where they can brush against burners and ignite.
  • Keep potholders and plastic utensils away from burners on the stove top. Likewise, check the length of curtains near the stove to make sure they can’t brush against burners either.
  • Talk with your senior loved one about safe clothing choices while they are cooking. Specifically, encourage them to wear short sleeves or roll their sleeves up when cooking to prevent them from falling against a flame or oven coil and igniting.
  • Dirty kitchen ventilation systems are a common source of kitchen fires. Be sure the one in your older family member’s kitchen is cleaned regularly.
  • Make certain there is a working smoke detector installed near the kitchen. One that sounds an alert for both flames and smoke is best.
  • Store an easy-to-operate fire extinguisher in the kitchen and review the instructions for operating it together.
  • Remind your parent not to leave pans simmering on the stove without setting a timer. It’s too easy to walk away and forget something is cooking.
  • Good lighting over the stove and countertop area is also important for preventing fires and injuries related to food preparation.
  • Keep knives, kitchen shears, and other sharp utensils safely stored.

Food Safety for Older Adults

Another issue that is important not to overlook is food storage. Here are a few tips you can use when evaluating a senior loved one’s kitchen:

  • Make sure the refrigerator is set to 40 degrees Fahrenheit to keep meats, dairy, and other perishables safe.
  • Encourage your family member to use a permanent marker to write the purchase date on anything they store in the refrigerator that doesn’t have an expiration date on the label.
  • If you are concerned your senior family member is a little forgetful, installing an automatic shut-off feature on a gas range or utilizing a product such as Cook Stop to monitor activity in the kitchen can help. These devices turn the burner off if no movement is detected in the kitchen for a pre-determined amount of time.

Preventing a Senior from Experiencing a Fall in the Kitchen

Slip and fall accidents in the kitchen can lead to serious injuries among seniors. Here are a few steps you can take to lower their risk:

  • Tile flooring can present a fall risk for older adults who are bare foot or wearing slippery soled shoes. Remind the senior to wear skid-free slippers or shoes in the kitchen.
  • Arrange kitchen cupboards so that frequently used food items are stored in areas that are easiest to reach. That prevents the senior from needing to use a step stool or ladder.
  • Invest in unbreakable dinnerware to avoid injuries caused by broken glass.
  • Install motion-sensitive night lights along the path the senior takes to the kitchen at night. This is another step that can help lower their risk for a fall.
  • Place a non-skid mat or rug in front of the sink. It can soak up spills and prevent water from ending up on the floor and creating a fall hazard.

Senior Living Communities Offer Safe Options

If the burden of keeping yourself or your loved one safe in the kitchen and home in general is becoming too much, it may be time to transition to a senior living community. Five Star Senior Living communities provide a comprehensive sense of security that goes beyond just physical safety. Find a community near you to learn more.

Contact Us Today

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form
*Select an option:*
Not all living options are available at all communities. * All fields required.

Note: If you are looking for employment with Five Star Senior Living, please visit our career site.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

5 Tips to Help Seniors Prevent Fires

There’s more to fire safety than simply having smoke alarms, especially for seniors who may be hard of hearing.

Follow these fire safety tips to stay safe or to keep your aging loved one safe all year long.

Fire Prevention Tips for Seniors

1. Consider Alternatives to Smoke Alarms That Use Noise Alerts

Smoke alarms can help seniors escape a fire—if they hear the alarm.

If you or your senior loved one is hard of hearing, consider smoke alarms equipped with flashing lights to signal an alert. Or consider a smart smoke alarm that also sends an alert to a smartphone or wearable device, causing it to buzz while also providing a visual signal of danger.

Even better? A smoke and fire alarm connected to a home alarm system, which automatically alerts the fire department in the event of a blaze.

2. Use Caution Burning Candles

While many people like the calming scent and ambiance that candles create, seniors—or distracted caregivers—may forget about a candle and leave it burning. Unattended candles may cause a fire.

Consider electric wax burners as an alternative to open flames. Or use technology and set a reminder on your smartphone to check candles before leaving home.

3. Know Your Escape Route

Every home or apartment should have two escape routes, says the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In the case of seniors, both routes should be easily accessible. That is, no ladders to climb or challenging window exits.

Escape routes should be well-lighted, night or day. Consider motion sensor lights that can illuminate a path if a senior needs to leave in the middle of the night.

And, to prevent falls, ensure there’s no low furniture, loose rugs, or clutter in the path.

Finally, seniors should have a safe place to wait, such as a neighbor’s house, should their home catch on fire.

4. Keeping Seniors with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Safe from Fire

For seniors in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia, review fire safety tips frequently so they will know what to do in the event of a fire.

Do not use door locks that will keep a senior with Alzheimer’s trapped inside a burning building. Instead, use GPS tracking devices and wearables to keep tabs on a senior prone to wandering, and use smoke and fire alarms with remote alert capabilities so caregivers will receive notifications in the event of a fire.

5. Use Technology to Stay Safe

From smoke detection systems to fire-safe doors and sprinkler systems, Five Star Senior Living communities have the technology and safety measures in place to keep you or your senior loved one protected from fire.

Why not schedule a tour to see if Five Star Senior Living is the right choice for the older adult you love? At Five Star Senior Living, safety matters.

Contact Us Today

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form
*Select an option:*
Not all living options are available at all communities. * All fields required.

Note: If you are looking for employment with Five Star Senior Living, please visit our career site.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

How to Find a New Primary Care Doctor for a Senior Loved One

Not every physician is comfortable caring for older adults. Some just don’t have the experience necessary to identify and address age-related health changes and concerns. If you or a senior you love aren’t happy with your primary care physician, it might be time to begin the search for a new doctor.

Finding a physician who can help manage current and future challenges is important to aging well. We’ve pulled together a few tips for helping you make an informed decision when it comes time to choose a new physician.

5 Tips for Choosing a Senior-Friendly Primary Care Physician

  1. Insurance network: The first step in your search is to identify which physicians accept your senior loved one’s health insurance. While you might think all physicians accept Medicare, a growing number of doctors are declining to work with Medicare and Medicaid due to perceived low reimbursement rates. Your preferred hospital or your insurance company might be able to help you identify physicians who are accepting new patients. Medicare will also create a list of doctors near you who accept new patients. Call 1-800-633-4227 for assistance. (TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.)
  2. Ask friends for referrals: Word-of-mouth is important when it comes to finding a physician to entrust with an older family member’s care. Ask around to see who friends, family, and work colleagues know and trust. They may be able to provide you with valuable insight on what it’s really like to be a patient of a physician you are considering.
  3. Read the reviews: While reviews for physicians aren’t as plentiful as those created for other types of services, there are a few physician review sites you should visit online. Healthgrades and Vitals are two. Medicare’s Physician Compare is another useful tool.
  4. Location and office hours: Older adults who have restricted their driving or those who rely on others for transportation might place a high priority on office hours and location. Finding a physician with an office nearby and evening or Saturday hours is important.
  5. Schedule a visit: The next step is to meet the physician in person. While not all physicians offer this service, it’s worth calling to check and see if the doctor you are considering schedules in-person meetings with potential new patients.

Other Factors to Consider in the Search for a Physician

Finally, there are a few non-traditional options to take in to consideration:

  • Visiting physician networks: A trend that continues to gain in popularity is visiting physician networks. Seniors who enroll with one of these organizations will have a physician visit them in the privacy of their own home. This applies to both routine health checks and to sick visits.
  • Virtual physician visits: Some physician groups and insurance companies have teamed up to offer virtual office visit. Patients and their physician connect via video chat services online. For an older adult, this service can be very helpful.

We hope these tips help your family connect with a physician you feel confident in.

To keep learning more about caregiving, successful aging, senior living, and more, we encourage you to bookmark the Five Star Senior Living blog and stop back often.

Contact Us Today

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form
*Select an option:*
Not all living options are available at all communities. * All fields required.

Note: If you are looking for employment with Five Star Senior Living, please visit our career site.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

4 Steps to Manage Caregiver Stress during the Holidays

Caregivers typically lead very busy lives. It’s a role often sandwiched in between other responsibilities, like children and a career. This can make the holidays, and all the hustle and bustle that comes with them, especially stressful. If not managed properly, caregiver stress can lead to a more serious case of burnout.

We have a few suggestions that we hope will allow you to relax more, and stress less this holiday season.

4 Ways to Thrive during the Holidays When You Are a Caregiver

1. Identify specific stressors

While it’s easy to lump stress altogether, identifying where your stress is coming from is necessary. Here are a few factors family caregivers often say are causing them anxiety and stress:

  • Worrying that the senior’s needs aren’t being met
  • Feeling concerned about neglecting a spouse, partner, or children
  • Lacking enough time to get things done
  • Missing work due to caregiving duties
  • Needing more time for self-care

Once you’ve identified where you are struggling, it’s easier to find solutions. For example, call your church or synagogue to see if they have a volunteer visitor program for homebound seniors. This assistance would allow your loved one to have a regular visitor, and you to take a break.

2. Accept that no one can do it all

One mistake caregivers routinely make is thinking they can and must do everything alone. In most situations, that just isn’t realistic. Before the holidays are in full swing this year, set a goal to be more pragmatic. Here are a few ideas to consider for your holiday goal setting:

  • Simplify holiday celebrations: It really is okay to simplify holiday traditions while you are busy caregiving. Instead of cooking a formal, sit-down dinner for family and friends, ask everyone to bring a dish or find a restaurant you can all meet at for a meal. Remind yourself that it doesn’t have to be forever, just until life is a little calmer.
  • Responding to invitations: Most people have a difficult time saying no. Set your feelings of guilt aside and don’t feel obligated to attend every holiday event you are invited to. On the flip side, don’t feel guilty if you want to go to a party and have someone else stay with your loved one. A night out to laugh and enjoy yourself will likely make you a better caregiver.

3. Your health matters, too

The hectic pace of the holidays combined with the demands of caregiving, can lead many to take shortcuts with their diet and to skip exercising. Neither is a good idea.

If you need to rely on fast food or take out during the holiday rush, review the menus (and nutritional content!) at your favorite restaurants and opt for those that are the healthiest. This information on healthy foods at big chain restaurants will help.

4. Explore senior care options

Caregiving is a lot of work any time of year. Before the height of the holiday season, explore your local senior care options. Adult day centers and home care are two possibilities. Respite care and assisted living are others. You can take advantage of these services on a short-term or permanent basis.

Continuum of Care and Support at Five Star Senior Living

Sometimes, during the holiday season, caregivers begin to realize that a senior loved one needs more assistance than can be provided at home. If this situation sounds familiar, we’d like to help.

Contact a Five Star community near you to learn more about senior living options including respite care and short term stays.

Contact Us Today

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form
*Select an option:*
Not all living options are available at all communities. * All fields required.

Note: If you are looking for employment with Five Star Senior Living, please visit our career site.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Mother’s Day for All Generations

The solution?

Plan an inter-generational Mother’s Day celebration. One that ensures you’ll see everyone who matters to you. Here are some ideas to help you plan a Mother’s Day to remember.

1. Host a tea.

Young or old can all enjoy a family tea party, complete with herbal tea and finger sandwiches on rye or whole grain bread (a healthier choice for diabetics).

“I invited daughters, moms, aunts, grandmothers, and even one mom-to-be, ranging in age from 4 to 74,” says Melissa Mazzarella, a mother-of-five from Patchogue, NY, who hosted her first Mother’s Day tea last year and hopes to do it again.

Mazzarella kept it simple, encouraging guests to catch up and re-connect through conversation.

To entertain a less chatty bunch, consider leaving conversation prompts in the form of interesting questions at each place setting. A few suggestions might include:

  • What did you want to be when you were growing up? / What do you want to be when you grow up?
  • What’s your fondest childhood memory / best day ever?
  • What was/is your favorite subject in school and why?
  • What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited or your best vacation?

You might also collect childhood and current photos of attendees beforehand and create a digital slideshow to share during the party.

2. Organize a multi-generational photo shoot.

Don’t have many photos of all the generations of your family together?

Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion to schedule a photo shoot. Glam it up by scheduling a spa day right before the Mother’s Day photo shoot. You can help one another coordinate the perfect outfits.

Ask the eldest family member to dress in something that will set her apart as the matriarch of the family,” says photographer Jennifer Mercurio of Lasting Impressions Photography in Bay Shore, New York. “You may put everyone else in the shot wear white or navy blue, while she wears her favorite color.”

Have the great-grandmother, grandmother and mother of a baby daughter hold their own baby pictures in a photo with the infant, suggests Mercurio. “Putting the infant in the hands of the eldest is very poignant, as well,” she says.

If your mother or grandmother lives in a senior living community, you might want to take pictures right on the grounds. Many of today’s senior communities offer park-like, picturesque landscapes. Then cap it off with a picnic to end your picture-perfect day.

3. Cook or bake together.

Are you a family of chefs? Or bakers? A day of multi-generational cooking could be a great way to celebrate. Younger children can pour and mix pre-measured ingredients, while grandmothers may opt to supervise in the kitchen.

Ask each guest to bring a classic family recipe or a new favorite. Old and young alike are sure to pick up cooking tips from each other.

Building Multi-generational Memories

The bottom line is to think about what bonds your family together.

Do you enjoy playing board games? Watching old movies? Scrapbooking?

Whatever it may be, make it the focal point of your celebration. Add your favorite foods and family-friendly beverages. Then don’t forget to take lots of photos to commemorate your multi-generational Mother’s Day celebration!

Contact Us Today

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form
*Select an option:*
Not all living options are available at all communities. * All fields required.

Note: If you are looking for employment with Five Star Senior Living, please visit our career site.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

8 Ways Seniors Can Use Voice Assistants

As older adults continue to adopt the latest technologies to make their lives easier and safer, new ways to utilize existing technology are discovered. This includes using voice assistants. While many of us associate them with younger adults, seniors are embracing this type of technology in growing numbers.

If you are an older adult or the caregiver for one, we have a few ideas for using a voice assistant.

Voice Assistants and Older Adults

A voice assistant is a digital assistant that uses voice recognition to help users with a variety of tasks. Among the most popular ones are Amazon Alexa, Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, and Microsoft’s Cortana.

What can you do with your digital assistant?

Most perform similar tasks. Beyond the more common uses, such as playing music and listening to audiobooks, a voice assistant can aid in:

  1. Obtaining updates about the weather: Voice assistants can give you weather updates before you head out for errands or appointments. Some apps even allow you to ask specific weather-related questions, such as the predicted heat index or anticipated snow fall. That can be useful for an older adult, especially one with a chronic health condition impacted by weather changes.
  2. Finding a lost cell phone: Let’s face it. Most of us misplace our cell phones from time to time. Voice assistants can make your phone ring or play a special tone to help you find it, sometimes even if the phone is in silent mode.
  3. Getting a traffic report: No one wants to spend hours stuck in a traffic jam. A voice-activated assistant can identify potential problem spots along your route in real time or even before you leave home.
  4. Managing an appointment calendar: From the grandkids’ birthdays to personal physician appointments, managing your calendar is easier with digital help. Some even allow you to set an alert to remind you of upcoming appointments.
  5. Setting reminders: Older adults may find the reminder features on voice assistants especially useful. Medication mistakes are a leading reason seniors end up in a hospital emergency room. Most often it’s due to taking too much of a medication or forgetting dosages altogether. A voice assistant can remind an older adult when to take each medication.
  6. Creating lists: Whether it’s a grocery list or ideas for holiday gifts, having a digital partner can help you stay organized. You can name each list and update them by adding or deleting items.
  7. Acting as a personal trainer: If you need a little motivation to work out each day, your digital assistant can provide it. While programs vary by device, most have exercise platforms available. From asking Alexa to play a 7-Minute Workout to Google Home’s 5-Minute Plank, there are a variety of options to explore.
  8. Controlling devices: Most households have an increasing number of devices like iRobot’s Roomba or a Ring security camera. It can be a lot to keep straight. Voice assistants make it easier to manage your devices. For example, you can ask your assistant to run your home vacuum robot or turn the bedroom light on.

While nothing can replace a person, having a digital assistant can make it much easier to juggle all the tasks of a busy life.

Understanding the Five Star Senior Living Difference

At Five Star Senior Living, residents enjoy the support of experienced team members and caregivers. They are on-site to assist with everything from housekeeping services to preparing and serving healthy meals. The best way to learn more is by visiting a Five Star Senior Living community in person. Contact us to schedule a tour or to learn more!

Contact Us Today

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form
*Select an option:*
Not all living options are available at all communities. * All fields required.

Note: If you are looking for employment with Five Star Senior Living, please visit our career site.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.