A recent study, reported on by TechXav, indicated that spending time on the Internet can help slow the effects of dementia by boosting the brain activity of the elderly. Using brain scans, a team at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that using the Internet stimulated the mind more strongly than reading, with effects that continued long after an Internet session had ended.
So what was going on here? For seniors who did not usually surf the Web, the use of the Internet was found to change brain activity patterns and enhance function. We all know that the Internet can be a helpful resource, but that there are mental benefits is such a compelling finding. So what else can the Internet and modern technology do for the aging population?
- Blogtastic goodness. Socializing is so important as we grow older. So much, in fact, that some studies have even indicated that there is a direct correlation between strong social ties and lifespan. Blogging and social media tools like Facebook are helping seniors to connect with others and express themselves from the comfort of their own home.
- "Visiting" loved ones (without the travel). Technology is making the world smaller by the day, making keeping in touch with family and friends who live far away simple. Tools like Skype and webcams are helping to bring people together from afar through video, while photo sharing sites like Facebook and Flickr have the same effect but with photos.
- Accessible fitness. Put down those dumbells, folks - with the advent of tools like Wii, technology has made personal fitness more accessible and, quite frankly, more fun and engaging.
- Virtual insanity... but in a good way. Talking walking frames, robopets and interactive coffee tables are some of the technologies that could keep older people living at home for longer. Some of these may seem strange now, but think about it: years ago, did you ever imagine seniors using video games for fitness and blogging on the Internet?
There are so many ways that technology is helping seniors to live healthy, social lives and remain independent longer. Are we missing something that you or someone you know is using? Share your stories!
Whether you're bedridden or you have a disability that makes it difficult to get around, staying in your home for health purposes doesn't necessarily mean that you're confined within the walls of your house. Skype, a software that "enables the world's conversations," provides a platform for millions of individuals and businesses to make free video and voice calls, send instant messages and share files with other Skype users.
The ways people are using Skype to keep in touch with the people who matter most are seemingly endless and we've come up with just a few of the many ways you can use Skype too!
- Log in for a daily conversation about current events with a friend - Skype allows you have have face-to-face interaction through your computer screens. Simply sit down with your favorite newspaper or magazine and get ready to chat!
- Tell your grandchild a bedtime story - Seniors can instruct their grandchildren to have an adult set up a laptop on their bed at night right before their bedtime so they can have a meaningful exchange with a long-distance grandparent.
- Play cards with family or friends who live far away - Grab a deck of cards, set up your computer and select your favorite game to play!
- Play "show and tell" with a grandchild in another state - Maybe they painted a masterpiece in art class or they purchased the toy of their dreams with their weekly allowance; whatever the case may be, Skype can allow grandparents to share in these special "show and tell" moments.
- Participate in important meetings or events by having a friend take a laptop - Can't make it to the town hall meeting? With the permission of the meeting leaders, have a friend set up a laptop so you can watch and participate as though you were present.
- Eat dinner or enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend - Prepare your favorite dish or pour yourself a cup of joe and nestle up by the computer to catch up with a friend on the other end.
- Have a fun sing-along with a friend or grandchild - Skype can make joining to sing an old favorite or teach a new tune easy and fun.
- Talk to a family member while viewing new family photos online together - Log on to Facebook, Flickr or another photo hosting Web site with a family member or friend to look thorugh virtual photo albums together.
- Lead a friend in a relaxing set of stretches and yoga poses at the end of a long day - The buddy system is a great way to stick to an exercise routine. Skype can allow you to lead a friend in a series of relaxing stretches and poses to keep you on track!
- Enjoy a messy finger painting session with a friend and share your artwork with each other afterward - Grab some paints and paper and log onto the computer, then Skype can allow you to collaborate as you create and share your works of art.
This is just the tip of the ice berg-there are so many fun and interesting ways to use this neat software. Now, all you need is a Skype account, an Internet connection and a Web cam, and you're all set! Can you think of other ways to use Skype? Have you tried Skype? Share your stories with us!
An article in May about the death of the self-proclaimed "oldest blogger" Spanish blogger Maria Amelia Lopez prompted an interesting discussion. This "Web-sensation" had developed a following of 1.7 million people throughout the course of her 880 posts - that's a lot of people! Lopez swore that blogging changed her life and she recommended that all elderly do it.
Socializing is so important as we grow older and maintaining the connections we once had may become more and more difficult with time. Social media/networking/computing is a collection of technology based tools that facilitate conversations, networking, and collaboration between participants in a generally Web-based environment. These tools give us the ability to publish our ideas, communicate interesting content we run across, or create. It lets us form communities of interest, or join communities that interest us.
Forms of social media, including blogging, have changed the way people communicate and this is one great example, as it carries the potential to keep the elderly and people with debilitating disabilities connected and engaged. Blogging can also be a great way to share your thoughts and feelings, solicit feedback from a captive audience, make new friends and keep in touch with loved ones who may live far away. Blogging can stimulate brain activity, boost your mood and relieve stress, all of which can make a significant impact on people with dementia, Alzheimer's, depression and other conditions.
It's a brave, new world - how many of your are utilizing social media? How do you incorporate it into your daily life? Share your stories!