Connect to Older Adults: Technology to Improve Wellbeing

Adults 65 and older are adopting technology rapidly and are more connected than ever before, reports Psychology Today . Expected booms in the older adult U.S. population add urgency to the need to capitalize on accessible means for support and improving quality of life and wellbeing for seniors. Technology can play a critical role, as demonstrated by the surging popularity of mental health applications, which offer diverse uses. Such tools can support mood and mental health screening questionnaires, skill-building exercises founded on techniques such as mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy, and linkage to licensed mental health professionals. Older adult populations often face compounded hindrances to traditional mental health services, which can be surmounted via technology-enabled programs. Videochat programs have been connected to more positive mental health status, while the use of videochat services for mental health support is expanding. Other helpful technology utilizations include app-based programs that uphold wellbeing. They include behavioral activation style reminders on smartphones and on voice-activated personal assistants.