Hello, and welcome back to the Paddock Room. I'm Margo. I'm here with Wayne, and this
is Talking Tech with Wayne, the podcast dedicated to discussing smartphones, smart homes, and
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Today we will be discussing assistive technology. As we age, it can become difficult to perform
everyday tasks, but assistive technology can help seniors maintain their independence and
improve their quality of life. Today we will be discussing the basics of assistive technology
and how it can benefit them. Let's start with the basics. Wayne, what is assistive technology
and how can it help our listeners? Assistive technology is any device or software
that helps individuals perform tasks that may be difficult or impossible for them to
do otherwise. Assistive technology can include devices like hearing aids, magnifiers, and
voice activated assistants as well as software programs like speech to text and text to speech
tools. That's helpful to know. What are some common challenges that seniors may face that
can be addressed with assistive technology? Some may face challenges when hearing and
vision and mobility and memory which can be addressed with this kind of tech. For example,
hearing aids can help those with hearing loss, magnifiers can help those with vision impairment,
and mobility ads like walkers and grab bars can help with mobility issues. Those are great
examples. What are some resources available for folks to learn about assistive tech?
There are many resources including community organizations, healthcare providers, and online
resources like assistive technology industry, association A-T-A-A-T-I-A, and the National
Institute of Aging. That's great to know. Thank you for those. Now, let's talk about
hearing and vision aids. As we age, it's common to experience hearing and vision loss. What
are some types of hearing and vision aids that can help? Some types of hearing aids
include behind the ear BTE hearing aids, in the ear ITE hearing aids, and receiver and
canal RIC hearing aids. These devices amplify sounds and can be customized for the user-specific
needs. For vision aids, there are magnifiers, closed circuit television, CCT systems, and
electronic glasses that can help improve visual acuity and magnify glass, magnify text or
images. That's helpful to know. Wayne, what are some things that listeners should consider
when selecting a hearing or vision aid? They should consider the severity of their hearing
or vision life, the type of environment in which they'll be using the aid, and their
budget when selecting a hearing or visual aid. Additionally, they should choose a reputable
provider and ensure that the aid is properly fitted and adjusted to their specific needs.
Those are important factors to consider. What about costs? Are hearing and vision aids
covered by insurance? While some insurance plans may cover vision and hearing aids, they
can be expensive and may not be fully covered by insurance. Listeners should check with
their insurance providers to see what is covered and explore other options such as government
assistant program or nonprofit organizations that provide financial assistance for these
kinds of aids. That's helpful to know. Thank you for those. Now, let's talk about mobility
and accessibility aids. As we age, it's common to experience mobility issues. What are some
types of mobility aids that can help seniors? That's helpful to know. What about accessibility
aids? What are some types of accessibility aids that can help seniors? Some types of mobility
aids include walkers, canes, real shears, and electric scooters. These devices can help
seniors maintain their independence and mobility and can be customized to the user's specific
needs. That's important to consider. What are some things that seniors should consider
when selecting a mobility or accessibility aid? Some types of accessibility aids include
stair lists, grab bars, and bathroom safety equipment. These devices can help seniors
navigate their homes more safely and easily and can be especially helpful for those with
mobility or balance issues. Those are important factors to keep in mind.
What about costs? Are mobility and accessibility aids covered by insurance? Seniors should consider
the type and severity of their mobility issue, the environment in which they'll be using
the aid, and their budget when selecting a mobility or accessibility aid. Additionally,
they should choose a reputable provider and ensure that the aid is properly fitted and
adjusted to their specific needs. That's helpful to know. Thank you for those
insights on mobility and accessibility aids for seniors. Now, let's talk about voice-activated
assistive technology. As we age, it can become difficult to perform everyday tasks, like
using a computer or turning on the lights. What are some types of voice-activated assistive
technology that can help seniors? While some insurance plans may cover mobility
and accessibility aids, they can be expensive and may not be fully covered by insurance.
Seniors should check with their insurance provider to see what is covered and explore
other options, such as government assistance programs or nonprofit organizations that provide
financial assistance for those aids. That's helpful to know. What are some
things that seniors should consider when selecting a voice-activated assistive technology advice?
They include smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, which can be used to control
smart home devices like lights, thermostats, and door locks with voice commands. Additionally,
voice-activated personal assistants like Apple Siri and Google Assistant can help seniors
perform tasks like setting reminders, making phone calls, and sending messages using voice
commands. Those are important factors to consider.
What about privacy concerns? Are there any risks associated with using voice-activated
assistive technology devices? They should consider the level of complexity
of the device and its compatibility with other smart home devices when selecting a voice-activated
assistive device. Additionally, they should choose a device with good voice recognition
capabilities and a user-friendly interface. That's helpful to know. Thank you for those.
Now let's talk about assistive technology for communication. As we age, it can become
difficult to communicate with loved ones or participate in social activities. What are
some types of assistive technology for communication?
While there are privacy concerns associated with these devices, there are ways to minimize
these risks, such as disabling certain features like voice recording or regularly deleting
stored voice data. Additionally, users should choose reputable brands and follow best practices
for securing their home network to protect their personal information.
That's helpful to know. What are some things that seniors should consider when selecting
assistive technology for communication? Some types of assistive technology for communication
include speech-to-text and text-to-speech software, which can help seniors who have difficulty
speaking or hearing. Additionally, there are video chat platforms like Skype and FaceTime
that can help seniors stay connected with loved ones who live far away.
Those are important factors to consider. What about calls? Are a SIDD…
They should consider the level of complexity of the device or software and its compatibility
with their existing technology when selecting this kind of assistive technology. Additionally,
they should choose a device or software that is easy to use and has good customer support.
Technology devices or software for communication covered by insurance?
While some insurance plans may cover them, they can be expensive and may not be fully
covered by insurance. Listeners should check with their insurance provider to see what
is covered and explore other options such as government assistance programs or nonprofit
organizations that provide financial assistance for these devices or software.
That's helpful to know. Before we wrap up this episode, do you have any final thoughts
on assistive technology for communication? Yes, my final thought is that assistive technology
for communication can greatly improve the quality of life for seniors by helping them
stay connected with young loved ones and participate in social activities. By seeking
out and utilizing these technologies, they can enjoy a higher level of comfort and happiness
in their everyday lives.
As with all of the information we share here, flex your Google search muscles, log into our
website www.talking-tech.org or call our helpline. That number is 215-406-HELP. That's 215-406-4357.
Well I see that's all the time I have for today. It has been my pleasure to be here
and I look forward to the next time we can do it again. I wish you all a farewell.