Along with the standard features, many tablets offer senior-friendly features such as:
- Adjustable font size
- Voice assistant
- Sound or volume adjustment capacity
- Hearing aid compatibility
- Brain game options
- Alert applications
Research and development in technology sectors have produced many excellent tools to meet the needs of seniors. Most tablets and smart technology provide easy-to-use font enlargement tools for those with decreased near vision.
Meanwhile, the technology of voice assistants, like Apple’s Siri, Google’s “Hey Google” and Microsoft’s Cortana, gives the tablet the ability to respond to voice commands, providing enormous help to the user. By simply stating commands or inquiries, users hear the answers they need.
Additionally, hearing loss is common in seniors. To help, look for a device with easy-to-find volume control.
Hearing aid compatibility is another little-known feature that comes equipped in most smart gadgets, including tablets, and is important for anyone who wears hearing aids. Many current hearing aids have Bluetooth built in, and setting up an automatic connection between devices can be immensely beneficial.
Additionally, consider emergency alert system apps. Some downloadable apps can be linked to pharmacies and other medical care providers and monitored or configured with help from tablets.
Medication reminder apps can also be beneficial to seniors who have difficulty remembering which medications to take or at what time medications should be taken. Tablets also provide a great way to practice telehealth—most available tablets will come with some form of front-facing camera so that video visits can be made with healthcare providers online instead of in person.
Some tablet apps can also help collect health data—whether collected by a separate device that links to the tablet for automatic logging, like a high-tech blood pressure cuff, or inputted manually by the user. This data can then be sent to healthcare providers to help monitor a senior’s health. As they’re smaller and thinner than laptops, tablets can also be brought along to health appointments for note taking or providing a healthcare provider with data collected via the tablet.
Other Important Tablet Features for Seniors
A few other features seniors might need in a tablet include:
- Long battery life
- Lots of storage space for pictures and videos
- Durability
- Water resistance
These features are standard in most tablets, but research and product comparison is always a good idea before making a purchase.
Ease of Setup
Ease of setup should be high on the list of important features. For seniors already familiar with the iOS operating system common among iPhones, purchasing an iPad from Apple will reduce additional training required. Meanwhile, for those familiar with a Windows PC operating system, learning a Microsoft tablet will likely be easier and more straightforward than trying to learn a new manufacturer’s system.
For those buying for a senior loved one, involving the user in the setup process offers a training opportunity and a stronger understanding of how the tablet works. For seniors buying their own tablet, a local tablet store may offer classes and assistance with setup and training—although many salespeople are happy to assist if the store doesn’t have specialists ready and willing to help.