One of her kids helpfully bought a smartphone for mom. Aged 90 at the time, she never really understood it, but then came quarantine. Now a bit older, she didn't want to wait for the kids to call. She was bored and lonely. She repeatedly pressed every button and, surprise, kids started getting calls all day and night from mom, who usually didn't know she was connected.
Could a voice assistant like Alexa or Google Home help?
One caregiver thought so and bought his father an Alexa. He linked the device to a smart phone and dad got the hang of it. "Alexa, call Steve," and Alexa did.
The problem is that even mild dementia — or user fear of technology — gets in the way. Alexa and Google Home speakers are dependent on both user memory for phrases and also motivation and creativity in thinking about what the assistants can do. They universally require some tech knowledge to set up, of course, but using them can be just as puzzling to some.
Still, they can be useful for common tasks:
– You take your pills and say to Alexa: Remember I took my pills today at 11 a.m. You can't remember if you took your pills. Alexa reminds you that you did.
– You lose your phone in the house. Alexa and Google Home have ways to find it. But low-level technology users will need help.
– Safety can be one use. Alexa and Google offer calling help to contacts, but 911 services are not available.
– Devices can turn on lights, for example, which may be helpful with the right trigger phrase: "Alexa, Good Morning", for example.
– Much has been made of the entertainment value of a digital assistant. They can read books or play music, but, at some point, users will want to remember the name of the book or music. Although the digital responses can be customized, they are simply reliant on awareness and phrases.
For tech-wary adults, any technology may be too much technology, but as tech-savvy generations age, these technologies are expected to become a feature of life.
