How Alexa Can Help Seniors with Dementia

What’s in a name? Who do you think of when you hear the name “Alexa”? The modern-day Alexa is Amazon’s virtual assistant, a program that recognizes voice commands and can perform a multitude of tasks, from playing music to streaming podcasts and activating smart devices and home automation systems. Heather Glen Senior Living in Allentown, PA, uses Alexa to help residents in a multitude of ways. Alexa’s technology can support seniors and dementia patients and their caregivers by providing reminders, mental stimulation with music and news, instant communication and monitoring, and other cognitive benefits.

Alexa is a great help for people with disabilities like vision impairment or mobility limitations. Simple voice commands can replace fumbling with radio controls or trying to reach light switches. Instead of a pile of notes or calendar reminders, Alexa can remind people to take medications, call a taxi, take a shower, or make a phone call. This capability is especially useful for people who have trouble remembering such details and keeping track of time, or even losing notes or appointment cards.

How does Alexa work?

Alexa was born as a Polish speech synthesizer named Ivona, acquired by Amazon in 2013. It was used in Amazon’s smart speakers as a voice-activated assistant to gather information from various sources to answer questions, play music, give news, sports, and weather updates, set timers, and obey other commands.

Alexa operates on Wi-Fi- and Bluetooth-capable smart speakers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices. Alexa operates via voice commands and can perform tasks too numerous to mention.

How can Alexa benefit seniors with dementia?

Common companions of dementia are feelings of loneliness and helplessness. Loneliness can stem from social isolation, and helplessness results from the inability to do simple tasks that were so easy before the diagnosis. In its hi-tech way, Alexis can help alleviate these feelings and provide companionship and hope for seniors.

Alexa can be programmed to assist with scheduled tasks, such as medication reminders, meals, and appointments. Caregivers can manage these remotely. Seniors with dementia can find help with cognitive exercises such as spelling, fact-checking, weather and news reports, and games, to mention a few.

Alexa has great features for families and caregivers. With the proper setup, Alexa can facilitate conversations and video visits, and the ability to check in on loved ones without being physically present.

What are some specific uses for Alexa for seniors with dementia?

Alexa’s capabilities keep growing, and new optional programs are being made available all the time. Here is a general list that highlights some of the many benefits of this user-friendly, hands-free, adaptive technology. NOTE: Different functions may require different physical components, such as smart speakers, smartphones, Ring doorbells, medical alert devices, and smart lighting, thermostats, cameras, and TVs.

Communication Seniors can use Alexa to make phone and video calls with the proper devices—without even dialing!

Reminders If a senior has trouble remembering appointments, chores, personal care needs, and other timely tasks, Alexa can alert them with the vocally-programmed details.

Entertainment Using simple voice commands, seniors can request music and songs, and even audiobooks, for their listening and learning pleasure. Devices with screens can stream videos on command.

Supervision Some devices allow a caregiver to initiate a video call from a remote location to communicate with or just peek in on a loved one without requiring them to answer the call.

Lists Anyone with Alexa can verbally create a shopping or chore list to view on a smartphone while shopping or running errands. A senior can hands-free dictate a want list for a person to access while on the road.

Home control Voice commands can control smart home features such as doorbell and security cameras, lights, and thermostats.

Amazon Alexa is a smart little helper that can provide security, convenience, encouragement, and peace of mind to seniors, Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, and caregivers, giving everyone a voice in their wellbeing!

Amazon Alexa and Heather Glen Senior Living—It’s a SMART combination!

If you’re interested in learning more about life at Heather Glen Senior Living in our personal or memory care community, or would like to see our community for yourself, give us a call at (610) 841-4478 or fill out our online form today.