Technology Alexa for Seniors: Top 12 Beneficial Features for Older Adults 12/9/2024 | By Annie Tobey Amazon’s voice-controlled virtual assistant, Alexa, offers features for users of all ages. But Alexa for seniors takes the benefits to a higher level. We present 12 top features to enhance daily life and safety for older adults, including Amazon’s Emergency Assist service. I recall sitting in front of the family TV, taking in The Jetsons cartoon. It wasn’t merely the storylines that caught my attention, but also the futuristic lifestyle: the family zooming around their space neighborhood in personal aircraft, riding moving sidewalks, and being served by their trusty robot maid, Rosie. Today’s technology has brought us closer than ever to the Jetsons’ world. Although we still live on solid ground and lack full-service robot maids (oh, to have a maid that will dust my furniture!), technology has made life easier – and added some fun, too. One bit of technology, Amazon Alexa, makes our homes more Jetson-like and offers added benefits for older adults. A Little Background Amazon Alexa, the voice-controlled virtual assistant, works with a two-way communication system – you talk to Alexa and she responds. With the two-way microphone and speaker, Alexa allows for basic tasks like audio and video calls. However, her capabilities go far beyond, providing education, entertainment, and security. Alexa device options range from small audio-only devices to larger audio-video devices. The devices are updated frequently and can include: Pop, a small budget-friendly speaker Dot, a softball-sized speaker, which can be upgraded with a digital clock or improved speaker quality Spot, a softball-sized speaker with a flat video display as well as video capture for two-way video calls Show, a horizontal display offering two-way audio and video capabilities. Options range from a small 5.5″ display to a large 21″ display. Top 12 benefits of Alexa for seniors I’ve been using an Alexa device for several years now, starting with a Dot and adding a Spot to a second room. Through my experience and in researching new capabilities, I’ve chosen 12 top features of Alexa for seniors, both for daily use and to have in the back pocket for security. Alexa, what was the top movie in 1965? Whatever question pops up, ask Alexa! In reading, you may come across an unknown word or literary allusion. Ask Alexa. Maybe you’re reminiscing about concerts and trying to recall who recorded “Build Me Up Buttercup.” Ask Alexa. Trying out a new recipe that measures in metric? Ask Alexa for conversions. Alexa, what’s on my calendar? If you’ve transitioned to keeping your calendar on a smartphone or computer, you can connect it to Alexa. Sure, you can pick up your calendar to check, but you can also ask Alexa. If your hands are immersed in dishwater, you’re rushing to get out the door, or you’re stretching your morning muscles in bed, just ask Alexa. Alexa, set the timer for 10 minutes. Timers have long been useful in kitchens, but once you have Alexa at hand to set a timer upon voice command, you’ll realize just how valuable they can be. Besides timing the roasting vegetables, Alexa can time you holding a stretch during physical therapy exercises or giving yourself 10 more minutes of reading before heading to bed. Similarly, Alexa can set an alarm, for a gentle morning wake-up or anytime during the day. Alexa, set a reminder. “What’s the reminder for?” Alexa will respond. “Take my vitamins.” “When should I remind you?” “At 9:00 a.m.” You can set recurring reminders, like “Alexa, remind me to take my vitamins every day at 9 a.m.” You can also snooze a reminder if you can’t respond promptly. Alexa, order dental floss. You can place Amazon orders with a simple command, especially for items that you’ve ordered previously from your Amazon account or that are currently in your Amazon cart. Alexa, add tomatoes to my grocery list. This is one of my most frequent Alexa requests, since I usually realize I need an ingredient when I’m busy, say, in the kitchen. Rather than stopping what I’m doing to write it down, I have Alexa do the work. Then I use that grocery list when I shop – whether in the store or at my computer ordering curbside pickup. Alexa, find my phone. Another great benefit of Alexa for seniors is that it can help you find things you’ve misplaced, such as phone and keys. I’ve done this using two different methods. Since I’ve connected Alexa to my Tiles, I can ask her to locate (by location) or ring any of my Tiles, such as the one on my keys. She can also call your phone, for those times when you know “it’s here somewhere!” Alexa, play NPR. Entertainment, news, weather forecast, music – Alexa can hook you up! If you have accounts with providers like SiriusXM, Pandora, iHeartRadio, iTunes, Spotify, etc., she can also connect with them to provide even more options. Alexa, who’s at my front door? Coordinate Alexa with your smart home devices and appliances, for convenience and safety. Turn on your smart TV; turn lights on and off; lock your door; check security cameras; change thermostat settings; turn off the oven; start your robotic vacuum; and on and on. Talk about living like the Jetsons! My most frequent Alexa smart-home request is to turn lights on and off. My father, who was a stickler for turning lights off when leaving a room, would be tickled with how easy Alexa makes it to be energy and budget conscious. Alexa, good night. Create custom routines for Alexa, such as “Good morning,” “Dinner time,” “Kick off my day,” or “I’m home.” When I tell Alexa “Good night,” she turns off all of my inside smart light bulbs while leaving on my front and back porch lights. If I want, she responds with “Good night, sleep tight.” Other routine actions include changing a thermostat, playing white noise or music – either throughout the night or for a set amount of time – updating news and weather, and more. Alexa, start my meditation. A good night’s sleep is essential for physical and cognitive health. This is true for people of all ages, but the negative effects of poor night of sleep seem more apparent as we age. Alexa can help. The Amazon assistant can connect with several different meditation skills – like apps for smartphones, from free to fee. I’ve made the Breath Prana Breathing Exercises my last Alexa request of the evening, after lights out and alarms set. The habit has done wonders in easing me into a restful slumber. Alexa offers other health-related skills, too, like 7-Minute Workout, Fitbit connections, Easy Yoga, My Boxing Coach, and Daily Stretch. Alexa, get me help! One Alexa service could potentially be lifesaving, especially for seniors. Alexa Emergency Assist enables the user to connect to a trained urgent response agent, 24/7. Agents can request dispatch and pass on critical information to first responders, including police, fire, and ambulance. Up to 25 emergency contacts are also alerted, keeping loved ones informed. The agents can also pass along information you have saved in your profile, such as pets, medical information, and door codes. It can also notify you of sounds such as breaking glass or smoke alarms, whether you are home or away. The service can be accessed at home, using an Alexa device or with the Alexa phone app, or when away from home, using the app. We may have laughed at that old commercial, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” As we’ve aged, however, we know that scenario could become our own reality. If we don’t have on our fall alert device or our smartphone is in another room, we can still call out for Alexa. Today’s Amazon Alexa devices offer a multitude of benefits. The Alexa smartphone app also helps people find features that are useful or simply fun, too. Watch out, Rosie! Alexa can’t fetch slippers yet, but she is close on your heels! Check out this other cool technology for seniors! Originally published March 2021. Updated Dec. 2024 to reflect changes and ensure accuracy. Read More Annie Tobey Annie Tobey has been a professional writer and editor for more than 30 years. As editor of BOOMER magazine, she explored a diversity of topics of particular interest to adult children of seniors. When she’s not writing, she can be found running the trails or enjoying a beer with friends.