Alexa Together for Seniors: Stay Connected While Living Independently
In the digital age, we’re more connected than ever before. Still, feeling isolated is common, and this is as true for seniors as anyone else. Seniors need connection with family, fun things to do, and a network of support in case of emergency—and Alexa Together checks all these boxes!
What is Alexa Together?
You may not have heard of Alexa. No, we’re not referring to a famous one-name celebrity only your grandkids have heard of. Amazon Alexa is a voice-activated technology that can assist with a variety of tasks, from completing internet searches to ordering groceries to setting alarms and more.
The concept is kind of like having a Google you can talk to. Alexa is easy to use once set up because you can communicate with Alexa verbally.
Alexa Together is an app that takes Alexa to the next level by creating a tool for connection, support, and caregiving between you and your loved ones. Your family members can check in on you regularly, help you manage some of your day-to-day activities, and socialize with you through video chat on your television screen or via regular phone calls.
You might want an extra layer of support and care, but still want to maintain your independence and manage your own life as much as possible. Alexa Together brings in family members at-a-glance, so you can preserve your independence while they feel comfortable knowing you’re safe and taken care of.
What does Alexa Together do?
Now that you understand the basics of the technology, you might be wondering exactly what you can do with the Alexa Together app. Here are just a few of the situations in which Alexa Together can be helpful:
- Set up alerts that share how you use your device with loved ones, like your first interaction of the day.
- Create an activity feed with some of the ways you have used Alexa throughout the day.
- Allow your family members to assist remotely by adding reminders, creating shopping lists and setting up other aspects of the technology for you.
- Count on an urgent response team, available 24/7, providing trained agents who can help connect you with care through hands-free access.
- Alexa Together can detect falls, contact urgent response and notify your emergency contacts.
- Create a community of care by adding additional family members to your network.
- Allow you to video chat, if you and the caller both have a smart display device like an Echo Show.
As the technology continues to develop, Alexa Together will become even more functional. Already, the app can help you as a social tool, safety net and support network for life management.
Plus, there are several layers of privacy protection, so only certain family members can change your settings, and the app can be deleted at any time.
What do I need for Alexa Together for seniors?
Sounds great, right? Here’s how you get started!
Amazon offers a 30-day free trial so you can experience the features before committing. After that, the subscription is $19.99/month plus tax, and the service can be canceled at any time.
You’ll need an Echo device, which is the speaker system for the Alexa service. This is the physical device that allows you to interact with Alexa Together. Supporting family members don’t need a device—they can just install the Alexa app on their smartphone. But, if both of you have an Echo Show, you’ll be able to video chat!
Finally, you’ll each need to have your own Amazon account, which can be set up free of charge.
No longer wired for sound…
Alexa Together is a fun new way for you to wirelessly connect with your network of support while living independently. Now you have the information you need to figure out if Alexa Together is the right fit for you and your loved ones!
image credit: shutterstock/Sharomka
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