10 Ways Alexa Can Make Life Easier for Seniors
As people get older, our minds aren’t always as sharp as they used to be. It’s easy to forget things and remember other things. Unfortunately, loved ones can’t always be around to help remind us of things, either. This is where Alexa comes in. There are all kinds of ways Alexa can help make the lives of seniors easier. Here are just a few.
What Devices Use Alexa?
Here are a few devices designed specifically for Alexa.
Echo Dot
This is the smallest device and is about the size of a hockey puck. Perfect for studio apartments or regular apartments.
Echo
This is slightly larger than the echo dot, looks more like a sphere, and has a higher-quality sound.
Echo Show
This is the largest device which has a large screen and a camera to watch shows and make video calls.
Ways Alexa Can Help Seniors
1. Medication Reminders
Do you find that you often forget to take your medications? It happens to everyone. Luckily, Alexa is a great way to set a reminder but takes it one step further with the medicine tracker. The medicine tracker is free to use and will tell you what medications you are taking when you last took them and when you should take them again. This is a great way to help seniors take their meds and will give loved ones peace of mind that their loved ones won’t forget.
2. Deter Intruders
Being alone at night can be a stressful time for seniors, especially if they live in a crime-ridden area. Alexa has a feature called Burglar Deterrent. This feature, when activated, will play barking dogs, babies crying, etc. Just like in the classic movie Home Alone.
3. Maximize Independence
The Remote Senior Care feature is also free and allows seniors to connect with loved ones, day or night. This feature will help you feel more independent because you know you know your loved ones are just a tap away.
4. Remember Important Dates
Alexa can help you remember important dates. Sure, it’s common for most of us to write things on our calendars or even add them to the calendar on our phones. But then we have to remember to look at the calendar. This has happened to me often, I forget to look. Ask Alexa to “remember this”, and she will remember the info you give for future reference. This way, you have an assistant, and you won’t forget that birthday, anniversary, job interview, or doctor’s appointment again!
5. Create a Grocery List
Gone are the days of writing a grocery list on a piece of paper or even a napkin. You can use your voice to create a grocery list and Alexa will remember it. Say, “Alexa, add bread and milk to my grocery list,” and she’ll add them. When you’re done, ask Alexa to recite it back to you to make sure you forgot nothing. If you have a smartphone, the Alexa App will display your list for you. No more wondering if you forgot anything. You will always get what’s on your list.
6. Stay Safe with Emergency Assist
This important, possibly life-saving feature is not free. It costs $5.99/month or $59 annually as of this writing. Saying “Alexa, I need help” connects your loved one with an urgent response agent who will request emergency services. This feature is invaluable, especially for those with loved ones who live far away. If you fall in your home or are having a heart attack, all you have to do is alert Alexa, and help will soon be on the way. This will give everyone peace of mind that no matter what happens, you will always be able to get help.
7. Get Better Sleep
As we get older, it can be more difficult to fall asleep. This can be true for seniors as well. My mom has a hard time sleeping some nights. This is where background noise comes in and Alexa has plenty of options to choose from, like white noise, brown noise, and other background noise like train ride sounds. There are all kinds of noise options to choose from to help you get a good night’s rest.
8. Independence for Older Adults with Disabilities
Many diseases can impact people as they get older, like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, etc. Strokes can also cause people to have disabilities depending on how severe they are and how they limit motor function. This can frustrate everyone—seniors and their loved ones.
Older adults with disabilities can also use Alexa. If they have a Fire Tablet, they can turn on the Eye Gaze feature on Alexa and use eye-tracking software to trigger preset settings on Alexa. This is a wonderful way for those with disabilities to have more independence.
9. Pay Bills on Time with Ease
It happens to all of us from time to time. We either forget to pay a bill entirely or we get that payment made by the skin of our teeth. Alexa can help with this, too. If you have an Amazon Pay account, you can ask Alexa to pay your phone bill, credit card bill, water bill, etc. You no longer have to worry about dropping that bill in the mail or if you typed in all the correct numbers on your debit or credit card. Pair this with reminders and you will never miss paying a single bill again.
10. Entertainment
Those who lived in the day of radio programs will love being able to listen to Radio Mystery Theater, Alexa’s answer to the radio shows of lore. If you have a Spotify account or Amazon Music account, you can also listen to the music of your choosing and podcasts.
If you have a Kindle or Audible account, you can pair them with Alexa as well. This way, you can listen to books from your favorite authors in any room of your home. It’s also great for those with low mobility or issues with their eyesight. You can listen to a book while gardening, taking a hot, soothing bath, or while watching a beautiful sunset.
There are tons of audiobooks available in every genre, so you’ll find something fantastic to listen to. Big-name authors like James Patterson and Debbie Macomber publish audiobooks, and so do independent authors. You will find a story and a voice to escape with.
If the senior in your life doesn’t have an Alexa device, consider picking one up to make their life easier today!
Image Credit: Luis Alvarez @ | Getty Images | Six_Characters @ Getty Images
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Originally published February 14, 2025
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