There’s yet another big announcement in the news about “tech for Baby Boomers” and surprise, it’s all about tracking meds, exercise, and doctors. They even call it “Silver Tech,” but the main goal is, I guess, to keep you chained to the medical-industrial complex.
Listen, app-developer-people, there is more to us older folks than how many pills we swallow or steps we take every day.
Not that exercise isn’t important, but how many different kinds of super-tracking pedometer devices do we need? And once we get ourselves to peak health, what do we do with that miraculous gift?
I think the developers see us as free-range patients. It’s only a matter of time until we’re placed into a care facility, and until then, we need to be medically monitored, nudged, reminded, and tracked. How very Soylent Green.
However, I assume these inventors are smart and well-intended, so in the interests of intergenerational partnership, let’s educate them. Let’s tell them what we really need. For example, how about an app that finds new artistic endeavors or volunteer activities? Or one that offers insights as to the maturing mind? Or even one that contemplates the meaning of the second half of life? Can you do that, kids? Thanks.
Anyway, here’s the big story if you’re interested. Meanwhile, if you find any tech for older people that doesn’t involve reminding us when we left the front door standing open, let me know.
I’m not yet in the hospital demographic, but I am very much a Medical Dollar Sign to the various doctors I go to. The dentist, the dermatologist, my gynecologist – each one of them has a test I need or a “procedure” to fix something for me.
Whatever happened to just keeping the skin tags and getting through menopause naturally? I think I’d last longer.
But I’d be uglier.
What happened was the $$$ involved in fixing you! We are medical goldmines.
I have gone from being afraid of being to busy to realizing I am better off keeping busy and I still have my hobbies.
I connect AND commiserate with every single comment! I’m so tired of all the NEW technology . . . . that only makes things more complicated. I’m tired of people on the phone thinking I’m a younger applicant and upon meeting, they’re literally uncomfortable discovering my age . . . and no, I never get the job. Other than at Wal-Mart as a greeter, no one else seems to want us. Seriously, if Hubs & I can’t make it on SS, I think I will actually apply at WM. At least I’d have outside contact and a reason to leave the house! There could be worse things 🙂
Yes, Cheryl, every day in the news I see worse things. But that doesn’t take away the sting. Find a way to get on top of it, and to feel like a winner regardless. PS as an old Human Resources (Personnel) warhorse, I predict a future labor shortage, and so when we’re 90, they’ll be begging us to come back, but it’ll be too late.
Oh yes, the agism thing in interviews — i always see how wise and great i would be in the offered position (not too mention i would not have to worry about sick children or daycare, how great for them right?). I think how my age would add a depth of diversity in the whole organization. You know crones can be way cool because heck they have seen it all. Then i can feel the discomfort in the interview with “them” silently thinking. . . “really, how long will she last?” Well, naturally some ego driven persnickety 30-something gets the job — and OF COURSE she gets pregnant in about 6 months. Yes, how sweet for her, but really, i would have lasted longer. Now that have to interview yet again. . . oh i yawn at the young.
Could this be an opportunity for an online job placement service for seniors? Perhaps AARP might be able to assist in this type of endeavor. It seems such a waste to have knowledgable energetic older workers being passed over just because of age.
Lynda
Well, there’d have to be jobs, and there aren’t enough of them yet. When newly-minted MBAs are slinging hash for minimum wage, it’s still not going to be a good scene for older peeps.
Yes I guess it’s different everywhere. I was also in HR with a large Canadian Bank before retiring and CARP the Cdn. version of AARP worked with us to get their members jobs. Mostly they were part time positions at our Data Centre but it worked out great.
Of course that was some time ago and the market place has changed a lot since then. Perhaps some type of small service business is the way to go but then again not everyone is ready or wants self-employment. It’s definitely a tough road trying to get back into the workforce the older we get.
Lynne, they want us to “die healthy” LOL…. non-stop advertising for seniors…. vitamins, exercising, cosmetics and drugs. Illnesses, we didn’t even know existed (just ask your doctor if so and so drug is right for you) or knew we had. Some Ads are quite hilarious and the side effects of these drugs, WOW ! It’s mind boggling.
If only these app developers would get some input from us. I want straight forward apps for word processing, spreadsheets, email, photo-shop and make downloading docs easier. This new computer I have, files things all over the place and makes me crazy, wish I’d kept my old clunker!! Sometimes less is more!
At 70 I don’t care how many steps I take I’m just happy I can still get there!
Thanks for the post.
Lynda
And thanks for adding your comment, Lynda. Always great to hear from you.
Lynne
Loved the Soylent Green comment! Hahaha
I think a useful app for lots of elders would be a “B.S. Detector.” It would make it so much easier to deal with scam phone calls…politicians…media personalities…etc.
True, Sue. What a great idea!
I had never heard of Soylent Green and went looking for it! Wow! checked out the plot!!!! Aren’t we near that already, long before 2022?! 🙁
I read an article last year about the concern that there are sooooo many people (senior citizens) living so much longer that in a few years we seniors will be a drain on the economy big time!!!
I could go on and on about the changing attitudes regarding those of us in the senior age bracket, but that would be too depressing. So I am going to just say “Rock on Seniors” 🙂
Ann, there are a bunch of articles now about how seniors aren’t a drain. Like if they’d stop age discrimination and let us work, we could continue to pay taxes and delay getting Social Security. Which so many of us would prefer to do. So interesting how the culture evolves.
Oh how I agree with you Lynne. I have been looking for a part time job for over a year now!!!
How very offensive. I think I’ll stick with lynda.com if I want real content.
Nancy
Nancy, you mean you were offended by the link, not AnyShinyThing, right? 😉
“How very Soylent Green.”
Amen!