Tech That Works for Seniors

Fact checked by Shannon Sparks

Oil and water. Cats and dogs. Seniors and tech? 

At first glance, you might assume older adults don’t mix with cutting-edge gadgets and software. But technology is reshaping elder care, and older adults benefit when they join the shift.

In many senior care facilities, everyday tools like FaceTime and Zoom keep residents connected with family and friends. Families also appreciate the option to check in on a loved one when they can’t visit right away. Older adults use voice controls to turn on the TV, adjust lights, and hear the day’s menu. 

Professional caregivers increasingly rely on technology, too. When residents with dementia at the Danish Home of Chicago feel agitated or confused, staff reach for an iPad and play era-appropriate music to help calm them.

At The Arbor Company, a group of four senior living communities in Chicago, caregivers use the Tovertafel, an interactive light projection system designed for people with dementia. It projects games onto a table or flat surface that respond to movement and stimulate emotional and cognitive well-being.

Jenay Sherman, a marketing representative for The Arbor Company, says that Tovertafel has been an effective tool since 2023. “It is an excellent way to provide convenient engagement at a moment’s notice. Families can engage with residents while visiting, and we’ve seen many remarkable, memorable moments come from time spent around it.”

The Arbor Company also uses other therapeutic technologies, such as SingFit’s music-based memory program and Arbor Active, which blends AI-enabled fitness equipment with personal trainers to create customized wellness plans.

Still, technology can hinder as much as it helps. 

The Apple Watch shows how wide the gap can be between promise and reality. When Apple introduced fall detection in 2018, experts hailed it as a breakthrough for seniors because it would alert caregivers when a user fell, enabling help to arrive quickly. 

In practice, the experience falls short. Many older adults forget to wear the watch, don’t charge it, or simply don’t want another device on their wrist — leaving an ideal solution just out of reach.

“The fall feature was supposed to be the next best thing, but it just hasn’t materialized,” says Scott Swanson, president and CEO of the Danish Home of Chicago. “But the other tech, where residents can easily video chat with family, has really been a great addition to the care we provide our residents.”

Seniors and technology can mix — as long as the tools fit into their daily lives. The secret isn’t the newest gadget. It’s choosing the tech they’ll actually use.

Above photo: Tovertafel, an interactive light projection system. Photo courtesy of Tover.

Originally published in the Winter/Spring 2026 print issue.