How might we re-imagine accessibility for older adults

Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

There is a growing epidemic of loneliness affecting our society today, and the effects are particularly harmful for older adults: loneliness and social isolation can cause mental and physical health problems, and may contribute to cognitive decline. While technology alone cannot and should not replace human connection, it can help reduce isolation and facilitate connectivity between seniors and their friends and family.

Products such as Joy for All pets (previously part of Hasbro, Inc.) aim to provide interactive companionship and purpose for seniors living independently or in care communities – without the hassle and responsibility of owning a pet. Smart speakers such as Amazon Echo enable older adults to stay connected to their loved ones and has proven to be quite popular due to the intuitiveness of voice communication. AskMarvee is a pioneering startup that specializes in creating custom Alexa Skills and voice experiences for older adults.

Beyond companionship, another challenge facing older population is the loss of mobility and the ability to drive. A few years ago, Justin Boogaard started GoGoGrandparent to help older adults maintain their independence by accessing on-demand services like Uber & Lyft without a smart phone. As with many entrepreneurs in the longevity ecosystem, Justin started his journey with a personal story – of the need for an accessibility solution for his grandmother. Similarly, Srin Madipalli, our guest in the latest Shades of Grey podcast episode, started Accomable (acquired by Airbnb in 2017) to solve a personal challenge, and to raise the profile on the needs of the disabled.

To be successful in today’s diverse society, accessibility (both digital and physical) cannot be an afterthought. With inclusive design, emerging technology such as voice can break down the barriers of adoption, giving it tremendous potential to reach generations young and old. Imaging being able to communicate with your loved ones, without learning how to navigate layers of complex menu options. Similarly, people with disabilities and physical ailments, or those who are illiterate, now have the means to obtain information, control smart home appliances, and engage with others outside their homes. The ability to bridge physical distance, or navigate the world via the digital highway – using one’s voice (perhaps soon, using one’s mind) – is simply empowering.

The quest for longevity isn’t just about living longer – it’s about living better. It is not simply about extending biological years – but enabling memories for the living years. Instead on focusing on technology for younger demographics, we need to develop solutions that meet the needs of everyone as we age. As we weave ourselves into a tightly knit digital web, we must ensure that we are not leaving society’s most vulnerable demographics behind.

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Listen in to our conversation with Srin Madipalli, product manager at Airbnb, CEO of Accomable, on our next episode of Shades of Grey on iTunes and Spotify, as we talk about gender and age bias.

Join us May 15th for the inaugural FinTech4Life where we explore the future of financial services for the world’s fastest growing and wealthiest customer segment.

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