The 76 million American Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964 have had a huge influence on the nation’s politics, arts, business industry, and lifestyles over the last few decades. And while many are beginning to make plans for their retirement, that doesn’t mean they are about to lose any of their influence. In fact, Boomers are the inspiration for many of the latest popular tech innovations.
Tech’s earliest consumers
Businesses have been quick to realize that when it comes to technology, the Baby Boomer generation offers a goldmine full of existing and potential consumers of technology. After all, this was the generation that most likely owned some of the earliest home computers on the market. They may have been slower to embrace it, but Boomers are no less enthusiastic about today’s modern tech.
At least 78% of Boomers now online
Baby Boomers are steadily embracing social media to stay connected with friends and family. Around 78 percent were online by 2013, with one-third considering themselves to be ‘heavy internet users.’ And while they may not be regularly posting selfies, 82 percent belong to at least one social platform.
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108 million over 65s by 2050
It’s expected that by 2030, there will be 72 million people living in the US aged over 65. By 2050 this figure could swell to 108 million. As Baby Boomers enter retirement, there will be an increased strain on the health care system. As a Boomer, you are fortunately positioned to benefit from an array of new technologies catering to older generations to help you enjoy your independence while aging at home.
Technology to do the chores
If you find household chores to be made easier or you simply have something better to do, technology has the solution. Remote control vacuum cleaners like the Roomba will do the hard work for you. Perhaps you’d like an internet-enabled refrigerator that will not only keep track of what’s inside, it will even arrange a home food delivery for you. No more time wasted on shopping lists and trips to the store.
Monitor health at home
New approaches to medicine and healthcare are also making it possible to monitor your health at home without needing to head to the doctors. Remote monitoring allows for your most up-to-date medical information, from blood sugar levels to heart rate, to be sent to carers, family members, and off-site medical workers to review.
Tech to help the 1 in 4 seniors at risk of falling
And if falls are a concern then there’s tech to help you with that too. Roughly one in four people aged over 65 falls each year, 20% will end up with broken bones or a head injury. However, a wearable airbag that looks just like a normal belt, will inflate when it detects that you are falling and cushion the fall, reducing your risk of injury.
While people may assume it’s just the millennials who are the tech-savvy generation, the Baby Boomers are catching up and taking advantage of the technology that’s revolutionizing their lives as they look forward to enjoying an independent retirement.
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