SPC has conducted a study to analyze technology use among people over 70 years old in Spain, revealing that 9 out of 10 users have trouble handling their mobile phones.
61% of family members or caregivers of an elderly person believe that a remotely configurable phone would help these seniors feel more connected with their relatives, while 86% think it would contribute to their autonomy and safety.
SPC Care, the first remote management application for non-smartphones developed by the leading mobile phone brand in Spain, and SPC POLARIS, the first device fully controllable remotely, combat the isolation caused by the digital divide, enhance seniors' safety, and promote healthy aging.
Christmas is synonymous with gatherings, closeness, and traditions that unite generations. The holidays become a special time when daily routines are set aside to share moments of affection and family bonding. However, this reunion, although valuable, is often temporary. Throughout the rest of the year, lack of time and the whirlwind of daily responsibilities make it difficult for people to maintain the same close contact with their relatives, especially with the elderly, who often find themselves isolated due to physical distance or lack of regular visits.
In this regard, technology has positioned itself as a great ally to help maintain connection with family members throughout the year. Messages, calls, or video calls can effectively make up for the lack of contact; but what happens when our older loved ones see technology as a barrier rather than a tool to get closer to the people they want and need around them?
A technological barrier that impacts seniors’ relationships with their environment
The recent “Study on Technology Use Among Our Seniors”, conducted by the Spanish consumer electronics brand SPC among people caring for those over 70, revealed that 78% of respondents perceive that their elderly relatives’ difficulties with technology significantly affect their social integration, reflecting a widespread concern about technological barriers limiting seniors’ connection with their surroundings.
The SPC study also shows that senior users face significant digital barriers that affect their relationships with loved ones. Although over 90% of people over 70 in Spain have access to some technological device, the vast majority cannot use it autonomously and independently. In this sense, the research points out that 9 out of 10 senior technology users have trouble handling their devices and usually require help or support to some extent.
While phone calls are the most common way for seniors to communicate (82%)—compared to less popular options like video calls (36%) or social media (14%)—the data reveals that one in three seniors encounters problems making or receiving a call. This finding highlights the gap separating the elderly from today’s digital world.
Remote configuration of senior phones: the solution serving family connections
Despite these challenges, family members and caregivers recognize technology’s potential to improve seniors’ lives: 52% acknowledge its key role in proper communication and reducing isolation. Additionally, 48% recognize it as a great ally in managing health and well-being by enabling reminders for medical appointments or medication schedules, and 47% see technology as a way to promote daily safety through features related to geolocation and security alerts.
Technology positively impacts seniors’ quality of life, and remote configuration helps overcome barriers to using mobile devices and combats loneliness and isolation. In this regard, SPC’s research concluded that 61% of participants believe a remotely configurable phone could help seniors feel more connected with their families. This type of technology would not only facilitate communication but also increase seniors’ safety and autonomy, as 86% of caregivers believe it would positively contribute to their well-being.
In this context, SPC recently announced SPC Care, an innovative remote assistance app that provides families with a tool to bring seniors closer to the digital world in a simple and non-intrusive way. This exclusive technological milestone from SPC, compatible only with the brand’s devices, allows remote configuration of absolutely all settings on the senior user’s phone (sounds, contact list, font size…), tracking the elderly person’s location, ensuring their safety through alerts and notifications related to phone use and battery status, protecting them from SPAM via blacklist management, and monitoring their physical activity and health reminders.
Furthermore, the SPC study also highlights the benefits this type of technology can bring to family members and close ones: people caring for seniors consider that using such apps provides them with security (59%) as they receive alerts to react quickly in emergencies; confidence (45%) because they know they have the necessary support to better manage elder care; closeness (43%) as it helps them stay more connected and present in their lives, even from a distance; and peace of mind (42%) thanks to the ability to monitor if fraudulent messages or calls are received.
SPC POLARIS, the first fully remotely controllable mobile phone to help families care for seniors
SPC Care, free to download for both Android and iOS smartphones, represents a true breakthrough that helps reduce the digital divide between seniors and the world around them. By integrating with mobile phones without internet connection—currently the app is available for SPC POLARIS, the first fully remotely configurable mobile phone, and will soon extend to other brand devices—it allows seniors to continue using a simple phone they feel comfortable with and stay connected to their environment, while family members and caregivers have the assurance that their elders are well at all times and integrated into an increasingly digital society. With SPC Care, nothing changes for our seniors, but everything changes for their families and loved ones.
This holiday season can be much more than a time of celebration; it is an opportunity to help the seniors around us overcome the technological barriers they face by gifting them a mobile phone like SPC POLARIS, fully integrated with SPC Care’s remote care and control features. These tools not only facilitate communication and remote support but also empower seniors, helping them overcome technological barriers and fully participate in family life.
You can learn more about SPC Care here and about SPC POLARIS, the first senior phone compatible with SPC Care here.
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