My Health Technology for Seniors

Lonzell Watson, recently honored by the University of Kentucky's 2014-15 College of Communication and Information Outstanding Alumnus Award, has been fascinated with technology ever since he disassembled his first Commodore 64 computer in grade school and then attempted to put it back together. He went on to work a 100-mile paper route for an entire year, just to buy his first Apple computer, and he has been writing about technology ever since. Lonzell helped pay his way through college making house calls to individuals who were 50 years of age and older, helping them learn how to use common software programs, how to use their hardware, how to buy new computers, and even helping them set up home networks. Lonzell went on to work as an IT consultant for clients including the J. Peterman Company, Time Warner Communications, and Verizon Wireless. Lonzell is the award-winning author of Teach Yourself Visually iPad, for which he won the 2010 International Award of Excellence from the Society for Technical Communication. This work also earned Lonzell the Distinguished Technical Communication award and Best of Show 2010 from the STC. Lonzell was also presented the Award of Excellence for Teach Yourself Visually iPhoto '09 in 2009. He is the author of other popular titles, including My Samsung Galaxy Tab, My Amazon Fire Phone, Teach Yourself Visually iPad 2, My HTC EVO 3D, the Canon VIXIA HD Digital Field Guide, Final Cut Pro 6 for Digital Video Editor's Only, and Teach Yourself Visually Digital Video. Currently, Lonzell is the owner of Creative Intelligence LLC, an instructional design and technical writing company, whose courseware is being used to train the CIA, FBI, NASA, and all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. With a master's degree in Instructional Design and Development, Lonzell has taught Digital Asset Creation to graduate students at Bellevue University, has been a frequent contributor to StudioMonthly.com, and an author for one of the leading online learning companies, Lynda.com. Lonzell's writing has been syndicated, with hundreds of published tutorials and tips that help demystify consumer electronics and software. Find out more at the author's website: www.creativeintel.com

Introduction   1
Chapter 1  Choosing the Right Technology to Support Your Health Goals   5
Using a Smartphone to Aid in a Healthy Lifestyle   6
Explore Android Devices   7
Check Your Version of Android   10
Choose an Android Phone   10
Consider an Apple iPhone   14
Check Your Version of iOS   16
Keep in Touch with the Jitterbug Touch3   17
Consider the Snapfon ezTWO3G   19
Finding Health Apps for Your Device   21
Perform a Google Search   21
Find a Forum   22
Ask Your Doctor   22
Browse the Play Store   22
Use the Gear Manager App   26
Use the Android Wear App   26
Browse the App Store   29
Use the Apple Watch App   31
Visit a Fitness Tracker’s Website   33
Exploring Web-Based Solutions   33
Taking a Look at What Wearables Can Do for You   34
Decide Between Fitness Trackers   35
Determine Your Need for a Smartwatch   43
Consider the Need for a Medical ID   50
Choose a Pedometer to Track Your Activity   52
Exploring Technology for Your Household   53
Smart Bathroom Scales   53
Talking Measuring Cups and Food Scales   54
Medicine Adherence   54
Anti-Scalding Devices   56
Turn On Lights Remotely   56
Medical Alert Services   57
Chapter 2  Maintaining a Healthy, Balanced Diet   59
Knowing Your Body Measurements   60
Calculate Body Mass Index (BMI)   60
Track Your Body Fat Percentage   61
Watching Your Weight   61
Measure Weight with the Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale   62
Monitor Weight with the Weight Gurus Bluetooth Smart Body Fat Scale   63
Track Your Weight with the Withings WS-50 Smart Body Analyzer   64
Watching Your Food Portions   65
Weigh Food Portions with Digital Scales   65
Work with Talking Measuring Cups   67
Tracking Your Daily Hydration   69
Monitor Fluid Intake with HydraCoach   69
Monitor Fluid Intake with the Thermos Connected Hydration Bottle with Smart Lid   75
Making Better Food Choices 82
Track Calorie Consumption with the MyFitnessPal App   82
Learn What’s Really in Your Food with the Fooducate App   87
Lose Weight with the Lose It! App   94
Getting Groceries Delivered to Your Door   100
Explore Peapod Home Delivery   101
Use Schwan’s Home Delivery Services   104
Order from AmazonFresh   106
Consider Instacart Grocery Delivery   107
Exploring Diet-Specific Resources with Recipes   110
Explore All Natural, Gourmet Farm-to-Table Deliveries from Blue Ribbon Foods   111
Receive Special Diet Deliveries from Schwan’s Home Delivery   111
Consider Diet-Specific Grocery Delivery from Instacart   112
Eat Better by Planning Your Meals Using Edamam   113
Get Designer Recipes and Delicious Groceries at PlateJoy   115
Chapter 3  Keeping Active and Fit   117
Tracking Your Daily Activity   118
Tracking Steps   119
Apple Health App   119
Fitbit   123
Google Fit   128
S Health   131
Tracking Flights of Stairs Climbed   134
Apple Health App   134
Garmin vívosmart HR   137
Monitoring Walking and Running Distance   138
Apple Health App   138
Fitbit   141
Google Fit   142
S Health   145
Withings Activité Pop   149
Tracking Biking Activity 151
Apple Health App   151
Fitbit   153
Google Fit   154
S Health   156
Creating a Fitness Plan   158
Achieving Health and Fitness Goals with More Apps   159
Get Fit with FitStar Personal Trainer 160
Access More Than 200 Free Fitness Workouts with Fitnet   162
Get the Most from Your Workout with Nike+Training Club 164
Personalize Your Workout with Sworkit   166
Maximize Your In-Home Workouts with Wello   170
Log Activity with MapMyFitness   172
Improve Your Posture with the Lumo Lift App   175
Getting to Know High-Tech Canes   177
Secure Folding Walking Cane   178
Trusty Cane   178
Chapter 4  Sleeping Better and Managing Stress   181
Exploring Sleep Monitoring   182
Forming Consistent Sleep Habits   183
Tracking Your Sleep with Devices 183
Track Sleep Patterns with the Withings Activité Pop   184
Get Insight with the Beddit Sleep Tracker   188
Focus on Sleep with the Fitbit Flex Band   190
Monitor How Well and How Long You Sleep   191
Set a Silent Alarm   192
Improve Sleep Patterns with the Jawbone UP3 Tracker   192
Track Your Sleep Patterns   193
Track Sleep with the Microsoft Band 2   194
Use the Sleep Tile Function   195
View Sleep Summaries   196
Tracking Your Sleep with Apps   197
Monitor Sleep with the Sleep as Android App   197
Track Your Sleep Cycle and Use the Smart Alarm Clock   198
Use SleepBot to Get the Sleep You Need   201
Improve Your Sleep Quality by Tracking Your Sleep   202
Customize SleepBot Settings   204
View and Share Your Stats Online and from Your Phone   206
Understand Your Sleep with the Sleep Time Smart Alarm Clock App   208
Set Alarms and Measure Your Nighttime Sleep Movements   208
Using Apps to Help Relax and Fall Sleep   212
Use the Ambience App to Pick Relaxing Sounds   213
Get to Sleep Faster with the Relax Melodies App’s Zen Sounds and Melodies   217
Make Relaxing Soundscapes with the Sleep Pillow Sounds App   220
Exploring Meditation Apps   224
Relax with the Calm App   224
Find Your Happy Place with the Happier App   226
Get in Touch with Your Inner Calm with Headspace   228
Use the Mindfulness Meditation App   230
Release Stress with the Simply Being App   232
Break Up a Stressful Day with the Take a Break! App   235
Chapter 5  Staying on Top of Your Medicine 239
Considering the Med Reminder App 240
Schedule and Monitor Regimens   241
Considering Reminder Rosie   245
Set Up the Date and Time   245
Set Up Rosie’s Activation Trigger and Create Reminders   247
Play and Erase Reminders   249
Receiving Reminders from Pharmacies   249
Taking the Right Medication at the Right Time at the Right Dose with CleverCap   250
Sync Medication Regimens with the CleverCap   251
Use Visual, Sound, and Other Alerts for Medication Reminders   252
Access Medicine Regimen Online Reports   254
Staying on Top of Your Medications with Medisafe   255
Set Up Your Virtual Pillbox   256
Taking Care of Your Medications with the Mango Health App   261
Create a Medication Regimen   261
Check for Drug Interactions   266
Managing Your Medications with PillPack   267
Sign Up for PillPack   267
Add Medications and Set Reminders   272
Staying On Track with Your Daily Medicines Using the MedCoach App   272
Register and Add Your Medications   273
Set Up Pill Reminders   276
Order Refills from Your Pharmacy   279
Chapter 6  Using Social Engagement as Health Support Systems   285
Joining the AARP Online Community   286
Exploring Transportation Services for Getting Around Town   287
Getting a Ride Using Lyft   287
Getting to Know Uber   294
Finding Patient Support Communities   303
Exploring Communities for People with Rare Diseases at Ben’s Friends   303
Benefiting from the Wisdom of the Experts at CrowdMed   306
Live Better Together with the PatientsLikeMe Online Community   309
Focusing on Active Living with HealthyAging.Net   311
Combating Social Isolation Through Digital Inclusion   313
Staying Closer and Caring Easier with the Oscar Tablet App   314
Staying Connected with Friends and Family with the grandPad Tablet   316
Keeping in Touch with Friends and Family Using grandCARE   317
Chapter 7  Finding Solutions to Manage Specific Conditions   321
Managing Diabetes   322
Monitoring Your Glucose Using Apps   322
Taking a Look at Heart Health Technology   350
Keeping an Eye on Your Hypertension and Blood Pressure   350
Choosing the Right Wearable Heart Monitor for You   355
Investigating Apps for Heart Health on Your Smartphone   359
Controlling Obesity   365
Making a Lasting Lifestyle Change at Omada Health   365
Keeping a Food Journal and Using Fitness and Dietary Apps   366
Getting Help to Control Your Asthma and COPD   371
Using Propeller   371
Using CareTRx   372
Chapter 8  Being Prepared for an Emergency   375
Understanding the Importance of Medical IDs for Emergencies   376
Create a Medical ID on Your Android Phone   376
Create a Medical ID on Your iPhone   383
Consider the ICE Standard with Smart911 App   388
Using Apps and GPS Tracking Devices as Safety Measures   390
Consider GreatCall 5Star Urgent Response   390
Stay Connected to the People Who Matter with the Life 360 Locator App   391
Get Assistance with Alzheimer’s with the Comfort Zone Check-In Web Application   401
Choosing the Right Medical Alert System   402
Use the Life Alert Service   403
Use the MobileHelp Medical Alert System   407
Get to Know the Lively 24/7 Emergency Medical Alert System   408
Understand the grandCare Monitoring System   411
Turning On Lights in Your Home Remotely   413
Control Your Lights with the Clapper   414
Light the Way with the Automatic Sensor LED Night Light   415
Chapter 9  Connecting with Your Health Care Professionals and Saving Money on Services   417
Scheduling Doctor Appointments and Finding Doctors   418
Find Doctors and Dentists, and Book Appointments with the ZocDoc App   418
Find a Doctor You’ll Love at BetterDoctor   430
Getting Treatment Online   433
Get a Doctor by Phone or Video with Teladoc   433
Get a Diagnosis and Treatment from Direct Dermatology   439
Accessing Adult Care Resources   444
Search for Adult Care, Reviews, and Resources   444
Discover the Adult Care Options Available at Care.com   448
Find Your Caregiver at CareLinx.com   453
Preventing Paying Too Much for Health Procedures and Medication   457
Use Medical Billing Experts at CoPatient to Ensure You’re Not Paying Too Much for Unpaid Bills 457
Compare Prescription Prices and Get Prescription Coupons at WeRx   461
Gathering Your Health Information   463
Organize Your Life with the Digital Component of AARP/ABA Checklist for My Family   464
Index   465