A Guide to Alexa for Seniors: How to Use Amazon Alexa to Help Your Older Loved Ones

Seniors who live alone often worry about their well-being, especially if they have chronic health issues or limited financial resources. It’s natural to worry about what might happen if you fall and injure yourself or need help during a fire, flood or another disaster. Seniors who no longer drive may also have concerns about accessing medical care, buying groceries or performing other basic tasks.

Older adults aren’t the only ones who have these worries. In many cases, family members struggle to find the right balance between respecting an older adult’s independence and offering assistance with chores and personal tasks. They may worry about their loved one’s health, safety, financial security or ability to maintain meaningful relationships.

A strong sense of security is an important part of healthy aging, and seniors deserve to feel safe and secure in their homes. Family members should also be able to rest easy knowing that their older loved ones are safe and have access to everything they need to meet their medical, social and financial needs. One way to provide this much-needed sense of security is to equip a senior’s residence with smart-home devices featuring Amazon Alexa.

This guide introduces Amazon’s voice-activated assistant and explains how to use Alexa-enabled devices to help seniors maintain their independence without putting themselves at risk of harm.

Alexa is a voice-activated assistant that uses artificial intelligence to respond to human commands. Once a user sets up an Alexa-enabled device, they can operate it without having to get up and push buttons or learn complicated programming sequences.

Alexa-enabled devices have many potential benefits for seniors.

• Routines: Alexa allows users to create standard routines, making it easier for older adults to remember to take daily medications, set their home security systems and perform other important tasks.
• Smart home: Seniors can control Alexa-enabled plugs, light bulbs and thermostats with voice commands, eliminating the need to get up every time they want to change the temperature, turn off an appliance or adjust the lighting.
• Productivity: Alexa comes with several productivity tools, including calendars, timers, alarms and reminders. These tools make it easier for seniors to remember their medications and upcoming medical appointments. Timers may even help prevent fires by alerting a senior when it’s time to turn off an iron, oven or other hot appliance.
• Communications: Alexa-enabled devices have several valuable communication features, including hands-free calls and group calling. These features facilitate communication between older adults and their loved ones, which may help prevent loneliness and isolation.
• Information: Alexa gives seniors access to weather alerts and other information that can help them plan ahead or anticipate when they might need extra help.
• Kitchen: Alexa-enabled devices have several kitchen-related features, such as the ability to add items to a grocery list or share dietary preferences with other people.

The Alexa Together service plan is a monthly subscription designed to help loved ones support their family members from anywhere in the world. To use this service, your loved one must have an Amazon Echo device and an Amazon account. In 2023, Alexa Together costs $19.99 per month plus tax, but Amazon offers a 30-day free trial to help you determine if it’s a good fit for your family.

When you subscribe to Alexa together, you immediately gain access to advanced features designed to help users maintain their independence without putting their safety at risk. Some features are intended for daily use, while others are only for emergencies.

If your loved one has an emergency, all they have to do is say, “Alexa, call for help.” The call goes to a 24/7 response center staffed by trained professionals. Alexa Together is also compatible with several third-party devices designed to detect falls.

With Alexa Together, you don’t have to be in the same room as your loved one to provide assistance. Loved ones can use this feature to set reminders, create shopping lists and perform other tasks. 

Alexa Together allows seniors and their family members to create custom alerts. For example, you can set up an alert to let you know when your loved one uses their Alexa-enabled device for the first time each day.

Alexa Together doesn’t give you access to everything your loved one does, but you do get to see a daily activity feed. With this feature, you don’t have to wonder if your family member is active during the day. You can simply check the feed and make sure they’re using some of Alexa’s features.

Although your loved one needs an Echo to use the features of Alexa Together, the standard version of Alexa works on multiple devices. Some of these devices are sold exclusively by Amazon, while others are available through third-party vendors. Review the features of each product line to determine which devices are right for your loved one.

Echo and Echo Dot have similar specs, but the Echo Dot is smaller and costs less than the standard version. Both devices feature Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a light ring that glimmers when Alexa is processing a request and buttons to control the speaker volume and microphone.

Introduced in 2017, the Echo Show combines standard Echo features with a 10.1-inch HD video display, allowing caregivers to see each other instead of just talking on the phone. The Echo Show also has a built-in camera, which enables users to monitor a home from any location with an internet connection. With your loved one’s permission, you can easily check to see how things are going.

The Echo Studio doesn’t have a video display, but it does have a built-in smart home hub, enabling users to control compatible lights, thermostats, electrical outlets and other items with voice commands. This device also has Dolby Atmos technology, giving users a more immersive audio experience.

Previously known as the Doorbot, the Ring video doorbell enhances safety by allowing homeowners to see who is at the door before they open it. The device sends a mobile alert any time someone rings the doorbell or triggers one of the motion sensors, making it easier for seniors who are hard of hearing to continue living alone. You can also connect a Ring device to existing doorbell wires or use a portable battery pack to keep it running, eliminating the need to pay for professional installation. If you sign up for the Ring Protect Plan, you can even record videos and share them with other people.  

A smart home is made up of connected devices that are capable of interacting with users. Many of these devices are compatible with Alexa, enabling users to control many aspects of their environment without having to get up and down from their beds, chairs or couches. This makes them ideal for older adults who have balance problems or mobility issues. These are some of the most popular Alexa-compatible smart-home devices:

• Plugs: A smart plug makes it possible to control the electricity to a connected device without using a switch, pull chain or power button. If your loved one has to stay overnight in the hospital or go out of town for some reason, a smart plug can even enhance security by making it appear as if their home is occupied.
• Thermostats: Smart thermostats increase energy efficiency and make it easier to control the temperature in a home. If your loved one leaves the house for several hours, they can even use the Alexa app to turn on the heat or air conditioning about 30 minutes before they return. That way, they don’t have to waste energy letting the HVAC system run when the house is empty.
• Light bulbs: Alexa-compatible light bulbs make it easy for users to control their lights remotely. Like smart plugs, these devices may help increase security, as your loved one can use them to turn on lights even if they’re not at home.

Medical alert systems keep users safe by making it easier to get help in an emergency. Some models are monitored 24/7 by trained response agents, while others allow the user to connect directly with family members and friends. These systems are compatible with Alexa:

• MySOSFamily
• Ask My Buddy
• SkyAngelCare

Now that you know why Alexa-enabled devices are so beneficial for seniors, here’s some guidance on how to choose an Echo product, set it up for your loved one and troubleshoot any problems.

Before you buy an Alexa-enabled device, think about how you plan to use it. If you just want your loved one to use it for reminders, you probably don’t need the most expensive option. Seniors who want to video chat with their loved ones should consider the Echo Show instead. Ask yourself these questions as you browse:

• Do you need a video screen?
• Is the device compatible with Alexa Together?
• Does your loved one plan to listen to music on the device?
• How much room does your loved one have for the device?
• What’s your budget?

Once you have the device in hand, follow these eight steps to set it up:

• Choose a location that’s easy for your loved one to access. Try a table or counter near an electrical outlet.
• Plug in the device.
• Open the Alexa app. If you don’t already have it, download it on Google Play if you have an Android device or the App Store if you have an iPhone or iPad.
• Click the More icon.
• Click Add Device.
• Choose Amazon Echo.
• Select the correct device (Echo Dot, Echo Show, etc.).
• Say “Alexa” to wake the device.

If your loved one’s Echo device stops working, unplug it, wait 10 seconds and then plug it in again. This is known as power cycling or restarting the device. After you plug in the Echo, give it a few minutes to reset before you test it. Another option is to check and make sure your loved one’s connection is stable. If necessary, contact their internet service provider to ask if there’s an outage in the area. You can also use the Alexa app to ensure the Echo is connected to the right Wi-Fi network. If it’s not, follow these seven steps to reconnect:

• Open the Alexa app.
• Sign in if necessary.
• Open Device Settings.
• Tap Wi-Fi Network.
• Hold down the action button until it turns orange, which takes about 15 seconds.
• Choose your loved one’s network.
• Speak into the device and wait for a response.

If it’s still not working, make sure the microphone is on. It’s possible your loved one turned it off by mistake when they were trying to adjust the volume. If you still can’t get the device to respond, visit the Digital Services and Device Support page on Amazon’s website. You can search for support articles or start a chat with an Amazon employee who is trained to troubleshoot Echo devices.