Yesterday we talked about fine motor skills challenges and I had so much to say that I split it in two parts! Let’s talk about some more fine motor skills challenges that older adults face and how we can address them. Tomorrow, come back to learn about exercises and activities you can do to help with your fine motor skills!
Typing
Typing is something that people may struggle with as they age or as they have difficulties with their fine motor skills. Now, I know a lot of people buy into the stereotype that older adults can’t use computers anyways, but that it largely inaccurate. Older people struggle with digital literacy, typically, but not always physically using electronics. This is especially true as Generation Xers start to enter their sixties (many of them have used computers in some form since college or the early days of being in the workforce). Plus, a laptop or desktop screen may be easier to see than a phone or a tablet. This can be a big issue for some people in their quality of life. Adaptive technology like speech to text software can help (although that is not always the best option if you have a thick or unique accent), and ergonomic keyboards also exist.
Cooking
Cooking involves a lot of fine motor skills, especially in chopping. Luckily, there are lots of adaptive technology that we can use in the kitchen. There are pre-chopped products like pre-chopped onions. There are also devices that can help you chop or process foods. Plus there are differently shaped dish scrubbers that may be easier to handle.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post about fine motor skills activities that you can do at home!
Written by Brigid Coffey
