Episode 20:3 Vida Roozen on Helping Older Adults with Technology on Their Own Terms

Vida Roozen is the Chief Operating Officer at The Smarter Service, a technology concierge provider for older adults and senior living communities. Learn why this startup was recognized by Wired magazine as one of the best tech services for older adults.

About Vida

Vida Roozen has a 23-year career in consumer technology and the home appliance sector. Before joining The Smarter Service, she held Senior Vice President positions at BDS Solutions, a sales and marketing solutions provider, and at Creative Channel Services, a strategic retail marketing company. Notably, she also led Omnicom’s Women’s Leadership chapter for California. ‘

Vida's decision to join The Smarter Service was deeply personal, fueled by experiences supporting aging parents with technology challenges. In her role, she saw a clear market gap and seized the opportunity not only to assist individuals but also to revolutionize the understanding of older adults within the tech and healthcare industries.

Key Takeaways

• People use technology on their own terms. It is highly personalized. The Smarter Service helps clients build confidence using their devices, fixes things when they're not working and suggests tools that will help them realize their goals.
• Older adults often use smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and wearables to stay connected to their families in other locations. Shared calendars help generations communicate real time.
• Not keeping up with software updates and using outdated devices can be challenging for older adults. Smartphones are often gifted by family members and platforms may no longer be supported.
• Technologies that hold the most promise to improve the lives of older adults include advancements in telemedicine and diagnostic tools like wearables and smart home devices so people can monitor their health and recognize problems before they become bigger problems.
• Start discussions with older adults about their vision for the future. Encourage them to think about where and how they want to live as they age, what kind of support they might need, and what hobbies or activities they hope to pursue. This process is helpful for identifying the role technology can play in helping older adults realize their goals.