We all know that a red rose stands for passion and love but can the communion, passion and fervor of Artificial Intelligence (AI) transfer to seniors to stand for AI’s end-all solutions to elder questions? Can it add structure and purpose to our lives?
Let’s query Gemini AI about exactly how “It” wants to contribute to our senior lives?
Gemini: “What do you suggest for enhancing the life of a healthy woman in her seventies?”
“That’s a fantastic question!”
Gemini immediately cut to the chase: For a seventy-year-old active woman, AI holds the potential to significantly enhance various aspects of her life, promoting independence, well-being, and continued engagement. One example from the 18 point Gemini response was…
”Medication Management: AI-powered apps can provide reminders for medications and track adherence.”
Naturally, I was curious…How can it manage my dosage? Great news! It sent me a lot of info inside another large category of Topics (9) and Subtopics (14).
Example: “Insights: By analyzing adherence data, Gemini could potentially identify patterns or suggest reasons for missed doses, leading to more targeted interventions.”
But, there’s always a caveat! AI systems using large language models (huge datasets of wordings) don’t understand the creations by concept, only that certain words relate to other words. This occurrence is termed…
“AI Hallucinations”: Like all large language models, Gemini can sometimes generate inaccurate or nonsensical information. This risk must be mitigated in healthcare applications through robust validation, human review, and clear disclaimers that the AI-generated information is for informational purposes only. Aka, it makes things up! Hmmm, Now that I know a dissertation’s worth of AI, of course, I was curious and asked Gemini if it had a picture or drawing of an AI Hallucination that I could see. You bet it did:
Surreal Eye with Psychedelic Hallucination
Good to know! If anyone asks me to describe an AI Hallucination…I plan to carry a little card with the above two pictures and I’ll just whip those pictures right out. Then, they shall know as much as I do!
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I am doggedly determined to continue learning about AI. Therefore, I specifically asked a question of two different AI-powered sites regarding a day in in the life of a retirement facility resident. Stick with me, AI has downright good answers!!!
MY QUESTION TO COPILOT: Create an hourly plan for an active woman in her seventies in a middle- to high-end retirement home.
CoPilot: Here’s a well-rounded hourly plan for an active woman in her seventies living in a middle- to high-end retirement home. This schedule balances physical activity, social interaction, mental stimulation, and relaxation:
Daily Routine for an Active Retiree
7:00 AM – Wake-Up & Morning Routine
- Gentle stretching or yoga
- Shower & get dressed
- Light breakfast
8:00 AM – Outdoor Walk or Light Exercise
- A stroll in the garden or neighborhood
- Water aerobics or chair yoga
9:00 AM – Social Coffee & News
- Coffee with fellow residents
- Catching up on the news or reading
10:00 AM – Hobby or Learning Time
- Art class, knitting, or music practice
- Taking an online course or book club discussion
11:00 AM – Light Physical Activity
- Strength training or balance exercises
- Tai chi or a short dance session
12:00 PM – Lunch & Leisure
- Nutritious lunch in the dining hall
- Casual conversation with friends
1:00 PM – Rest or Meditation
- Relaxing in a lounge or quiet room
- Meditation or mindfulness exercises
2:00 PM – Social & Community Engagement
- Volunteering or helping organize activities
- Attending a lecture or discussion group
3:00 PM – Creative Time
- Painting, crafting, or journaling
- Playing an instrument or singing
4:00 PM – Afternoon Walk & Chat
- Strolling with a friend or pet
- Light gardening
5:00 PM – Pre-Dinner Relaxation
- Watching a favorite show or listening to music
- Puzzle games or crossword solving
6:00 PM – Dinner & Socializing
- Enjoying a balanced dinner with friends
- Engaging in meaningful conversation
7:00 PM – Entertainment or Games
- Trivia night, bingo, or card games
- Watching a film or attending a musical performance
8:00 PM – Wind Down & Reflection
- Gentle stretching or a bath
- Reflecting on the day, gratitude journaling
9:00 PM – Bedtime Routine
- Reading or listening to calming music
- Sleep preparation
“This plan ensures variety, social connection, and self-care while maintaining an active lifestyle. Let me know if you’d like any modifications!”
[Isn’t it stunning how they seem to know exactly what our routine is or should be.. and yet, they have no real understanding of the associated words at all? Unbelievable!]
FOLLOW-UP BY ME, THE REAL DEAL: I would like to offer a window into the real daily life schedule of an active woman in her seventies. She is a dear friend living in the retirement home where I live. Her schedule includes pickleball matches where her fluid movements on the court set up winning volleys, drop shots, and cross-court slams. And, she is an outstanding bridge player where her worthy skill set enables her to travel with her partner for tournament play. She is adept at bold moves of strategy when communicating with her partner to win this mind sport. There’s more:
She serves on committees and her ultimate piece de resistance——she picks up her grandchildren after school, takes them to soccer, baseball and lacrosse matches and is their most vocal cheerleader.
Are you ready to see her schedule?
“Hakuna Matata” meaning this energetic schedule is “No Problem” for her!
6:00 – 6:30 AM Wake-Up & Morning Routine
7:00 – 8:00 AM Walk to the Rose Garden Observe spiritual, mediation and thank you time. Prune and tend to roses as a member of Rose Garden Committee three times per week.
8:00 – 9:00 AM Light Breakfast Cereal and milk. Change to sports outfit and walk to Outdoor Sports area.
She challenges the top male and female players using sport-specific techniques with the mastery of a professional. Being a bit tired, does not stop her from walking back to her apartment—— an appreciable distance.
10:30 AM- 12:30 PM Hydrate Shower, Lunch is premier shake. Change and dress for the rest of day.
Bridge. What better way to stay sharp than with this game of skill and scout’s honor… she’s already really sharp!
Possible flux schedules: TV or Excursions or Pick up one or more of grandchildren from school and take them to their sport’s matches to watch individual games. (They all play on winning teams…naturally take after their grandmother!)
6:30 PM – 8:00 Dinner Socializing and dining in one of the retirement’s homes restaurants or ordering from a dining room menu to dine at home.
8:00 PM – 11:00 or 11:30 Wind Down & Lights Out
Read, watch TV news and shows, pre-sleep routine.
Pretty spot on AI!!
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CHAT GPT: Create an hourly plan for an active man in his early nineties in a middle- to high-end retirement home.
Here’s a well-balanced hourly daily plan for an active man in his early 90s living in a middle-to high-end retirement home, with an emphasis on staying engaged, maintaining independence, and enjoying his social environment, while also being mindful of his health and well-being.
🕖 7:00 AM – Wake Up & Morning Routine
- Wake up: Gently wake up with a morning greeting or soft music.
- Personal hygiene: Shower (with assistance if needed), shave, brush teeth, and dress in comfortable clothes.
- Optional: Some light stretching in bed or by the side of the bed.
🕗 8:00 AM – Breakfast & Medications
- Breakfast: Enjoy a nutritious, well-balanced meal (e.g., oatmeal with fruit, eggs, whole grain toast, etc.).
- Medications: Morning medications, with staff assistance if required.
- Socializing: Chat with other residents in the dining room or over breakfast.
🕘 9:00 AM – Morning Walk or Light Exercise
- Activity: Take a morning stroll around the grounds (or indoor hallways if the weather is bad), with staff or fellow residents.
- Alternate: Attend a group exercise class, such as chair yoga or tai chi, designed for older adults.
- Hydration: Ensure a water break after the activity.
🕙 10:00 AM – Cognitive Engagement or Hobbies
- Option 1: Enjoy a crossword puzzle, Sudoku, or reading the daily newspaper.
- Option 2: Engage in hobbies like painting, woodworking, or knitting (if the resident enjoys creative activities).
- Social Time: Chat with friends, or join a casual group discussion (e.g., current events, history, books).
🕚 11:00 AM – Community Activity or Program
- Activity: Participate in a planned activity like a cooking class, a discussion group, or a live performance (e.g., musical act, lecture, or poetry reading).
- Social Engagement: Bond with other residents over shared interests.
🕛 12:00 PM – Lunch
- Meal: Enjoy a nutritious and tasty lunch, with plenty of options for heart-healthy or dietary needs.
- Socializing: Dine with friends or family members if they are visiting.
- Medications: If applicable, take any afternoon medications.
🕐 1:00 PM – Quiet Time or Nap
- Rest: Take a short nap or relax in a quiet space.
- Alternative: Engage in a calm activity like listening to relaxing music or reading a book.
🕑 2:00 PM – Afternoon Social or Creative Session
- Option 1: Join a group activity like a book club, art class, or film screening.
- Option 2: Participate in light gardening, birdwatching, or a walking club, if available.
- Social: If he enjoys chatting, invite a family member or friend for a catch-up visit.
🕒 3:00 PM – Afternoon Snack & Relaxation
- Snack: Have a light afternoon snack like fruit, nuts, or yogurt with tea or coffee.
- Relaxation: Take time to relax with a favorite hobby (e.g., listening to an audiobook, playing cards, or watching TV).
🕓 4:00 PM – Physical Activity or Wellness Session
- Physical Therapy: If recommended, attend a scheduled PT session or mobility training.
- Exercise: Participate in low-impact activities like walking, stretching, or gentle swimming (if the facility has a pool).
- Balance Work: Practice balance exercises to improve strength and stability.
🕔 5:00 PM – Dinner
- Meal: A lighter but still healthy dinner option, such as grilled fish, chicken, or a vegetarian dish.
- Socializing: Enjoy dinner with fellow residents in a lively atmosphere.
- Evening Medications: Take any required evening medications.
🕕 6:00 PM – Evening Entertainment or Socializing
- Entertainment: Join in a social hour, a game night (e.g., bingo, cards), or a music performance.
- Relaxing: If he prefers a quieter evening, enjoy a classic film, documentary, or nature show.
🕖 7:00 PM – Wind Down & Quiet Time
- Relaxation: Settle into a calm, quiet space for reading, light stretching, or listening to soft music.
- Social: Chat with staff or neighbors about the day’s events, or reflect on personal memories.
🕗 8:00 PM – Prepare for Bed
- Bedtime Routine: Begin winding down with a warm bath or shower (if not done earlier in the day).
- Night Routine: Brush teeth, change into pajamas, and take any final medications.
- Optional: Read or listen to a story, or have a gentle conversation with a loved one.
🕘 9:00 PM – Sleep
- Rest: Ensure a restful sleep environment with soft lighting, or use white noise if necessary.
- Monitoring: Night staff are available to ensure his safety and well-being throughout the night.
“This schedule can be flexibly adjusted depending on his personal preferences and energy levels. Some days may require more rest, while others may have more opportunities for social or creative engagement. The goal is to create a routine that promotes well-being, independence, and a sense of community while still considering the natural changes in energy and health that come with age.
Let me know if you’d like more details or adjustments!”
FOLLOWUP BY ME, THE REAL DEAL; Here is a day in the actual life of a good-humored and accomplished friend in his early nineties who lives in the same retirement home as I do. He has built his life by beginning each day with a fresh perspective on well-being and doing something about it by using his former engineering, mechanical, and carpentry talents. As a major part of the volunteer Helping Hands Resident Organization, he puts forward meticulous craftsmanship in restoring, refurbishing, and supplying 14 different types of assistance devices to fellow residents who need motorized scooters and wheelchairs, top-notch walkers, canes and more. At the time of this writing, most of his mornings are spent creating specialty wooden toys at the Hobby Shop with other woodworkers where pieces and parts of wood spring to life in the form wooden trucks and cradles to be donated to charities, children’s hospitals or sold to individual residents.
6:00-9:00 AM: Wake up: Personal Hygiene, Light breakfast of banana and cereal and then takes time to visit the coffee room.
9:00 – 11:00 AM: Hobby Shop Woodworking, A self-contained separate building on the retirement facility’s campus holds major carpentry and electrical equipment, tools and lumber storage. It is for the use of responsible residents at our retirement facility to create individual and group carpentry. As of now, woodworkers have set aside time to build Stake Bodies Form Trucks and Doll Cradles that flip upside-down to turn into a rocking bed.
(AI Overview – A “stake truck” is called that because of its removable side stakes that are used to form a “fence” around the cargo bed.)
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Return home for lunch by using the tram. (Our retirement facility uses motorized vehicles that hold seven maximum passengers with drivers to aid residents in visiting different areas of the retirement property.) Lunch is usually salad with his successful crop of tomatoes and dinner leftovers.
1:00 –3:30 PM: Takes tram to the South side of the retirement property where he has an assigned garden plot proudly raising succulent tomatoes usually three times per week. (There are two areas set aside for garden plots on campus where residents can petition to be assigned individual garden areas to grow vegetables or flowers.) Otherwise, he is back at the Hobby Shop or Helping Hands garage repair shop and equipment storage area sharing his expertise and talents. (So great of this multi-skilled resident to help so many residents in need of mechanized scooters.)
3:30 –5:15 PM: Refresh, bathe, and rest before heading to dinner.
5:15 –7:00 PM: Dinner Enjoys dinner in the dining room and socializing with fellow residents.
7:00 –10:00 PM: At Home Relaxation: TV, conversation and thankfulness for a well-spent day. Prepare for bed.
10:00 PM: Lights Out.
According to Greek mythology, the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, named the rose after her son, Eros. The letters of his name were rearranged to form the word “Rose.” They are cherished for their vibrant colors and rich history. And now, the vibrant emergence of AI has begun to create its own rich history as it keeps advancing with more and more innovations. But we should be cognizant and realistic: the stem of a rose has thorns representing difficulties and imperfections suggesting we must be prepared for info overload and that AI is prone to bias and error that can often be referred to as “hallucinations”.
We stand in awe of the enigma of AI as we learn to navigate its groundbreaking resources. Should we be resisting? Of course not! There is a giant audience of seniors who want to be informed and challenged…as A.G. Sulzberger the publisher of the New York Times (May 18, 2925) said, “Information is power, right?”
(Of course, in this quote he was discussing the hurdles of journalism in today’s world.) But, our senior population does know…Information Is Power!)
Sy’s Salient Points: My very own small caveat,,,
The residents I know in my retirement home challenge themselves to stay active, increase their learning power, engage in friendships along with versatile social and learning activities. They are resilient, have foresight and continue to envision positive futures.
Please know, I am aware that as a mere mortal my thimbleful of AI knowledge, aka machine thinking means that I feel hopeful of trying to actively understand and explore how AI can enrich my life and yours!
Happy Summer Vacation My Darling Blaire.
My Movers, Doers and Pathfinders Blog is dedicated to my cherished friend Betty Jean Barnecut.