Home automation is no longer the exclusive domain of the tech-savvy or well-off. The Internet of Things, which refers to connected devices controlled through the internet, has entered the mainstream, with offerings now available to even those on tight budgets. The following are just some intelligent home assistance devices designed specifically with aging family members in mind.
Voice-Activated Assistants
Voice-activated assistants allow aging family members to interact with smart home devices using only their voice. The devices are powered by AI and connect to wireless speakers that can be placed throughout a home. Aging family members can ask these voice-activated devices questions, play music, order products online, check weather conditions, turn lights on and off or control their heating system. In addition to being easy to use, these devices provide a level of independence that is especially useful for aging adults who live alone.
Smart Pill Dispenser
A smart pill dispenser is designed to help you manage your medications, prevent overmedication and stay organized. A connected pill dispenser will alert you when it’s time to take your medication, with some units reminding you through an app on your phone or tablet. Other units sync with specialized cases that track doses taken over time to make sure nothing gets missed. Many allow users to customize or create their automatic reminder schedules. You can even customize alarms to sound when it’s time to take medication, which is helpful if you have poor eyesight or are hard of hearing.
Fall Detection Sensors
If your parents or grandparents live in an independent living community, you might consider purchasing a smart home device that monitors their activity and automatically contacts emergency services if it detects they’ve fallen. Fall detection devices can help them avoid potentially dangerous situations and may even prove life-saving.
Smart Thermostat
Keep your parents’ living environment comfortable and safe with a Wi-Fi-enabled smart thermostat. By automatically adjusting temperatures based on algorithms, you can prevent overcooling and overheating, which can cause hypothermia and dehydration, respectively.
Smart Locks
Aging adults have trouble with keys, so smart locks would help them out immensely. Smart locks can be opened with either a phone app or an automated key—and only those who are granted access will be able to use them! That’s great news for caregivers and busy relatives who no longer have to worry about being locked out of their parents’ homes.
Security Cameras
Cameras can help you keep an eye on things that matter most to you. Security cameras provide a way to feel more secure and with many elderly homeowners getting robbed, they’re also a convenient (and inexpensive) way to prevent or at least minimize crime against you and those you love. More than likely, smart security cameras will pay for themselves in peace of mind alone. There are even models designed specifically with elderly in mind.
