Did you know that 32% of homes in America have already installed some sort of smart home technology? The technology includes such things as smart thermostats, which allow you to control your home’s temperature remotely; doorbells with video capabilities; and Alexa adding items to your grocery list.
These pieces of tech are making life a little bit easier for everyone who owns them. In fact, people who have already adopted the technology into their homes say it saves them around 30 minutes per week (about a week and a half per year). Now, these same systems are being used to help senior citizens remain at home longer into retirement.
What is Age-in-Place Technology?
Aging in place is the idea that seniors can stay at home instead of being transferred to the care of a nursing home or assisted living facility as they age. Smart technology, similar to what many Americans are already using in their homes daily, can help seniors stay at home longer than ever before.
Using technology as you get older doesn’t typically get easier, though. To solve that, developers have created specific tech that is simple to understand and, in many cases, also easy to read. Examples of this include the Jitterbug cell phone, which includes large buttons and numbers, simple menu buttons and loud speakers. Life Alert is another piece of technology helping seniors. With Life Alert, you wear the apparatus around your neck and in an emergency situation, you press the button for assistance and the company will answer and send help to your address.
Technology is continually evolving and is offering even more for the elderly in terms of easing their everyday activities. Just about everything is voice activated, making typing or directly handling the device unnecessary in many cases. You can also set up reminders about scheduled appointments and when to take your medication.
How Technology is Helping the Elderly
Smart technology is helping elderly individuals age in place in many other ways as well. The internet of things (IoT) is slowly but surely taking over just about everything in our lives. Everything is connected to the web in some fashion. By 2020, 100 million light bulbs and more than 152 million cars will be connected to the internet; these are two things people use just about every day.
IoT in Healthcare
In eldercare and healthcare in general, the IoT has been helpful in gathering health data such as vital signs, blood sugar, blood pressure, and other patient data. Once the data has been collected, it is logged and tracked through the health provider’s database. Having the IoT connect all the information that way makes it easy for any patient anywhere to have their medical data available at the click of a button. For older individuals, this is especially important because many of them live with chronic illnesses, take medications, and have pre-existing conditions. Healthcare professionals can have your information at their fingertips if the patient is out of town or visiting a different facility for any reason.
There are other pieces of technology helping seniors and healthcare professionals as well. Bluetooth devices have been especially useful in keeping track of patients and equipment. This can be helpful if the device monitors vital signs or detects movement. For instance, a Bluetooth-enabled blood sugar monitor can let a medic know where you are if you are in need of assistance. If someone has fallen, Bluetooth can also let medical care professionals know where they are and how to get them assistance.
Automated Security Systems
Another way smart technology is helping seniors age in place and remain independent longer is through automated security systems. Many people are now familiar with Ring, a doorbell equipped with a video camera and speaker. It can also act as a security camera when you are gone so you can see if anyone has been lurking around.
There are also other smart alarm systems on the market now. Some of the latest models are able to be armed by the sound of your voice and you can even chat directly with the security company through the system. In some cases, they may even be able to see inside your home to ensure you are safe. This is especially helpful to older individuals living alone.
All of this would not be possible without the smart grid system. Electrical engineers developed an electrical grid system that connects all of these pieces of technology together and makes the IoT possible. So, when your smart lights and thermostat are programmed together to turn on just before you get home, that’s all thanks to the smart grid. In elderly care, it is assisting people in remembering when to take their meds, help them turn on the lights, and even recall a grocery list item.
What’s Next?
It is estimated that nearly 477 million smart home devices will be shipped out in 2020. Smart locks, alarms, lights, fans, thermostats, and carbon monoxide detectors are already in use in millions of homes across the United States.
There are predictions smart home tech could evolve to the point where it automates almost all of your day. After taking a look at your schedule, your smart home would set your alarm clock. When you wake, it would start your shower and set it to the perfect temperature. Technology like 3D printers will become as common as microwaves and toasters and will create tools and silverware for you to eat with.
In the future, your smart home may even detect that you’re catching a cold. While you are at work, it will order cold medicine that will be waiting on your doorstep when you get home. Then you can kick back and relax while a robotic kitchen arm finishes up your dinner. Many homes will come equipped with a tech-free room for the ability to actually unplug.
Imagine you’d be able to stay at home and age in place with that sort of technology. The house itself could detect if you are sick, remind you of things, and help care for you without displacing you from your home. Of course, this is still far into the future.
Right now, many of the people using smart technology are between the ages of 25 and 35. Only 6.5% of individuals older than 55 are looking into smart devices and how they might improve their lives. For many, adopting this technology into their lives could help them live a longer, happier life at home. As the current generations get older, however, it will be interesting to see how people’s golden years transform.
