Research shows that most seniors would prefer to age independently in their own houses. No one wants to age somewhere they aren’t comfortable. Luckily, technology is making it more and more possible for seniors to stay exactly where they want to be.
These five innovations are revolutionizing aging in place technology with accessibility, safety, and convenience upgrades to the home.
1. Smartphone Apps
There are dozens of smartphone applications that make aging at home a more viable option. You can find each of these in both the iPhone App Store and the Google Play Store.
Uber or Lyft
If you haven’t heard of them, ride-sharing services are essentially on-demand taxi cabs that people operate out of their own vehicles, which you order through the smartphone app.
As long as you are careful and double check license plates, ride-sharing services are very safe. These apps grant a ton of freedom to anyone who’d prefer to age in place by allowing constant access to transportation.
AmazonFresh or Instacart
These smartphone apps deliver groceries straight to your door. They are perfect for aging in place as they ensure that you’ll always have access to the necessities you require.
Medisafe Pill Reminder
Medications are a normal part of growing older. As you age, the list of pills you need to remember can start to get pretty long. Anyone could lose track or forget to take a medication, especially if they are living alone.
This app removes any guesswork you might feel in your medication regimen by reminding you when to take what.
Red Panic Button
This app is truly a lifesaver. It was invented for all types of situations but is ideal for seniors aging in place. No matter where you are, you can open this app and click a single button, which will send emergency notifications to preset contacts with your GPS location.
2. Alexa by Amazon
Alexa is amazon’s voice-activated assistant software. You can access it through devices which you plug in and connect to your WiFi network. Once they are set up, you can ask Alexa for anything from anywhere within earshot of a device.
Whether you want to call your grandchildren or play a song as you make yourself dinner, Alexa has you covered. You can even set up Alexa to lock doors and turn off lights via voice command (as long as they are connected to the wifi network) or on your smartphone from anywhere in the world, which makes Alexa an excellent home feature for aging in place.
3. Health and Safety Alert Systems
There are a ton of different types of alert systems that are extremely simple to use. We already discussed one of these in the smartphone app section, but maybe you aren’t someone who always has a smartphone near.
Life Alert is a well-known option that makes sending emergency alerts to caregivers as easy as clicking a button that hangs around your neck. This type of technology has been around for years, but it is now more versatile and convenient than ever with smartphone and device integration.
4. Stairlifts
If you live in a multistory home, you’ll want to buy a stairlift to increase safety and accessibility to the upper floors. You are probably already familiar with stairlift technology, but modern advancements are making falls less likely than ever.
With the aid of a stairlift, the odds are significantly less likely of you falling or injuring yourself as you move throughout your home.
5. SmartTV
Staying in place isn’t all about staying safe and getting by. You’ll also want to feel occupied and entertained in your home. You might consider a SmartTV, which makes finding all your different television programs and services easy.
Cable, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and other services are all easily accessed on SmartTVs via remote or even voice command.
Final Thoughts
Naturally, you’ll need to decide for yourself what is best for your situation, but products and services like these are making staying at home as you age independently more viable every day.
As technology continues to evolve and adapt, you can expect aging in place to become the new norm. It is now safer, more convenient, and more practical to live independently as a senior than it has ever been!
Author’s Bio:
Joseph Jones has been writing senior care and aging-related articles for years. He got his start while writing for a personal blog before he was offered to work at California Mobility in 2018 as the Content Marketing Manager, creating highly informative guides and health awareness articles for aging adults.
He’s currently contributing to a variety of blogs in the senior health industry in hopes to spread information about taking care of seniors and what to expect in the aging process.