6 Smart Home Innovations Helping Seniors Live Confidently at Home

According to a recent AARP survey, 75% of older adults want to stay in their current home for as long as possible — and 44% plan to add smart home security features to help them do just that.

Smart home technology can be a game changer for senior independence and safety, alerting you and your loved ones when something is amiss and quickly connecting you to emergency assistance when needed.

Here are six types of technology to consider in your bid to stay safe and secure in your home.

1. Virtual Assistants

If you’re new to smart home technology, a virtual assistant like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri is a great place to start. These assistants connect to smart speakers like Amazon Echo, Google Nest or HomePod, as well as other smart devices in your home. With the help of a virtual assistant, you can call or text loved ones, set medication reminders and more — all with a simple voice command. Smart speakers are a convenient digital companion for seniors in general, and can be especially helpful for those with vision, dexterity or memory challenges.

2. Doorbell Cameras

If it’s challenging to get to the door in time — or you just want to see who’s there before you answer — a smart doorbell camera like the Tapo D130 Smart Wired Video Doorbell has you covered. When someone approaches your home or rings your bell, you’ll get an alert and live video on your smartphone or tablet, and you can chat with your visitor from anywhere in the house. Many cameras also include package detection and suspicious activity alerts, providing security and convenience for seniors who live alone or have limited mobility.

3. Smart Sensors

Installing smart sensors is a great way to warn you and your loved ones of potential dangers throughout the house. Here are a few key types:

Stove sensors: According to the National Fire Protection Association, unattended cooking is the number one cause of cooking fires and deaths. A smart stove sensor like iGuard can help prevent these fires by automatically shutting off the stove if it detects no motion in the kitchen for five minutes — a lifesaving solution for anyone with memory issues.

Water leak sensors: Forgetting to turn off faucets can be hazardous, but sensors like YoLink Water Leak Sensor 4 can alert you the instant they detect water, either through a smartphone notification, a loud alarm or flashing lights. This way, you can catch small leaks before they become a big problem. Other devices, like the Flo Shutoff, turn off your water automatically in the event of a leak, helping prevent costly property damage.

Door and window sensors: Unsure if points of entry and exit are properly closed? With a device like the Aqara Door and Window Sensor, you’ll get real-time alerts if a door or window is open, providing peace of mind against intruders or forgetfulness.

4. Smart Locks

If you tend to lose your keys or forget to lock the door, smart locks like the Schlage Arrive Smart WiFi Deadbolt offer a simple solution. These electronic deadbolts connect to your smartphone or smart home devices, enabling you to lock and unlock the door via an app, keypad, fingerprint or voice command. This way, you can live key-free and make it easy for trusted caregivers to access your home when needed. You can also lock and unlock the door remotely and program the door to automatically lock at certain times.

5. Smart Lighting

Walking around a dark house can be dangerous, but installing smart lighting can help prevent trips and falls. Motion-sensor lights in hallways and bathrooms can illuminate your path when you’re moving around at night, and smart light switches and dimmers like Leviton Decora Smart No-Neutral Dimmer DN6HD allow you to put your lighting on a schedule. Smart LED bulbs like WiZ 60W A19 Color LED Smart Bulb are another good choice — they look like regular bulbs but with smart features like scheduling and voice commands.

6. Medical Alert Systems

Each year, more than 1 in 4 older adults experience a fall. If that happens — or you have another medical emergency — it’s critical to get immediate assistance. That’s where medical alert systems come in.

Traditional systems like those by Medical Guardian and MobileHelp consist of wearable devices like bracelets or necklaces that monitor your activities and alert caregivers and first responders if something is wrong. The most basic devices have a help button you can press to speak with a 24/7 monitoring center, while more robust options include fall detection, activity monitoring and caregiver integrations.

If you’re looking for a nontraditional emergency contact system, there are several discreet options to choose from, such as the Kanega Watch or Apple Watch. The Apple Watch SE 3, for example, is a smartwatch that wasn’t designed as an emergency contact system but can function that way, nonetheless. It includes built-in fall detection and crash detection, which you can enable to automatically alert emergency contacts or 911.

ArchWell Health Is Here for You

At ArchWell Health, we’re here to support your health and independence as you age. Take advantage of our free community events like technology classes to learn and practice new skills, exercise classes to improve your balance and help prevent falls, and game days to connect with others and keep your mind sharp. Visit your local center today!