Smart Devices Used by Seniors

When my brother came home from work, my father would never open the door. Luckily my brother got in through a window and found my father lying on the kitchen floor. He had a stroke. Emergency services were called in and luckily my father survived. It was then my tech-savvy brother discussed with me the options of installing smart devices in our home. He then installed security cameras inside our home in multiple places and gave access to me and my sisters to check on my father inside the home to verify he is safe and sound. This made me want to write a blog on Smart device and Senior Care.

It is estimated that by the year 2030, the entire baby boomer generation will be above the age of sixty-five and about twenty percent of the population will be at retirement age. This has become the best time in history for seniors to grow old at home safely. With the development of Smart devices including smart home technology, which includes internet-connected appliances, voice assistants, and wearables, never has growing old at home become safer. During the Covid pandemic seniors were forced out of necessity to use smart devices for telehealth appointments, virtual family visits, and online shopping. This has now become a lifestyle.

What is a smart device?

A smart device is a wired or wireless device, which are context-aware, performs autonomous computing and connect to other devices for data exchange. From smartphones and tablets to smartwatches and voice assistants, older adults are discovering how these tools can improve their independence, health, and social connection. It is no wonder AARP encourages the use of smart devices while aging at home and provides training, and information on the various smart devices to seniors.

Benefits of using Smart devices

According to the  National Council on Aging,  every nineteen minutes an elderly person dies from injuries sustained in a fall. Smart home devices prevent, detect, and call for help in the event of a fall making it safer for seniors to live safely. Smart home devices offer seniors the ability to manage their home from a mobile device in the comfort of their bed or seat. For example, if a caregiver was at the front door, they could see who it is, talk with them to confirm, and unlock the door without getting up and risking injury. 

Smart devices bring safety around seniors in the home and gives the opportunity for family, friends, to feel comfortable and confident in leaving their elderly loved ones at home. Smart device help aid in monitoring the safety of our aging parents and grandparents. For seniors with memory loss, Smart devices can be designed to turn off automatically when not in use. They can also be programmed to follow scheduled tasks, such as dimming the lights at the end of the day. These actions cut down on energy use and will save on costs.    

Different Types of Smart Devices

With Voice Assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home’s ‘Hey Google’, and Apple Homepod’s Siri, seniors can ask any questions and get answers if they cannot type or use their hands. These smart home assistants can help them with the news and weather, set timers in the kitchen, and control other smart home devices like lights, television, and more. They help with events like doctor appointments and reminders to take medication and can place outbound calls in the event of an emergency.

Data from the National Institute of Health found that elderly women are most susceptible to overdose. A smart pill dispenser helps seniors from accidental overdoses and it allows you to load your medications and program them to be dispensed and available according to the prescribed schedule. While Motion sensors are used by security systems to detect intruders, some of them even detect human falls. These sensors should be installed in the home of seniors as it can detect slips and falls and alert family, friends and first responders. 

For seniors, with limited mobility, smart thermostats give the ability to manage the temperature without getting up and manually changing the settings. They also help to set indoor temperatures mild to prevent hypothermia and heat stroke. Smart locks help seniors manipulate a lock remotely. When seniors have an emergency, smart locks can give care provider, neighbor, or first responder the ability to access from an authorized mobile device without having to physically damage the property to get in. With Smart locks seniors do not have to remember passwords or use keys, as they can use Biometrics like finger prints, retina scans and voice recognition methods. 

Security Cameras if strategically placed in the front door can help senior quickly determine who is at the front door. Security cameras can be placed inside the home in multiple places and access can be granted to friends or family members only. This allows trusted members of the elder’s inner-circle to temporarily check on their aging parent, and verify they are safe and sound.  Smart plugs or outlets are extensions of a normal outlet that allows you to turn devices on and off using a smartphone or voice assistant. These can be used to adjust your lights, start your coffee maker, turn off appliances, and more. This is yet another way for seniors to use their devices to turn lights on to navigate a dark room. Modern hearing aids now connect with smartphones and TVs so that seniors with hearing disability can enjoy a better entertainment.

Seniors are given lessons on how to use smart devices by using programs like Senior Planet and GetSetUp. Seniors can learn to use smart devices with training at any age and gain more freedom, independence.

How many of your elderly parents are using smart devices? If they do not use smart devices, have you spent any time with the them in teaching them how to use it?