How Smart Technology Can Enhance Senior Care and Safety

Smart technology is not only for the young and tech-savvy. It can also benefit seniors whether they want to live at home, or in assisted living. Smart devices, such as voice assistants, smart lights, smart cameras, smart outlets, and smart sensors, can help seniors with daily tasks, reminders, entertainment, communication, and emergency situations. In this article, we will explore some of the best applications of smart technology for senior care and safety, based on real-life examples and expert recommendations.

How Voice assistants can help seniors

Voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Siri, are devices that can respond to voice commands and queries. They can perform various functions, such as playing music, reading the news, checking the weather, setting timers, making calls, controlling other smart devices, and more. Voice assistants can be especially helpful for seniors who have mobility issues, vision problems, or cognitive impairments. They can also provide companionship and social interaction for seniors who live alone or feel isolated.

Some of the benefits of voice assistants for seniors are:

• They can provide hands-free and easy access to information and entertainment.
• They can help seniors stay organized and on track with reminders for medication, appointments, hydration, meals, and other activities.
• They can help seniors stay connected with family and friends through voice or video calls.
• They can help seniors stay safe by detecting falls or unusual sounds and alerting emergency contacts or services.

One example of how voice assistants can enhance senior care is Alexa Guard Plus, a subscription service that turns any Alexa device into a smart security system. It can monitor the home for sounds of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, glass breaking, or activity when no one is home. It can also detect falls by listening for thuds or cries for help. If it detects any of these events, it can send notifications to the user's phone or emergency contacts. It can also connect the user to a 24/7 helpline that can dispatch emergency responders if needed.

Alexa Together (previously Alexa care hub) is another useful, free service that allows family members or caregivers to check in on their loved ones remotely through Alexa devices. It can show the activity feed of the senior's Alexa devices, such as when they use voice commands or smart lights. It can also enable a two-way communication feature that allows the senior to call their caregiver by saying "Alexa, call for help" or the caregiver to drop in on the senior's device by saying "Alexa, drop in on Mom". It can also send alerts to the caregiver if the senior does not use their Alexa device for a long period of time.

How Smart Lights Benefit Seniors

Smart lights are light bulbs or switches that can be controlled remotely or automatically through voice commands, smartphone apps, or smart sensors. Smart sensor activation is especially useful for seniors with memory care issues as they don’t have to fiddle with light switches and forget to turn on/off devices. They can also change colors, brightness, or temperature according to the user's preferences or needs. Smart lights can improve the comfort, convenience, and safety of seniors at home or in assisted living facilities.

Smart Light benefits:

• They can provide adequate and adjustable lighting for different activities, such as reading, watching TV, or sleeping.
• They can help seniors save energy and money by turning off or dimming when not in use or when natural light is sufficient.
• They can help seniors avoid falls and injuries by turning on or off automatically when they enter or leave a room, or when they wake up or go to bed.
• They can help seniors create a relaxing and soothing atmosphere by changing colors, patterns, or scenes according to their mood or time of day.

Many smart lights are compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant making it easy to interface with virtual assistance. They can be controlled by voice commands or smartphone apps, and they can also be scheduled or customized to create different lighting effects. They can also work with other smart devices, such as motion sensors, cameras, or doorbells, to develop smart routines or alerts.

One example is Philips Hue Smart Lights, which offers a wide range of smart light products, such as bulbs, strips, lamps, and switches. They can also be controlled by voice commands or smartphone apps, and they can also be synced with music, movies, games, or other apps to create immersive experiences. They can also work with other smart devices, such as motion sensors, cameras, or doorbells, to create smart routines or alerts.

Smart Cameras

Smart cameras can be accessed remotely or automatically through voice commands, smartphone apps, or smart sensors. They can also record videos, take snapshots, detect motion, sound alarms, or communicate with other smart devices. Smart cameras can enhance the security, monitoring, and communication of seniors at home or in assisted living facilities. These are perfect for checking in and making sure that everything is safe.

Benefits of smart cameras for seniors:

• They can provide live or recorded footage of the home or facility, which can be viewed by the senior, family members, caregivers, or emergency services.
• They can help deter intruders or unwanted visitors by sounding alarms or sending notifications when they detect motion or activity.
• They can help monitor the health and well-being of the senior by detecting falls, unusual behaviors, or signs of distress.
• They can help communicate with the senior by allowing two-way audio or video calls between the senior and family members, caregivers, or emergency services.

Wyze Cam is a smart camera that can improve senior care. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and it can be put anywhere in the home or facility. It can capture videos in high definition, sense motion, and sound, alert the smartphone app, and save videos in the cloud or a micro SD card. It can also enable two-way audio communication and connect with other smart devices, such as lights, sensors, or doorbells.

Zmodo Cam is another smart camera that can enhance senior care. It is a smart device compatible, and it can be placed indoors or outdoors. It can capture videos in high definition, sense motion, and sound, alert the smartphone app, and save videos in the cloud. It can also enable two-way audio communication and connect with other smart devices, such as lights, sensors, or doorbells.

Smart Outlets

Smart outlets are plugs or sockets that can be controlled remotely or automatically through voice commands, smartphone apps, or smart sensors. They can also monitor energy usage, schedule routines, or communicate with other smart devices. Smart outlets can improve the convenience, efficiency, and safety of seniors at home or in assisted living facilities.

Some of the benefits of smart outlets for seniors are:

• They can provide automated remotes and easy control of appliances and devices, such as lamps, fans, heaters, coffee makers, or TVs.
• They can help seniors save energy and money by turning off or dimming appliances and devices when not in use or when natural light is sufficient.
• They can help seniors avoid accidents and hazards by turning off or unplugging appliances and devices that may overheat, spark, or cause fires.
• They can help seniors create smart routines or alerts by working with other smart devices, such as voice assistants, lights, cameras, or sensors.

Kasa Smart Plug by TP-Link is a smart outlet that can improve senior care. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and it can be plugged into any regular outlet. You can use voice commands or smartphone apps to control it, and it can also track energy usage and create schedules. It can also connect with other smart devices, such as voice assistants, lights, cameras, or sensors.

Wemo Smart Plug by Belkin is another smart outlet that can enhance senior lifestyles. It is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, and it has a slim and stylish design that can fit into any regular outlet without taking up the other socket. You can use voice commands or smartphone apps to control it, and it can also track energy usage and create schedules. It can also connect with other smart devices, such as voice assistants, lights, cameras, or sensors.

There are exciting things going on in the world of technology that can make it much easier for seniors living in assisted living/independent living facilities or living in their homes. It is our hope at SeniorsPlaces, that you have found some ideas for how technology can improve your or a loved one’s living situation, no matter what it is.