Smart Home Elderly: I personally feel that smart home automation can be of great help for the senior citizens and elderly persons.
You can also take a pledge to educate your grandfather, grandmother, etc about smart devices.
A few days back, I was searching for a complete guide on smart home for an elderly person, but I couldn’t find one on the internet.
So, I decided to pen down the complete guide myself.
If I’m not wrong, then a lot of people like me are searching on the internet for related information.
As a smart home consultant, I’ve found a gradual increase in demand for smart devices among senior citizens.
One of my clients’ MOM is in the late nineties and a few days back she had a bad fall.
Unfortunately, she was stuck on the floor for more than an hour in deep pain while her son was away from home on a business trip.
He came to me and asked for the solution.
I told him to use a “medical alert bracelet” for the time being.
Nonetheless, a lot can be done when it comes to customizing the home for senior citizens.
So, without any further ado, let’s begin…
Why Smart Home Technology For The Elderly?
The smart home technology has shot through the roof in recent years.
Furthermore, there are numerous devices to make your home smarter and most of these devices are affordable.
Needless to say, in the coming days, more and more people will move towards smart home automation.
Personally, I feel smart home automation offers a peace of mind that is more than just installing a medical alert device and calling it a day.
It is very important to understand that smart home for elderly care is more of providing quality life to them rather than a virtual safety environment.
A few of my clients asked me,” Is the design of a smart home for the elderly the same as other smart home automation?”
I would love to answer this question because many of my readers can have this query as well.
Well, the answer is it depends totally on your requirement.
If you’ve got the budget and you want an idiosyncratic smart home for the elderly, then it’s perfectly fine.
Nevertheless, as per my experience as a smart home consultant, I don’t find customization of smart home design as a priority task.
The quality of life of elderly people can be improved without customization.
What is a smart home?
A smart home is a home that is entitled to improve the quality of life by providing comfort, efficiency, security, and convenience all the time.
Smart home automation gives the house owner the feasibility to control the smart devices from a remote place.
To make it simple, let’s consider a few examples.
You can use a smart home thermostat to control the temperature of your smart home even though you are away from home on a business trip or enjoying with your family.
Similarly, you can a smart home security camera that will alert you about the movement outside your home.
There are loads and loads of things that can be done to improve the living style of elderly people.
We will discuss a lot more in detail, so keep reading.
What are the advantages to a smart home?
There are numerous advantages to using smart home devices for elderly people.
I really feel sorry for the senior citizens who aren’t aware of the benefits of smart home automation.
As a responsible citizen, it is our duty to create awareness about the smart homes among the elders.
I was shocked when a smart home enthusiast asked me, “Is smart home automation problematic for the senior citizens?”.
I asked him immediately, ” what is the reason behind your statement?”.
He replied, it involves technology and so it will make the life of senior citizens more troublesome.
Well, The guy who questioned me is not the only one having such a query.
In fact, there are many who feels the same and thus, don’t take initiative towards the smart home automation.
Moving further, I’ll try to best of my capabilities to clear the aforementioned doubt.
I don’t deny the fact that an elderly person can feel it difficult to automate his smart home if he is with a mindset to set up all the things on his own without being tech-savvy.
It’s always good to take professional help.
In this case, an elderly person can hire a smart home consultant to guide him in installing the devices and help him with the proper recommendation.
Some of the advantages of using a smart home device that you can’t ignore are as follows:
Safety: With the help of smart home security, you can cross check whether the door is closed or not at night.
In a similar way, you can also keep track of all the movements that are happening outside your house.
At the same time, you can also monitor your household appliances.
In short, you can easily improve the security of your home multiple-folds with the help of smart home devices.
Entertainment: With the newer smart home entertainment hubs, and an addition of voice assistants such as Alexa, you can control any of your home entertainments.
It began with smart TV but now you’ve hundreds of things to control.
Comfort: Smart home devices can help you to improve your comfort level to a great extent.
For example, set your thermostat and let your family members monitor and manage the home temperature.
However, you can also manage the smart thermostats remotely with the help of your smartphone.
Elderly Concerns About the Smart Home
The concerns can be numerous if an experienced person is trying to guide the elders in setting up the smart home.
Half of your work is done in the case, you’ve hired a correct person to guide to do the job.
Falling to do so can cost you time and money.
Let’s dive deep into the subject to reduce the confusion surrounding the topic.
Privacy: There is always a threat of security when it comes to using smart home automation.
Even though you’re a tech-savvy, you can’t deny the fact that using the latest technology always has a downside of security threat.
However, taking proper precautions can minimize the impact of the threat.
The best way to combat this issue is by keeping yourself updated about the latest trends.
To name a few: you can set up a separate network for the smart devices, lockdown the passwords that you use and many more…
Face To Face Care: I’ve got an opportunity to face both the kind of clients. Some elderly people were used to face to face care, and they generally prefer some human interaction.
At the same time, there were many who were interested in the automated solution rather than interacting with a human being.
In short, it is totally your priority and interest.
However, I would recommend you to try both the methods before taking a final call on any one of them.
Cost: I can assure you that the value addition is tangible. You can definitely feel the difference after using a smart device for the elderly in your family.
It’s really painful to see your parents falling down on the floor, and the worst part is that you’ve to pay to the local provider for taking the adult caring service.
I would highly recommend you to consider smart home for elderly care based on the wireless sensor network. It is a one time cost only.
Smart Devices For The Elderly
Aging is a natural process.
If we’re young today, then we’re bound to become old tomorrow.
You can do lots of things using smart home technology to assist the elders in your family.
Most of the people are reluctant to compromise with their freedom. Smart home tackles the problem that one might face staying at home.
For example, closing the door without stepping out of your bed at night can be of great help for the elders.
Controlling the lighting on the eve of Christmas or other important occasions using smartphone or voice can be of great help.
Trust me, you can do a lot for the elders. Moving further, I’ll be throwing light on some of the must-have smart devices for the elders.
Smart Medical Care
I can tell you many reasons why you should consider smart medical care options?
Smart medical care can automate lots of tasks and make your life much more worry-free.
Moving further, I’ll highlight the benefits of using smart home automation for elderly people in your family.
Smart Medical and Fall Alert Devices
The wearable medical alert devices fall under the category of smart medical devices.
If you’re the one looking for alert devices for elderly family members, then it is advisable to do research on these devices, both offline and online.
For example, you may consider Philips Lifeline, it’s a great alert device. On the downside, it has a hefty monthly subscription fee.
Personally, I’m NOT a great admirer of the smart alert devices.
You may find a couple of manufacturers dominating this category and claiming that they are the best.
However, almost every one of them has the same thing to deliver.
Even after knowing all this if you are ready to buy the smart devices, then you need to be well prepared in advance that the company may charge you way more than the real price of the product.
I’m saying this because it has happened time and again with my clients.
So, what’s the solution?
Well, you can contact your local area agency on aging and they will guide you on how to make the smart devices more affordable.
I’m not telling you any theory, it’s a practical example indeed.
Currently, I can’t recommend any company because I’m not satisfied with the performance of the smart alert device manufacturers on the market.
Moreover, in the future, I’ll definitely update this post with my recommendation.
Note: If you’re one of the manufacturers interested in showcasing your product to me, then please let me know in the comment section.
I’ll be more than happy to know about your product, and if it is value for money product, I’ll definitely share it with my clientele and readers.
Smart Pill Dispensers
When you grew old, there is a high probability that you’ll forget pills to carry with you, and at the same time, you can’t deny the fact that in a hurry, you took wrong pills to carry with you.
So, to completely negate this kind of scenarios, you should try Tricella Liif 7 smart pillbox.
It will detect and inform you in both the cases: whether you missed carrying pills or you took wrong pills with you.
To make it user-friendly, users have given an option to connect to the smartphones and tablets.
It helps families to stay connected and ensures that the pills are taken on time.
The Tricella comes with smart sensors in each drawer, and also has LED notifications.
Once you’ve successfully installed it, you’ll be tracked for the medicine consumption, and will also be reminded in advance about the time at which you need to take medicine.
Connected Toothbrushes
Personally, I’m a big fan of the Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum.
A few months back, I had a problem with my tooth, and I was really occupied and so I wasn’t able to take care of my tooth properly.
I researched and found Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum.
This device helps you to keep a close eye on what’s happening with your tooth.
You can connect it with Bluetooth. It sends the brushing data to the free Sonicare App in real time via Bluetooth wireless technology.
You can consider this device like a virtual dentist who can update you regularly about your tooth hygiene, and at the same time, you can get recommendation and advice based on the teeth data.
Smart EKG Monitors
AliveCor is the market leader in the EKG Monitors category.
The EKG monitors are known for their accuracy and are also the clinically validated EKG solutions available on the market.
You can expect it to capture a medical grade EKG in just 30 seconds.
You don’t have to wait rather you can detect atrial fibrillation or normal heart rhythm instantly.
You can also set up automatic emails to yourself, doctors or someone you want to update about your reports.
Don’t worry it’s totally free of cost with no hidden charges involved.
(Check the current price on Amazon)
Wearable Devices
If you’re thinking that smart wearable devices are just for the youngsters, then you’re definitely wrong.
I’ve seen adults and elders using it at the same pace as youngster does.
There are hundreds if not thousands of wearable devices available on the market. You can select the one that caters to your needs.
However, I’ve shared some smart wearable devices that can be of great help to you.
Smart Watches and Fitness Trackers
These devices are definitely a value for money product, and they can be used for multiple purposes.
They can be used to track your steps, your heart rate and many more.
There are many devices in this league and by doing some research, you can get the one that is under your budget.
Though there is really some high-end smartwatches on the market still I recommend my clients to go for the products that can justify their price.
Another simple way to find a good smartwatch is to go to the Amazon and type the keyword “smart watches” and you’ll get lots of options.
Shortlist some of them and then read the customers’ reviews and check the ratings.
If you’re interested in my recommendation, then I’ll definitely ask you to go for Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro.
Blood Glucose Monitoring
You’ll find many elders suffering from old age diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.
The Dario Blood Glucose monitoring system is an all in one smart glucose meter that you can try.
The installation process is very simple, you just need to sync it with the Dario Smart Diabetes Management App to measure, track and record blood glucose level.
Some other things that the app records are carbs intake, insulin medication, also the physical activities.
(Check the current price on Amazon)
Smart Blood Pressure Cuff
My grandfather uses smart blood pressure cuff by Omron.
It is really easy to track the blood pressure trends through the Bluetooth enabled monitor.
You can find the current price on Amazon.
Security Devices
I don’t know anyone who will say that security is NOT their priority.
Everyone wants their home to be secured.
As we grow older the meaning of security changes for us.
For example, you may want to get secure from fire or robberies.
There are many smart security devices out in the market that you can try.
However, most of the security devices charge you a monthly subscription.
I’ll not be talking about the devices that charge a monthly subscription fee.
Smart Security Cameras
A smart security camera is one of the best ways to monitor the movement that is happening outside as well as inside the home.
A smart security camera setup is easy to install and monitor.
There is a wide range of smart security cameras available on the market. I’ve tried quite a few of them.
The camera that I recommend is Blink XT.
Below are some of the reasons why I recommend this budget-friendly security camera:
- Installation is easy
- User-friendly functionality
- Budget-friendly as compared to its counterparts
- Good battery life (Last for 2 years)
- Can be placed virtually anywhere
- Perform better as compared to its competition
Smart Locks
Smart locks are must for elderly people.
It enhances the door security and negates the risk of the incidence that may occur due to a miss of door locking.
It is advisable to consider deadbolt manufactured by a reputable company in the case, you’re planning to replace the existing locks.
Schlage is the brand that I personally use and recommend.
They are an experienced player and know the stuff very well.
You’ll be astonished to know that they are delivering since 1920.
Their Z-Wave smart technology locks are enticing and strong built.
They come in a variety of colors and you can select the one that matches your smart home decor.
They are present in the market much before anyone else. They have been consistently delivering over the years.
(Check the current price on Amazon)
Smart Video Doorbells
Smart doorbells are very popular among elderly people.
It gives you the feasibility to see who is ringing the bell. You’ve both the options available to you.
Either you can answer the door or you can take your time to get up and got to the door to interact.
I personally use Ring doorbells and also recommend them.
I’ve been using it for quite a few years now, and it has been delivering without any obstacles.
I love the motion sensors built-in features of the ring doorbells.
Smart Alarm System
If I’ve to talk about the smart alarm system, then there are tons of them available on the market.
Most of them are of high quality.
The only thing I don’t like about a few of them is that they will charge you a monthly subscription to monitor and maintain the security.
I’m a big admirer of Samsung SmartThings Home Monitoring Kits.
They come up with all the things that you’ll need to secure your home.
You can control, monitor, and automate your home from anywhere using the SmartThings app.
You’ll immediately get a notification on your smart app if the security system finds any forced entry.
Smart Smoke Alarms
First Alert 2-in-1 combination Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide Alarm is the one that I’ll recommend you.
They have a built-in integrated wireless alarm system and are capable of sending you mobile alerts.
You’ll also get an email regarding what’s happening in the vicinity of the smoke alarms.
One thing I’ll accept that the smoke alarms are getting smarter day by day.
Better Living Smart Devices
I’ll be sharing some of the devices that will help you to make your life better.
These devices are budget-friendly.
Smart Lighting
Smart lighting not only makes your life brighter but also helps you to get rid of remembering to shut off the lights.
If you’re using voice assistants like Google Home or Alexa, then you can integrate the smart lighting with the voice assistants.
As a result, you can control the lighting with your voice.
On the other hand, if you don’t have a smart assistant in your home, then you can automate the ON/OFF depending upon your preferred time.
Automated Thermostats
I highly recommend smart thermostats for elderly people. It’s one of the smart devices that can’t be ignored.
Elderly people can change the temperature without getting out of their beds. They don’t have to get up and go and change the temperature.
On the other hand, they can also find the electricity bill going down after replacing the normal thermostats with the smart ones.
By the way, I saved around $300 in my first year on the electricity bills.
I have written a detailed article on the best smart thermostats.
The article will walk you through all the things that you need to consider while buying a smart thermostat.
Water and Leak Detection
I was always worried about the water leakage and other related issues that my Dad have to live with.
Unfortunately, that time we don’t have smart devices to detect water leakage.
Detecting water leakage is a tedious process as compared to fixing it.
You can try water and leak detector made by Samsung SmartThings.
You can place the sensors at the places where you think that there can be leakage and the second the system detects the leakage you’ll get the notification on your smartphone.
The system gives you the feasibility to connect an alarm or a siren to the system.
Smart Ovens
Unfortunately, still in the 21st century, the leading cause of fire in the house is stove fires.
Either you can buy a smart oven or you can make your existing oven smart.
The decision is yours.
You can try Wallflower Smart Monitor for Electric Stoves that can help you keep a track of the performance of the stoves.
Just to mention, it works only on electric stoves, but it does work well.
You’ll be notified if the electric stove is left open. There is no monthly subscription attached to it as it uses an app to warn you.
Nevertheless, it will not stop the electric stove rather it will only inform that the stove is left open.
In case, you don’t have a budget constraint, then you can try IGuardStove.
It may cost you a few extra bucks, but it’s worth every dollar spent.
It comes with the sensor that will help you to get acknowledged about when you left the kitchen and when you came back.
It also has a timer which will automatically switch off the electric stove as per the set timer.
For the longer cooking such as roasts, you can override the auto shut timer with the “manual override” feature.
Smart Reminders
Smart Reminders are very important for elderly people. You can try Reminder Rosie.
It is a smart reminder that I personally recommend. You can record up to 25 different reminders, and also can hear them up to 100 feet away.
It can be operated using your voice and can remind older folks of when to take the medication, do exercise or any appointment they have for the day.
You can program it in other languages as well.
Entertainment Devices
Whether you’re a teenager or you’re in mid-age, you’ll love to be entertained, isn’t it?
Especially in the case of elder people who can’t get out of the home on a regular basis, smart entertainment can help to de-stress.
However, there is a high probability that elders aren’t very comfortable using buttons and remotes.
Some smart devices are very specific and need certain skill sets.
There are certain conditions where you can’t get rid of the cables and satellite provider.
So, what’s the solution?
Let’s discuss some of the smart devices that can entertain you the way you want.
Smart TV’s
Nowadays, any TV you buy will be smart. These smart TV’s are definitely great for anyone.
They have mindboggling smart functions and you can play YouTube or Netflix.
Children can play video games on smart TV and many more…
However, there are certain functions that need basic codes and at times, it can be a deal-breaker for the elderly person.
Smart Streaming Devices
There are many smart devices available on the market that can make your dumb TV smart.
However, most of the new TVs available on the market are smart in the real sense.
For example, Chromecast, the Roku, Apple TV are newer in the market.
I personally use and recommend Amazon Fire TV.
It is perhaps the best smart TV for elderly persons.
The installation process is quite easy and doesn’t require any professional hand.
It is user-friendly as well as budget-friendly.
The elderly can easily learn to use this smart TV including apps like
Netflix and Hulu among many others.
Voice Control
Voice control makes things quite easy. You can voice control your smart TV using Amazon Echo and the Logitech Harmony Smart Control.
Especially for the elders, voice control can provide a great level of control.
I’m sharing a video that is self-explanatory.
Smart Cleaning Devices
I hope you’ll agree that smart cleaning devices are not luxury but the need of any home.
Robotic cleaning devices are something that you need to look for when you’re considering a smart cleaning device for the senior citizens.
Trust me, the robotics cleaning devices takes away almost 90% of your daily load.
So, without any further ado, let’s understand the robotics vacuum in details.
Robotic Vacuums
Vacuum cleaners are more than enough if you’re young and energetic.
You can easily push it across the rooms and get your work done in less than an hour or so.
But the same doesn’t hold true with senior citizens.
I’m assuming that you’re a regular reader of this blog and you’re well aware of the fact that Roomba is perhaps one of the best when it comes to selecting the smart robotics vacuums.
If you the one who has landed on this blog for the first time, then, first of all, I welcome you to my blog, and secondly, you can search about ROOMBA on this blog.
You’ll find an in-depth article talking about the Pros and Cons of the smart vacuum.
You can set Roomba on automatic mode or schedule and monitor it with your smartphone.
The best thing about Roomba is that it goes back directly to its charging station once it has completed the cleaning process.
You’ve to only empty the dustpan once the cleaning is completed.
If you’re tight on a shoestring budget, then you can try Shark with their Ion Robotic Vacuum, which is priced very reasonably.
There are many good smart vacuums on the market.
Personally, I can’t imagine a single day without Roomba.
Let me know in the comment section about your favorite vacuum cleaner.
Robotic Mops
Smart robotic mops go hand in hand with the smart vacuum cleaner. They mainly sweep and mop any kind of floor.
They are controlled and scheduled via an app on the smartphone.
The best thing about a Robotic mop is that it can reach places that can’t be reached by human hands or some hard places like toilets etc.
I recommend Irobot Braava Jet 240. They aren’t only budget-friendly but a complete package and a value for money product.
I’ve tested Irobot on different kinds of floors such as hardwood floors, tile, stone kitchen floors, and bathroom linoleum floors.
It has performed fairly well on all the aforementioned floors.
They are available on Amazon and you can check the customers’ reviews as well.
Smart Home Systems for the Elderly
As an elderly person, if you think that the entire process is tedious and time-consuming, and you’ll need a professional hand for setting up the smart home system, then I’ll recommend you to try HoneyCo.
HoneyCo is one of the upcoming companies that provides specific services to elderly people.
Personally, I’ve referred few of my clients, and the feedback was good.
Conclusion
First of all, I would like to thank you for taking out time and reading through the entire guide.
As we grew old, our requirement changes and we need lots of things to support our daily life.
I’ve tried to the best of my capabilities to guide you with the correct smart products.
Aging is a natural process and it is gonna happen to all of us someday.
We can’t stop it, but at the same time, we can develop certain smart products that can make our lives easier and happier.
Last but not least, I feel it is our responsibility to take care of senior citizens and elders in our family with the help of smart home automation.
Please share this piece of information with elderly people.
