What Are the Benefits of a Smart Home for Seniors?

Anyone who watched “The Jetsons” TV show in the 60s might remember Rosey the Robot. She was the family’s maid, and more. She took care of their home, even when they weren’t there, operating the appliances and providing home security. She also communicated with them in her own way.

The original show premiered nearly 62 years ago and was only on the air for a single season, but as Matt Novak wrote in a 2012 Smithsonian Magazine article, it “stands out as the single most important piece of 20th century futurism.”

“The Jetsons” depicted what life might be like a hundred years later, in 2062. While we may not have flying cars yet, we do have smart home technology that is quite Rosey-like in its capabilities.

Fans with fond memories of the Jetson family can marvel at — and benefit from — all that virtual assistants with more modern names like Siri or Alexa, and the technology they connect with, can do for us.

Smart Homes for Seniors Add Safety, Comfort, Convenience and Security

Newer senior living communities, and ones like Heritage Community of Kalamazoo, MI, that are expanding with new apartment homes, are planning ahead by building smart homes for older residents. These homes incorporate technology designed to appeal to all new residents, whether they’re 55 or 85, giving them the best opportunity to remain in their homes as they age.

In a smart home, older adults can feel safer, whether they’re part of a senior community or living in the same home they’ve been in for years, with upgrades that include elderly care technology. But what does “smart” mean in regard to home features? According to the Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, the term “smart” is, in fact, an acronym for self-monitoring analysis and reporting technology. However, it is used with its actual meaning of “clever” to describe any type of available technology that allows users to connect with the internet.

Smart Lighting: An Easy Place to Start

Seniors can develop mobility and vision challenges that increase their risk of falling. In a smart home designed for the elderly, safety features might include smart lighting. With smart lighting, seniors can turn lights off and on using voice commands instead of having to get up and fumble for a switch on the wall or a lamp. At Ridge Creek, motion-triggered lights are installed under lower bathroom cabinets, making for a much smarter (and safer) trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night!

Smart lighting can also be programmed to turn off and on to coincide with bedtimes and rising times. And, seniors can use their smartphones to turn lights on and off remotely, whether they’re coming home after dark or they’re on vacation and want to give the appearance that the home is occupied. At Heritage Ridge Creek, residents can program and regulate lighting, music, window shades, thermostats and more from a smart hub, an easy-to-use touchscreen control panel on the wall in every apartment home.

Smart Door Locks: Peace of Mind and Easy Access in an Emergency

Like smart lighting, smart locks can be operated remotely by smartphone or through a smart hub that also controls other smart home technology, such as video doorbells and security cameras.

Smart locks can be especially helpful if a family member, neighbor or first responder needs to get inside — they can unlock the system with a code or password instead of a key. Some apartments at Heritage Community of Kalamazoo have keyless electronic door locks, making entry and exit easy for residents and trusted family.

Wearable and Voice -Activated Emergency Alert Systems

Emergency alert pendants and bracelets with buttons to press when assistance is needed have been around for decades. Originally, these types of emergency alert devices relied on landlines for communication between the user and the monitoring service, though many now use cellular networks.

Newer wearables, such as smartwatches, are just as easy, if not easier, to use. Some of them have built-in fall detection and can work with a wide variety of health-related apps.

There are also voice-activated emergency alert or emergency contact systems for the home that don’t require users to wear a device. Some have their own smart hub, while others work in conjunction with smart speakers and voice activation software in virtual assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa.

Every apartment home at Ridge Creek, on the campus of Heritage Community, comes with an Echo Show, allowing Alexa to do even more, including make video calls, display recipes and even stream favorite TV shows. (Hey Alexa, find “The Jetsons.”)

Smart locks and voice-activated emergency contact systems are great examples of beneficial smart technology for seniors living alone. Family members can feel more confident that their loved one is safe when the home has smart features like these.

Other Smart Home Technology to Consider

The ones already mentioned are among the best smart home devices for elderly adults, but many additional options are available that can make an older adult’s home safer and more comfortable, such as:

• Smart smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
• Smart window shades
• Smart thermostats
• Smart plugs with timers (for electrical outlets), which can be used to control space heaters, fans, lamps, coffee makers and other devices
• Smart appliances, including ovens, stoves, refrigerators, water heaters, and washers and dryers
• Smart door and window sensors
• Smart water leak detectors
• Smart security cameras
• Smart garage door openers
• Smart air filter monitors
• Smart pet feeders

Smart Pill Dispensers: Technology for Elderly Care

A smart pill dispenser can help older adults keep track of their medications and dosing schedule and can potentially lower the risk of accidental overdose. Such a device may be useful for seniors who have trouble remembering to take their prescription medications.

There may be some drawbacks to take into account before deciding whether to use a smart pill dispenser, so thorough research — including a conversation with a physician who’s familiar with these devices — is recommended.

Smart Technology Adds More Fun in Our Ridge Creek Apartment Homes

In addition to the many smart features we’ve already mentioned for safety, comfort and convenience, Ridge Creek apartment homes also feature Samsung The Frame 4K smart TVs and Sonos home audio systems for listening and viewing pleasure.

You can see many of the advanced home technologies in our Ridge Creek neighborhood by watching our one-minute video.

Our exceptional, new Ridge Creek apartment homes are proving to be a hot commodity here in the Kalamazoo area. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about them or set up a visit. You can also reach us at (269) 364-6560

Come look forward to the future with us!

Featured Image: Jeremy Hess, 2024