Published: 12/01/2019
How Smart Homes Can Help Seniors
Smart home devices provide a great way to keep tabs on an aging loved one. Putting your mind at ease and giving you a sense of relief from the constant worry. This is especially the case when a loved one lives hundreds of miles away.
Thankfully, recent advancements and innovations in smart home technology make it more possible than ever to provide a safe and accessible home for the elderly. From smart speakers and home security systems, to smart sensors to detect a fall and even smart ovens.
In this blog post, we’ve broken down the 10 best smart home devices for the elderly.
Smart Home Devices For The Elderly
Smart speakers & Hubs
A smart speaker is the heart of any smart home and is a must when it comes to security, safety, and home accessibility. Whether it’s Alexa, Google Assist, or Siri, a smart assistant provides full control of a home’s smart devices, keeps track of schedules and reminders, call for help, and more:
Set medication reminders
Adjust the temperature of a room using voice control when paired with a smart thermostat.
Alert a loved one when in need of help
Locate a misplaced cell phone or keys
Quickly get the answer to a question
Play music
Turn the lights on and off using voice control
Make a phone call
By unifying all smart devices, you will only need to log in to one app to check on your loved one or control their devices. And the good news, a smart speaker requires minimal effort and skill to set up. Simply plug the device in and connect it to the home network. The smart speaker can then easily connect to any other smart devices on the network, adding the ability to control all devices with voice control.
If you’re considering purchasing a smart speaker for a senior and are unsure of which brand or model is the best fit, check out our smart speaker comparison guide. While all models are relatively similar in features, there are some considerations you will want to keep in mind when looking for the best smart speaker for the elderly.
Smart plugs
If you're worried about potentially harmful or power-hungry electronics being left on, adding smart plugs to a home is a great way to check the real-time status of any connected device. Any electronic device can be connected such as a lamp, water heater, coffee maker, fans, Christmas lights, or even a stove.
If you ever worry about your parents, grandparents, or even yourself leaving the stove or other potentially harmful devices on, adding smart plugs throughout a home can help provide peace of mind. By connecting electronics to a smart plug, you can control them with an app, or when paired with a smart speaker, with voice control. And if you’re worried about electronics being left on, you can create schedules, timers, and set countdowns that will automatically turn off the power to connected appliances.
If your concern is the stove being left, the Wallflower smart plug is designed specifically for use with a stove. Every time the stove turns on, or if someone forgets to turn it off, the Wallflower will beep and send you a smartphone notification alerting you of the change.
Trip & Fall Sensors
For added safety, the Walbot Home is the best device on the market when it comes to usability, affordability, and safety. Unlike comparable devices, the Walbot home doesn’t need to be worn as a pendant or around a wrist. It’s as simple as placing the Walabot on a wall and letting it scan for falls. In the instance where Walabot senses a fall, the system automatically calls the emergency contact's phone to get help. It’s that simple. Plus, it’s so simple to install that if you aren’t located within a reasonable distance from your loved one, they could easily set it up themselves.
Whether it’s the Walbot Home, or another device, over any other smart device mentioned in this blog post, I’d highly recommend a trip and fall sensor.
smart lighting control
Like smart plugs, smart lighting control brings added convenience for the elderly. Similar to the Clapper, smart lights or light switches provide the ability to turn on and off lighting via voice control (when paired with a smart speaker) or an app. There’s no need to stand up every time a light needs to be turned on. Simply say “Alexa, turn off the kitchen lights”. It’s that easy. Additionally, through the app, you can view which lights are on/off, set timers, and set lighting groups.
View smart light switch options »
Home Security
Security cameras, whether they are located inside or outside a home, make it so you can check in on your loved one even when you are hundreds of miles apart. Depending on the location, type of security camera, and the type of security camera you choose, the installation difficulty can vary. However, you will most likely need to install the cameras yourself if you are tech-savvy or hire a professional.
When selecting home security devices, there are quite a few options available. You can decide to go with a smart lock, which will automatically lock a door upon a set amount of time after being closed or unlock and lock a door from your smartphone. A smart lock will provide added security to a home and give you peace of mind knowing your loved ones' doors are locked. Another option is to add security cameras inside or outside a home again for the added security and peace of mind. You could also choose to add a motion-activated floodlight, with or without a camera, to deter vandalism or possible intruders. For more information on selecting the best type of security camera, check out our beginner's guide to security cameras.
Music Control
Nowadays there are tons of options for smart speakers. All major speaker brands now sell models with integrated Alexa, Siri, or Google Assist. Brands such as Bose and Sonos. Smart speakers are a great way to control a home’s audio via voice control. They can also be controlled with a smartphone if they share the same home network.
medication reminders
Using a smart speaker, you can easily set medication reminders, which will provide an audible alert letting your loved one know it is time to take their medication. You can also set other reminders as need be. Any reminder can be verbally set by asking your smart speaker to set a scheduled alert or through the app.
Another option is to get a smart pill dispenser. An automatic dispenser keeps medications locked away until a set scheduled time. However, unlike setting an alert on a smart speaker, these devices need to be programmed on the dispenser itself. Meaning they are not ideal if you do not live close by.
temperature control
Smart thermostats are a great way to set home temperature schedules and monitor a home’s temperature from a distance. Temperature adjustments can be made on the device itself, on a smartphone via an app, or with voice control when paired with a smart speaker. Smart thermostats are a great way to reduce electricity bills and to monitor a home's temperature.
For more information on selecting a smart thermostat, check out our Ecobee4 and Nest 3 comparison guide.
games & Trivia
Games are a great way to keep an aging mind alert. By enabling smart speaker skills, your loved one can play games and trivia with their speaker. For example, Amazon Alexa has skills for playing Jeopardy, Hangman, Simon Says, and much more.
Audiobooks
Just like playing games a trivia, an audiobook helps keep the mind alert. And thanks to the cloud, you can access hundreds of thousands of audiobooks with the click of a button or by simply asking a smart speaker to read a book out loud.
