The rise of new technologies has made it easier than ever to age in place. Our parents and grandparents did not have the benefit of aging with the help of numerous technologies that make life easier, safer and simpler. However, now that we are in the midst of a technological boom, it is highly recommended you use some or all of these technologies within your home to help you age in place happily and healthily.
Gone are the days of Life Alert’s notorious slogan, “I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up!” There are many more innovative and easy-to-use technologies out there that can do everything from locking your doors by using your phone to detecting a fall and alerting the authorities. At Sun Health At Home, we encourage members to integrate technologies as a part of our commitment to comprehensive support. Sun Health At Home gives members the opportunity to continue living independently wherever you call home, with the assurance that you will receive guaranteed lifetime access to health care should your health needs ever change.
Staying Connected: The Most Important Step
One of the most important steps when it comes to integrating new technologies into your life is ensuring you have access to high-speed Internet. Many of the technologies discussed within this article require the Internet in order to function correctly. Not only does the internet enable you to use valuable technologies benefiting your health and safety, but it can also help connect you with loved ones via video services like Skype, or stay connected with social networking.
Voice-Activated Assistants
Something that has recently popped up in the technology sphere is voice-activated assistant technology. You might know these things as “Alexa” or “Google Home.” If you’ve never heard of this technology before, these basically work as voice-activated robotic machines you can ask to help make your life easier. Need to add something to a shopping list? Want to play a specific song? Voice-activated assistants can help.
In addition to these benefits, voice-activated assistants can also be crucial in other technologies’ home safety features. You can use these machines to turn on and off lights, lock doors or even call emergency services. It can be a little tricky to set these up, so don’t hesitate to reach out to a neighbor or loved one to help you get connected with a voice-activated assistant.
Smart Phones
It feels like yesterday that cell phones really began taking off, and now, it seems like everyone has a smart phone. Do you have a smart phone? About half of people over the age of 75 do. Smart phones, typically Apple, Samsung or Google, can make a big difference in helping you age in place. Many smart home technologies connect to applications, or apps, that you can download on your smart phone. While these phones can get a little bit pricy when purchased new, there are often great deals on refurbished smart phones that are as good as new.
These three technologies come together to give you the foundation for a safer, healthier and happier retirement. Choosing to age in place is easy with many ways to integrate technology into our day-to-day lives.
More Technologies that Make it Easier to Age in Place
Here are some additional smart home technologies you can consider adding to your day-to-day routine:
1. Smart Watches
Smart watches are kind of like an old science fiction trope come to life. These watches, like the Apple Watch for example, can do everything from allowing you to make phone calls and send texts to detecting falls and alerting the authorities. You can also track your heart rate and using the built in pedometer so that you can track your steps.
2. Smart Lights
Falls are the leading cause of disability and injury in older adults in the United States. Smart lights can make the difference you need to avoid slips or falls in the dark. While we all probably remember the old “clap-on, clap-off” light detectors, nowadays we have motion activated lights, with no clapping required! You can also hook up lights to your phone or smart home assistant, so you can turn lights off and on from anywhere within your home.
3. Smart Home Gadgets
Cleaning and cooking are two things in life we all must do. From smart refrigerators that tell you the amount of food in your fridge, to smart ovens that automatically shut off to save you from an accidental kitchen fire, there are smart home gadgets that make everyday tasks easier. Another handy gadget is the Roomba, a small circular cleaning robot that sweep your non-carpeted flooring daily. These technologies can also all be hooked up to your smart phones to make life easier.
4. Smart Medical Technologies
Technologies can also make your life safer when it comes to your health. There are devices for everything from medication dispensing to blood pressure monitoring, all the way to smart toothbrushes. This area is still very up-and-coming, but you can expect big things in this arena in the years to come.
5. Smart Security Measures
One of the biggest concerns about aging in place is safety. With smart home technology, you can take much of the guesswork out of keeping your home secured. Two of the biggest innovations include smart locks and smart doorbells, like Ring. These technologies can hook up to your phone, allowing you to be in control of your home’s safety wherever you are. One benefit of smart locks is that you can lock and unlock your doors remotely from your phone. Smart doorbells can also serve as a camera, and you can get an alert anytime there is movement in front of your door. These allow you to see a live feed of wherever your doorbell is placed, and you can even talk back and forth from both ends of the technology.
Aging In Place with Sun Health At Home
Implementing some of these technologies may help you age in place more easily. Sun Health At Home encourages members to utilize technology, and is here to answer any questions you may have about the benefits of a Sun Health At Home membership or more about technological advancements. To learn more, contact us today.
