Connected Home: Smart Devices For Seniors Greater Comfort

Nowadays, Smart Home is a highly demanded concept. Smart home devices provide greater comfort and security. It is particularly beneficial for elderly people wishing to stay independent at their home as long as possible. In the future, the entire house is expected to be equipped with sensors enabling a personalized monitoring depending on individual needs and physical condition. According to the Pew Research Center, technology adoption of Americans aged 65 and older is on the rise. 67 percent of U.S. seniors now use the internet, up from just 12 percent in 2000. Concurrently, 51 percent of them have a home broadband connection.

Smart assistants

Usually, smart home technology is represented by automatic window openers, programmable heating system, wash machine and backing oven that can be operated remotely using a mobile device. However, smart lawn mower or robotic vacuum cleaner can also provide elderly persons with a useful assistance in their daily routine.

The robots can remove dust on the ground and take over the lawn mowing.

Besides, many furniture manufacturers have already recognized the demand of the market and implemented smart features into their items.

For instance, Sleep Number 360 smart bed automatically recognizes movements and naturally adjusts to the owner’s body. Moreover, it includes a foot warmer that turns on before a person clambers in. The bed uses a biometric sensor technology tracking heart rate, motion, and breathing.

Smart safety devices

Safety plays a major role for seniors. That’s why burglary prevention is an important component of a Smart Home, e.g. in form of motion sensors and surveillance cameras.

Smart doorbells allow elder residents having a glimpse at the person outside the door. Concurrently, seniors have an option to record a message for the time they are not able to reach the door.

And not to forget: intelligent light control. An outdoor light automatically goes on and off when it senses movements.  If a person is on crutches, he or she doesn’t have to press the light button.

Additionally, it can make a burglar fear being seen or caught on surveillance camera.

Relevant: Remote Patient Monitoring: Health Care at Home

Smart reminders

Some smart devices provide a reminder function. Modern ovens have heat sensors that allow the hobs to switch off automatically if there is a fire danger.

For instance, family members and caregivers of dementia patients can be provided with such a useful assistance as presence monitoring. The technology allows preventing nighttime injuries and unattended home exits.

Besides, smart mirror with a built-in screen and camera can remind the house residents to take pills or even monitor a person’s emotional and psychological state using facial detection algorithms.