Aging in Place Home Automation

Home automation is using technology to have housework or household activities completed automatically, with little to no intervention from the user. (Sometimes called a ‘smart home’.) It allows an individual to have remote control of the technology performing the activities. The goal of home automation is to help create a home that is easier, more enjoyable and safe to live in.

Aging in place home automation is home technology for the elderly or disabled (also known as assistive domestics) and has the same goal, but also adds making a senior’s home more safe, allowing them to stay in their home longer.

Why aging in place?

Home automation | Aging in place

Aging in place is a growing movement that focuses on keeping seniors in their homes longer as they age. One core element of aging in place is allowing a person to maintain their quality of life. By combining home automation systems with the age in place idea, seniors can enjoy a more comfortable experience in their home, as well as increase home safety or other objectives.

What situations can aging in place home automation help?

We believe that home automation is a great aging in place technology. It can help improve a persons’ quality of life, especially when combined with other types of technology. Granted, many of the current solutions for some of the examples below are not perfect (nor are they tried and true). However, the technology that supports these activities is rapidly changing. Home automation can help accomplish many tasks and will only improve in the years to come.

Health Care

• Remote Monitoring
• Medication reminders
• Daily medical testing
• Remote medical consultation
• Medical care coordination

Long distance care giving

• Family caregiving coordination
• Communication
• Relationships
• Fighting loneliness or depression

Home safety

• Fall prevention
• Security
• Lighting

There are also side benefits for seniors who implement home automation.  Since the base of a home automation system is a network, it opens up a world of possibilities for amenities.

Entertainment : Video and audio can be present in every room in the form of stored or Internet movies, home videos, photos or music.

Connectivity : Internet enabled devices can also be put on the home network, such as email-only devices, televisions, streaming media players and others.

Internet activities : For seniors that enjoy being online, there are also a slew of Internet activities for them to enjoy from computers, laptops, tablets or phones, such as online games, social networks or other web sites.