Adding smart home technology is a highly effective way to provide security and independence for older adults who want to remain in their home as long as possible.
If you have older loved ones living alone, you can give yourself – and them – the peace of mind that comes with knowing help is only a voice command away at any time. But, with today’s advanced home automation technology, you can also monitor their vital signs, get alerts if a problem occurs, set up convenience features and help prevent common accidents.
Health-Specific Smart Home Capabilities
Home automation systems can integrate a variety of monitors and wearable technology to monitor vital signs, body position and physical activities. Data can be tracked and stored, and alerts programmed to notify you, other family members, a designated caregiver or even emergency services upon specific triggers.
Research demonstrates how effective smart home technology can be when combined with wearable and health-specific devices and applications, potentially even allowing patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease to remain in their homes longer than ever before.
Automating Tasks with Smart Home Technology
If you’re worried that your loved ones might forget to turn off the oven or lock their doors at night, you can have their home automation0020system programmed to address these and related concerns.
For example, you can set security lighting and electronic door locks to activate between the hours of 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM. You can program connected appliances – such as the range – to automatically shut off after a designated runtime.
Poor lighting has been connected to increased falls and other injuries in older adults. You can program a series of functions into a voice-activated scene, allowing the occupant to illuminate a room and open the blinds with a simple command. This way, your loved one doesn’t have to maneuver through a darkened space to find a light switch
If older adults struggle to see or operate a smart thermostat, you can program the system to respond automatically to changing weather conditions or the time of day.
Setting Alerts
In addition to programming alerts for falls, escapes or potentially problematic changes in vital signs, you can program a smart home system to notify you in the event of specific triggers.
For example, you can have an alert sent to your or a caregiver’s devices if one of your loved one’s exterior doors opens or if someone rings their doorbell during the night. If your loved one has a hearing deficit, you can set a visual alert, such as making an overhead light flash, if someone rings their doorbell or if they forget to switch off the oven.
In Draper and throughout northern Utah, AVI Systems is your go-to expert for all types of home automation, smart home systems, security and surveillance. If you would like to explore helping your loved one gain more independence and safety in their come, contact us today for a home automation and smart home consultation.