Home Technology That Keeps Seniors Safe When Living Alone
If you are a senior that is living alone, or you have an elderly family member in your life that is living alone, it’s important to think about home safety. A majority of senior accidents, like slips and falls, happen at home and can be life-threatening or altering. However, some of those accidents could have been prevented if home safety was addressed earlier on.
An expert from a company that provides in-home senior care pointed out that it’s best to be proactive when it comes to the safety of a senior’s home, especially if he or she lives alone. With that being said, this post will detail some important ways to make your home safer by utilizing technology.
Technology That Will Keep Seniors Safe
Technology has the ability to improve people’s lives every day if used right. As the Digital Age persists, technology is evolving, and one particularly important aspect to look into is the safety aspect. Technology can make people safer, especially seniors. Here are some technological innovations to consider incorporating into your home or your family member’s home if he or she lives alone.
Different Forms of Lighting
If a senior lives alone and falls and can not get up, he or she could lay for the days before getting help. Unfortunately, a lot of the time the reason that a senior falls is that he or she trips in the dark. However, now, with modern technology these falls can be prevented, here’s how.
Clap-on Lights
Clap-on lights are exactly what they sound like, they are powered by the sound of a clap. This technological innovation is great for seniors that live alone that may not get around as easily as they used to. For example, seniors can turn their lights on in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom by clapping before even getting out of bed; thus avoiding tripping on the way to the light switch.
Motion Lights
Motion lights are another outstanding form of technology for seniors that live alone. Motions lights will turn on when a senior gets up and down instead of him or her having to manually turn on a light switch. Similarly, seniors that live alone should consider getting motion lights for the outside of their homes as a form of protection. These lights will turn on when someone or something walks under them.
Smart Doorbells
Smart doorbells are important for anyone that lives alone, but especially for seniors. Smart doorbells are doorbells that feature video cameras that connect to an app on one’s smartphone. When someone walks by or rings the doorbell, the app will notify the person, in this case, the senior. Seniors that live alone will be able to see who is at their house and have the ability to not answer the door if they don’t recognize the person.
Smart WiFi Systems
Wifi systems, like Alexa and Google Home, are forms of technology that make people’s lives easier and more convenient. However, these systems go one step further for seniors as they can make their lives safer. These systems can set reminders that will preserve a senior’s safety and health. Some reminders that smart WiFi systems can set include:
- To take prescription medicines
- To lock up/ set security systems
- To take food out of the oven
- To put food in the oven
- To go to or schedule appointments
Utilize Technology Today to Keep Seniors Safe Later
Whether you are a senior now or not, it will be worth your while to take advantage of the technology now so it will benefit you later. Or, if you have a senior in your life right now that lives alone, consider installing technology that will keep him or her safe. Keep these suggestions in mind and look into the various options and models to find the one that is best for the home. No matter what you choose, it will be an investment worth making.
About the Author
Kelsey Simpson enjoys writing about things that can help others. She is currently writing for Comfort Keepers, a company that provides in-home senior care. She lives in South Jersey and is the proud companion to two German Shepherds and spends her free time volunteering in dog shelters.
Brought to you by smpltec.com, Technology for Seniors News.
