According to recent studies by AARP, three out of four adults age fifty and older want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. Nearly one in six own a home assistant device (i.e., Amazon Alexa or Google Home). Are there new ways to live at home and avoid a move? How is voice-activated technology making it easier and safer to do so?

 

One option for aging in place is joining a Continuing Care at Home (CCAH) program, which is a membership plan for healthy adults who want to continue living at home and includes wellness benefits and future long-term care benefits. More importantly, CCAH programs provide a sense of community while aging at home. As many seniors are becoming members of CCAH programs, they are also adopting voice-activated technology to solve some of the health and security risks that were previously related to living at home. From medication reminders to online shopping and ambient music, voice-activated technology helps address seniors’ everyday concerns and enhance their independence, at home.

 

Smart home automation can make living independently at home convenient and help with the everyday tasks of home management. From smart thermostats to light switches, many modern home appliances respond to the sound of your voice. This means a safer home: regulated temperature levels throughout each season and instant lights for a night trip to the bathroom. You can even manage your grocery list and refrigerator through this technology by using voice commands to check what you currently have in stock at home, add to your list, and place grocery delivery orders. Seniors can choose to update individual appliances with voice-activated technology or purchase a smart home hub that connects all the devices and appliances in your home and responds to voice commands.

 

Harold and Alice Smith, a Nashville couple who are members of LiveWell By Blakeford, a local Continuing Care at Home program, utilize voice-activated technology in multiple areas of their life at least three times per day, but their favorite is for entertainment. Alice frequently asks their Amazon Alexa to tell the “Joke of the Day,” and Harold uses voice commands on their television to find his team’s basketball game and set reminders for when it’s about to start. Many people also use their home assistant devices to play music, perform internet searches, place online shopping orders, or listen to the news.

 

Most adults use their home assistant device or mobile phone to voice call, video call or text message loved ones without having to pick up a phone. For hands-free texting, you can ask the device to text message a person and dictate the message out loud. This is useful when driving in the car, when your hands are messy while cooking or cleaning, or in case of an emergency when you cannot get to your phone.

 

Home assistant devices are the perfect vessels to set reminders of tasks, events or appointments, and the devices can read those items back to you each day. Using your voice, you can also set timers for cooking or exercise or make a to-do list. They even help you stay on time throughout the day by sharing the updated weather forecast on your command, so you never get caught without a raincoat and have to go back to your house to get one.

 

Voice-activated technology’s place in our personal lives reaches beyond communicating with family and checking your news feed. It is quickly becoming an invaluable tool for seniors to manage their health at home. You can place an order for a prescription refill, set reminders to take daily medication, or pay medical bills using voice commands. Automatic voice-activated medication dispensers can ensure all of your medications are taken on schedule and according to the doctor’s orders.

 

Voice-activated technology can also be a lifesaver, literally. Using your voice, you can place a call to emergency services without having to get up, and you can communicate with medical personnel as you wait for help.

 

If you are planning to age at home, consider researching a Continuing Care at Home program to see how it can enhance your life and give you more options and security in the future. If you choose to age in place, voice-activated technology can be part of the plan to make that happen, resulting in more independence for a longer time.

 

Technology that keeps your home safe by simply hearing a voice command can give you peace of mind as you age. A smart security system allows you and your family to monitor entrance activity to your home, and the system enables you to speak from a remote location to anyone at your door or in your home. Smart door locks let you lock your door no matter where you are by using a voice command. You can also use voice commands on your mobile phone or your home security system to monitor for deliveries and make sure they stay where they are dropped until you can retrieve them. For those who live alone, this could be particularly meaningful in ensuring personal security.

 

New technology can be overwhelming or might seem difficult at first, but voice-activated technology is proving to be essential to living at home while aging. Ordering and learning how to use these devices now can keep you happy and healthy in your home for longer and can add some entertainment to  your life. Most devices are user-friendly to set up and are backed by excellent customer service teams. 

 

Jane Kelley, Blakeford Senior Life

 

Jane Kelley is the executive director of home and community services for Blakeford Senior Life, which offers a full continuum of care on its Blakeford at Green Hills campus along with at-home care options through its LiveWell program for seniors in the Nashville area.