With more and more retirees and baby boomers looking to stay in their homes as long as possible, smart home technology is bridging the gap between aging, independence, peace of mind and wellbeing.
In fact, smart home technology is emerging as a sought-after option for both aging residents and their families alike as it offers a combination of comfort, convenience, security and a family connection.
If you have ageing parents, here’s how smart home technology can assist.
The simple things
National Seniors Australia notes the Australian Baby Boomer population now comprises 5.5 million people. Born between 1946 and 1965, this population is retiring in droves, and with retirement comes unexpected health challenges.
However, as one of Australia’s largest cohorts, there’s also an overwhelming desire amongst this generation to age at home, rather than retreating into retirement communities.
For the families of aging parents this creates a challenge – how do you allow your parents to age “in place” while affording them the independence they deserve and the healthcare and security they require?
As Right at Home reflects: “Most baby boomers envision growing old gracefully, remaining independent, and aging at home”.
“They expect their health professionals and their families to support them in this decision. If they are currently healthy, they want to stay that way, and they see the benefit of making good lifestyle choices.”
Enter the smart home…which can facilitate wellbeing and independent living while accommodating family peace of mind in a host of innovative ways.
Here’s how…
Connectivity
At its heart, the smart home is about convenience and connectivity. That means simple but mundane tasks can conveniently be automated while unusual events can be relayed to and managed by the relevant parties through connectivity.
In the case of aging, this works in a series of ways – the burden of mundane, repetitive household tasks, like heating, cooling, lighting, and security etc are taken care of, while information about issues like a potential threat, a fire or a fall can be relayed to their families.
Ultimately, this allows older people to age in place with a technological safety net, in the knowledge the simple things are taken care of while the s family and friends, or emergency assistance, is readily available.
So, what features are beneficial in a smart home for the aging?
Security
Statistics consistently indicate security is a feature many more mature home owners actively seek.
If you have aging parents, this security can apply in a number of ways:
Security for them – which sees automatic locking, alerts and surveillance ensure their property is better protected.
Security for families – which sees automatic alerts sent to family members should there be a potential security threat at the home, like a fall, a fire or a door left unlocked.
Health security – which sees emergency services immediately alerted should someone fall, press their medi-alert or fail to respond to communication.
Comfort and wellbeing
As mentioned, it’s the simple things that facilitate aging in place. Imagine if the moment your parents’ feet hit the floor in the bedroom a light turned on, or the minute they entered the bathroom , the room was illuminated. This is all possible within the smart home.
Or what about daily routines? In the smart home at nightfall, lights can turn on, blinds can close, and temperature control commences, thus alleviating all those small mundane tasks that all equate to occupant comfort and wellbeing.
Mobility
Limited mobility can affect even the most innocuous areas of life, from getting up at night to turn off lights, to answering the front door or opening the garage. All these features and more can be automated as part of the smart home, allowing occupants to control features via voice command, automatic programming or at the touch of a remote button.
For example, answering the front door can be as simple as checking a mobile phone or tablet to see who’s knocking, speak to them if required, and then permit them to gain entry if you choose.
Lighting can be activated at voice command, set to turn off at a specific time of the day or switched off with the touch of a remote control, mobile phone or tablet.
Meanwhile, this convenience extends even further when combined with other smart home appliances, for example you can start the oven or turn it off at the touch of a button, lock a door, run climate control or turn on music.
Peace of mind
Ultimately the smart home can offer peace of mind for both occupants and their families, and importantly it can be tailored to both.
Small tasks can be automated ensuring occupant comfort, emergency situations can be relayed and dealt with quickly allowing resident safety, and the family of an aging parent can swiftly be alerted to potential problems through connectivity.
It all adds up to suit the needs of both Baby Boomers and their families as Australia readies for an influx of older residents who wish to age gracefully in their own homes.
About Lera Smart Home Solutions
Lera Smart Home Solutions is a leading installer of smart home technology in the greater Sydney region. Our team boasts over 20 years’ experience in IT networking, programming and the electrical industry.
We have sourced the most reliable and cost efficient solutions from around the world to provide the very best in smart home solutions, and work with our clients to understand their needs.
You can learn more about transforming your house into a smart home here, access our smart home calculators here or contact us directly for further advice.
