How Tech is Making it Possible for More Seniors to Age in Place 

 

By 2030, 21.8 percent of the UK population will be aged 65 or over,  according to a report by Age UK. The senior population in the UK is growing rapidly thanks to advances in healthcare, and it is not expected to slow down any time soon.

 

While this is generally good news, one problem the country faces is the insufficient number of retirement homes and facilities, which means that most seniors will need to find ways to make their current homes liveable. While ageing in place is a preference for most, it comes with many challenges, especially for those who live alone and those facing various health issues. Luckily, modern  technology has created various tools that make it easier for the elderly to age in place. 

Unfortunately, older adult homes are  prime targets for burglars, conmen, and other criminals looking for easy targets. To prevent this, seniors or their family members can install smart home security systems to keep their homes secured at all times. For example, you can start with a smart doorbell that allows you to see and interact with whoever is at the door without opening it or even being at home. Smart surveillance cameras and motion sensors can also beef up security in an older person’s home, alerting their family and law enforcement agencies the minute there’s an attempted intrusion. 

People aged 65 and over are often facing one or more diseases and on top of that, they are  at more risk of falls and other home accidents that could cause serious injuries. As such, a medical emergency can arise at any time and the speed at which help arrives could be the difference between life and death for a senior. This is where medical alert systems come in. A typical  medical alert system comes with an alert button that, when pressed, connects with a monitoring centre which will send assistance immediately to the senior’s home. It allows seniors to receive medical assistance quickly when needed and gives their family peace of mind. 

Smart speakers have a wide range of features that come in handy for seniors and since they are voice-controlled, even the least tech-savvy seniors can use them easily. For example, they can get quick answers to a wide range of questions, such as the current weather, the meaning of a certain word, or the news for that day. Smart speakers can also help the elderly manage some aspects of their lives through to-do lists, packing lists, or shopping lists. Seniors can also use smart speakers for various entertainment purposes, such as listening to audiobooks, playing music, or playing trivia games that keep the mind sharp. 

 

Age-related cognitive and physical decline can make life hard for the elderly at home. Thankfully, seniors can use technology to make it easier and more comfortable to age in place, ensuring that they remain in a familiar and cherished environment.