Your senior years are your time to live well with ease. While a variety of devices on the market can help make your life simpler like smart home, vehicle and hearing aid technology, the best are those that also help you live smarter. According to architect David L evy, living environments designed for independent seniors are a necessity. Today’s seniors are tech-savvy and benefit from assistive devices that go beyond medical alert technologies; they make everyday life more efficient.
Home Technologies to Help You Live Smarter
1. Programmable thermostats: Make your home as smart as you. Programmable thermostats help make home comfort simple by making your dwelling the right temperature at the right time, which may help lower your energy bills. The latest technology allows the thermostat to “learn” your weekly routine and comfort level so you don’t even have to program the thermostat.
2. Wireless Bluetooth headphones: Investing in surround systems for elevated sound and audio for entertainment isn’t something that every household needs, but it is a great idea when one or more of the residents is hard of hearing. Blasting your TV’s favorite show at high volumes can be extremely annoying to those around you so investing in headphones that offer comfort, sound quality, portability, and long lasting durability is the best option. With the improvement of hearing aid technology and the advancements in Bluetooth technology, anyone that’s hard of hearing at any age can enjoy their shows at volumes everyone can enjoy.
3. Front door video security system and an electric door strike: Know exactly who is at the door with a video security system. This type of system connects to a computer monitor, smartphone or tablet so you can see what’s going on in real time. With a telephone or intercom system, you can learn about a visitor’s intentions without opening the door. By installing an electric door strike, you no longer have to worry if you remembered to lock the door because it automatically locks. You then unlock the door with the push of a button, a fob or even your smartphone.
4. Lighting: Good lighting may help improve your quality of life because it can reduce some of the negative changes that aging eyes experience, according to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Consider using lights with motion sensors in strategic places around your home, like bathrooms, garages and hallways.
5. Automated pet items: Automated pet items help make caring for your animal companion a no-brainer. Automatic feeders or pet dishes give your pet the perfect amount of food at the same time every day, so you don’t worry about cutting an evening short to feed her. Water bowls have also gone high-tech with fountain-like devices that have filters to keep the water fresh. If you have a cat that’s litter box-trained, consider a self-cleaning litter box. These litter boxes sense when a pet enters and leaves, and automatically scoop the waste into a dedicated bin.
While it’s not exactly “The Jetsons,” the futuristic homes that people once dreamed about are here today. When thinking about technologies to install in your home, keep in mind that the best investments are in devices that are user-friendly or worth your time to learn.