The so called silver technology to support an aging America is proliferating by leaps and bounds, from AI to robot assistants. But as the high tech takes the headlines, don’t forget the low tech as we make our plans to age in place, remodeling the old homestead to support this.
According to AARP, nothing beats the family home. A recent survey shows that three-quarters of adults aged 50+ would like to age in place. These people want to stay in their houses and be embedded in their communities for as long as possible.
The good news is that aging in place is now more doable than ever, with step-by-step guides and even age in place infographics to show the way. Caregivers in the home or area can offer support. The house itself can be adapted to be more aging-friendly. Finally, there’s a lot of high-tech gadgets on the market designed to make life easier for seniors and their caregivers.
What is Home?
What does aging at home mean in a practical sense? For some, home is wherever your loved ones are. These seniors may thrive when they move in with family or dear friends. They can receive round-the-clock support while building stronger bonds. Some of these older adults move into their own room, while others may keep more independence by moving into an accessory dwelling unit or a finished basement.
But some people want to grow old in the same house they’re already comfortable in. They have decades of happy memories tied to the place and can’t imagine anywhere else feeling like home. These seniors may sacrifice the round-the-clock support of living with a caregiver. However, they can enjoy a house with plenty of space that’s set up just as they like it.
What about seniors who call a specific part of the country home? They often show flexibility in where they live if it’s still close to friends, their church, their favorite walking trails, etc. These seniors will cheerfully move into smaller, more affordable places as long as they’re in the right zip code.
This may be a good fit for highly independent and active seniors, but what happens as they age? What if they have a health crisis? It can be a real concern, especially for people living in rural areas with spotty cell phone signals. Caregivers may want to discuss with their loved ones how they can stay in communication and how to handle emergencies.
Low-Tech Home Improvements
Lower tech items usually focus on mobility, fall prevention, and making the tasks of daily life easier. It’s often helpful (though not always financially practical) to do one big renovation at the start. This means less disruption to the senior’s schedule. There’s also no scrambling for solutions if the senior’s health or mobility suddenly changes.
Useful low tech options include:
- nonslip stickers or mats on the bathtub, in front of sinks, and by the front door
- grab bars by the bed, toilet, tub, or their favorite armchair
- moving light switches to convenient wheelchair height
- installing a ramp over the front steps
- widening doorways and removing door sills
- exchanging thick carpets and loose rugs for hardwood or low pile carpeting
- moving sprinkler water lines to prevent tripping
- buying a grabber reaching tool that’s light enough for the senior to easily handle
AARP offers a number of resources to help seniors and their caregivers figure out the right configuration of low-tech improvements, including a comprehensive HomeFit Guide.
High-Tech Aging Supports
Aging-friendly, high-tech products tend to fall into two categories. You have gadgets and apps such as life alert devices that offer specific solutions, and then there’s tech with broad applications that can help the senior in a number of ways.
The high tech market is overflowing with options, ranging from smart pill dispensers that track complex medication schedules and note if a dose is missed, or enhancing the kitchen with gadgets like automatic can openers, to installing smart lights and door locks that can be operated by voice command or app.
It makes sense to set up high-speed internet and make sure there’s good coverage in the house and yard, and perhaps install a sophisticated home automation system like Alexa Smart Home or Google Nest. It may be useful to invest in shut-off devices that can turn off the stove if the senior leaves it on.
With a senior’s permission, caregivers or family may want to explore remote monitoring services to check in on a loved one. Setting up and teaching seniors how to use telehealth services, online hospital portals and the burgeoning array of online services will be useful. One place to start may be with virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa.
Aging in place can be a real challenge for both seniors and their caregivers. It can also be incredibly rewarding. Older adults who want to stay home may be more comfortable and more connected to loved ones, and get more out of their later years. Both high and low tech solutions can make aging in place possible for many seniors, taking some of the burden off of caregivers and bringing peace of mind to both sides.