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In the realm of technology, our senior and disabled friends and family have often been left in the dark. However, there are new smart home solutions that are specifically designed to empower these users to live with more independence, comfort, and convenience. Our team at SounDesign has partnered with companies that offer smart home devices that are easy to operate for users of all abilities and ages. Here are some of the ways smart homes can aid disabled and elderly homeowners.
Improved convenience is a benefit that many smart homeowners enjoy when they opt for smart home solutions, but for disabled or elderly users, these benefits are necessities for a comfortable life. Homeowners who have been dependent on external help due to chronic illness, visual impairment, or physical immobility can instead use smart home devices in their daily life. Users can control almost every function of the home through the palm of their hand or their voice when connected to a remote center, such as a phone or tablet. Not only can they adjust their home's temperature, check the security cameras, dim the lighting, and switch on the television with a new ease, but they also have the option to access physical and medical data which many smart home devices can track. AI and robot vacuums also keep allergens and irritants out of the home, creating a clean and healthy living space.
For users whose centralized hub is a voice command assistant, managing the home is an entirely hands-free experience, perfect for homeowners with visual impairment or limited mobility. Many seniors prefer to use voice activation due to its ease of use; they can call family members, listen to nostalgic music, close the curtains, and even inquire about the weather with a simple request. Voice command assistants are connected to smart devices and appliances via Bluetooth, so achieving leisure and functionality is just a few words away.
Homeowners with impaired mobility tend to be more concerned with safety; smart security systems can grant them and their loved ones more peace of mind. Many seniors also tend to worry about their well-being and of others, but smart locks, doorbells, and CCTV systems help protect homeowners who want to live independently.
Smart doors can utilize audio or visual cues to notify visually impaired users when the front door has been opened. Smart locks and doorbells monitor the traffic of people entering or exiting the home and can be controlled remotely by multiple individuals through a paired app. This means you can lock the door if your elderly parent forgot, or take note that the nurse arrived right on time. Smart locks are a safer choice over keypads since they can only be accessed via an authorized smartphone instead of a code that anyone can guess. Users have the option to track the identity of who's been home with individualized codes, as well as restrict the number of times someone may enter the home. Smart doorbells are equally helpful for users with limited mobility; many options are equipped with motion-sensor cameras so the homeowner may view, talk to, and unlock the door for guests without leaving their room.
If you’re the family member of a disabled or senior homeowner and you’d like to check in on them unobtrusively, it’s easy to access their CCTV camera system through a paired app on your phone, no matter where you are. Surveillance cameras can be installed outdoors and indoors with the option to send movement alerts to your cellphone. Silent alert systems can also alert external family members if they sense the disabled or elderly homeowner has fallen, is unresponsive, or makes a vocal command for help.
When paired with a smart energy management system, your smart home devices can significantly contribute to energy efficiency through precise controls. Patients with cerebral palsy often have a lower core body temperature, and many find smart thermostats are more effective in responding to their needs for a warmer home than a traditional thermostat. Wheelchair users can also adjust their home's temperature through their smartphone without needing someone to reach a high wall-mounted thermostat.
Smart blinds work to keep the home cool, especially in the summertime, and are easily controlled via a smartphone app, voice assistant, or remote control so no one has to worry about struggling to manually adjust the blinds. Motion-sensor automated lights are useful after nightfall to prevent a painful fall in the dark. These lights can be automated to be used at particular times of day with dimmed brightness to be gentle on the eyes for users who may experience sensory overload.
More companies are developing smart devices specifically for disabled and senior users, including health trackers and smart pill dispensers. Voice assistants can remind users when to attend a doctor’s appointment, take medication, and more. These solutions allow more people to live an empowered, self-sufficient lifestyle. Here at SounDesign, our smart home solutions are designed to grant leisure, control, and more peace of mind for homeowners everywhere. Whether you have questions about indoor CCTV systems or would like to install motion-sensor lighting, contact us today to begin!