Home Automation for Seniors

Last updated on June 11th, 2020 at 09:47 pm

The term “Home Automation” encompasses a wide variety of gadgets and devices that can make life a bit easier for all of us.  Home automation for seniors can vastly improve the quality of life for older Americans.  This new area of technology or “space” as the MBA’s refer to it, includes so many devices that for some, the decision of where to start is baffling.  The new world of “smart” devices continues to grow.

This article will breakdown home automation for seniors into bite-sized pieces so you can decide if you need or want any of the technology in each grouping.  Keep in mind that this is one of the fastest-growing areas of technology and even while this is being written, new devices are being developed in entirely new areas.

Consider that almost anything that is powered by electricity or batteries can be automated to some extent.  Many products are truly helpful, others are a way to dress up old technology with the end result nearly the same as before the new buttons and lights.  One of the best aspects of this new technology is that for the most part, everything is wireless.  Gone are the days when you have to run wires around your home.

Seniors can benefit from home automation

As we get older, we must consider our security.  When you live alone or with another senior, you should have a plan for what happens when X happens.  Some will have physical limitations.  Home automation can make life much easier for a large number of seniors.

Home automation for seniors is a good idea for family as well.  Family members not living with older individuals can gain a small measure of security by knowing that their parents or relatives are protected.

What I mean about being protected is not just security from others but that if there is a medical emergency for example that home automation can alert the appropriate individuals or authorities.

I wrote this article a while ago and since then, medical devices have become affordable and they can help the user, family members,s and doctors monitor people.  In addition to home automation e.g. alarm system, consider obtaining one or more of these key devices that connect to the internet and your cell phone.  I have added a section below.

Home connection hub

You should purchase a single hub that will work with everything you want to install.  If you do this, you can use a cell phone, tablet or computer to set-up and control all smart devices in your home.  I decided upon “SmartThings”.  This device is about the size of a deli sandwich.  You plug it into an outlet and then use a supplied cord to plug the “SmartThings” hub into your existing router.  Apple, Google, Amazon, and others have developed their own “ecosystems” as the experts call these integrated groups of products controlled by a single “hub” or device that itself is controlled by a cell phone, computer or even a voice-activated product.

If you select for example a smart light bulb that has WIFI built into the bulb, you can connect it to SmartThings and use the SmartThings mobile app to control the light.  Not only can you turn it on and off manually, but you can program it to come on then off later.  You can set it to turn on and off multiple times in a single day or every second day for example.  The choices seem to be endless.  This assumes of course that you purchased a lamp compatible with SmartThings or the hub you decided to purchase.  Now that you, have decided on the hub that will control your smart house, the following will discuss major categories of smart products.

Home Security

The home security industry has been dominated by a few companies that have offered wired alarm systems for homes.  Standard equipment and packages include window and door magnetic contact devices.  These “legacy” systems are connected via hardwire to a central facility where a live person generally calls you if an alarm is tripped to verify.  Live attendants will call law enforcement if it appears that there has been a break-in or another emergency.  Some of these firms have their own responders.

Many companies are offering new products that use wireless technology.  This may be a better technology since a potential intruder could cut the hard wire telephone/cable feed to a home.   A wireless connection would continue to function.  Most home security firms offer apps to control the security system from the convenience of your mobile phone.

Technology has advanced so much that you can install your own security system by buying pieces of hardware and connecting them to WIFI based hubs.  For example, you may want to forgo the window sensors in favor of glass break and motion sensors placed strategically around the home.  This will lower the hardware cost.  A single motion sensor can protect a large living room that may have many windows for the cost of one device.  You can connect all of your sensors to your smart device hub as discussed above and use your smartphone to control your alarm system.  Gone are the days of hard wiring the entire house with sensors on all windows.  These services are offered but not necessary as sensors today will broadcast to the central hub in your home then out to a monitoring company.

You may purchase your alarm system in pieces, set it up, and decide that you want live monitoring.  There are firms that will provide various packages for live monitoring on a monthly fee basis using the equipment that you have already installed.  Be aware that the full-service alarm companies will want a long term contract if they install equipment at no cost to you.

Be sure that if technology improves that they will replace old or outdated equipment at no cost to you including batteries in remote sensors.  A feature of the new alarm systems that you can install on your own (or have someone do it for you) is that you can permit friends and family to have access to your system via an app on their mobile phone.  Perhaps you just want your adult daughter to be warned if there is a door open, this can be done through the app.

Having an alarm system may not be sufficient in itself.  Remember alarms only go off if someone breaches the set parameters e.g. opens a door.  What about people around your home who may want to take a package on your doorstep?  The next section although part of home security is another level of peace of mind.

Cameras

Having cameras on the exterior of your home will help supplement your security measures inside the home.  One of the most popular items is a doorbell camera.  These are easy to install, you simply place it where the old wired button was located, provided this is a good position for the camera.  You can use the bell wires to provide power to the camera.  When someone presses the button on your device, the inside bell rings as usual but you will also receive a notification on your smartphone.  At this point, you can use your smartphone to view and listen to the person at the door and speak to that person if you so choose.

Doorbell cameras can forestall a break-in, capture film of someone taking your package, or let you decide if you want to talk with the person soliciting something.  Most systems will save the video to the cloud with a monthly or annual fee in the event you want to give the Police a copy of the video.  Doorbell cameras can connect to your smart hub as well permitting others to have access when you want the family to see what you see.

Exterior cameras can be installed at higher points around your home where you can receive a 365-degree view of the exterior through the placement of multiple cameras.  Some of these cameras are motion-sensitive and some come with bright lights.  Most exterior cameras will be compatible with your hub device.  One (there are perhaps many) has a speaker in the outside camera where you can warn the intruder away.

Placement of cameras inside the home can be beneficial if a family member wants to check on their children or seniors wellbeing when they are away.  Most cameras will work with the hub and cellphones for remote access.  Some are equipped with microphones and speakers so you can have a conversation with someone.  This is helpful if you are checking on kids that are being babysat while you are away.  You can check on your pets as well, are they eating?

Communication

Remember hard-wired telephones?  You may have one with your local internet provider.  While they are indeed hard-wired, they are using internet technology for voice communication.  Many people are cutting the cord and using mobile telephones instead.  For some Seniors perhaps a mobile telephone does not provide the security they desire.  You have options now.  You can purchase Ooma which is an internet device that connects to the internet and then to a regular telephone.  911 and national calling access is available without paying a real telephone bill, all you pay is local taxes.

Another great option is  Amazon’s Echo Show v2 which was just introduced.  This is a device with a 10″ screen that allows you to make a call to your loved ones and others using the internet.  Just say who you want to call and the device calls that person without dialing.  If they have one as well, you can see each other on the generous screen.  It’s an option to replace a phone.  If you were to fall and the device was in the same room, you could tell it to call someone.

Google, Amazon, and Apple among others also have voice-activated communication devices similar to cell phones.  These devices sit on a table or shelf and listen for commands.  This is great for those who can not get around.  You can ask the time, call a friend, listen to music or, even turn off the outside lights and lock the door.

Door locks

Do you come home from shopping and have your arms full of groceries while trying to fit your key in the lock?  If you install a wireless security door lock on your entrance doors, these issues will be a memory.  While you can tap the buttons on the lock to open the door, most will permit you to use your phone before you leave the car to unlock the door.  Think that is cool, wait until you tell your smart hub to unlock the door anytime you pull into the driveway.

There are many reasons for having keyless locks (by the way you can purchase a wireless door lock that will accept keys as well).  If you are not in the area and believe that your senior parent is having trouble, you can call a neighbor and unlock the door remotely from anywhere.  If you have a plumber come over and you are stuck in traffic, you open the door for the plumber when they call you and state that they are at your door.

If you lose your key, no problem.  If you have children, you can give them a code different from yours.  Codes are simple to change without cost compared to the time when one of your children loses their keys.  With your smart hub, you can see when the door was opened by checking the record.  If you have rental property, you can give the key to the renter and retain the code to the door so you can enter if there is a problem.  No need to rekey if you change tenants if the tenant is using the door code and not the key.

You can program your hub to both unlock the door and turn off the alarm as well and the reverse as well.  If you leave and forgot to lock the door, check your phone and see if it is unlocked.  If so, lock it with your phone.  Frankly, this is a must-have for anyone especially seniors who may need assistance e.g. a fall.  You can tell your voice-activated communication device to open the door.

Light bulbs

Smart light bulbs should be part of your home security program by obtaining smart bulbs or switches and set them to come on and off at specific times or even a random.  Essentially, you can purchase what are called “smart bulbs” that have WIFI circuits in them or you can purchase switches that will control existing lights.  A popular wireless switch is one that replaces a wall switch for controlling outside lights or hallway etc.  These look like the existing switch but connect to your hub through WIFI or another wireless protocol.   Some switches plug into the wall and then you plug in the lamp.  The switch can be controlled by your hub.

Your hub can set any lamp to come on at any time for any time period or vary the time.  The hub can be set to come on at dusk for example to provide interior or exterior light as you arrive home or when you are on vacation.  Virtually any type of light bulb can be controlled by one of these two basic types of switches.

Some bulbs can cast light in various colors depending upon what you have set it to do.  For example, a front door light can be a shade of blue or red or bright white.  All of these bulbs are LED types which means that while they are more costly than regular bulbs they will last for years.  I just purchased on that will last 22 years if it were turned on three hours per day.  That makes the cost less than a penny per day. Bulbs come in the form of spotlights, interior and exterior in all sizes and types.

Thermostat

An excellent way to control heating and air-conditioning in your home and at the same time potentially saving money.  If for example you are on vacation and left the air conditioning turned on, the remote application on your cell phone can shut off the system or change the temperature.  If you are out for the day during the winter and want to come home to a warm home, you can turn on the heat before you leave for home.  Most of these devices simply replace the one on the wall.  Many are programmable so that you can have them set to come on or go off at specific times.  In addition to pre-sets, you can always control them remotely.

The better ones on the market are connected to WIFI or through your hub.  They receive weather information from the National Weather Service or other provider and display outside temperature on the device and your mobile phone.  This can help you decide if you need to turn the system on or off.  You can use one of the voice-activated devices mentioned above to control your thermostat as well.  No need to run upstairs to adjust the heater, just tell your device to do it.

Irrigation

One of the better applications of smart devices.  I have one that is connected via my hub and my mobile phone.  It connects like any other irrigation controller by controlling each zone.  As with the smart thermostat, these smart irrigation controllers connect to your hub and WIFI to pull weather data which is used to determine if watering is needed that day.  You can set up the device in many ways e.g. water every other day, start at one time off another time, length of time the valve is open, etc.

You can use the reliable weather mode.  If for example your device was set to water today and it rains, the device will not water today.  With non-connected models, you have to manually turn off the water.  If you are out of town and have no way to turn off the watering, you could be the only one in the neighborhood who waters your lawn in a downpour.  I use my mobile phone when I am working on my sprinklers e.g. when I run over one and have to adjust the sprayer.  I turn on the valve and work on the sprayer until its good then use the phone to turn off the system.  It’s a long walk around to the garage every time I want to see how my adjustment worked.

Medical Devices

If you have a smartphone, you can obtain a thermometer from Withings that takes your body temperature simply by holding it near your forehead.  The information goes to your cell phone and it can be accessed by anyone you permit to.

Check your pulse with another Withings product.  Put the cuff on your arm and push the button.  It will take your blood pressure and save it to your phone again for use by you and others.

Diabetics can buy a product from the Apple store that permits taking a blood teste and transmitting it to your phone and your doctor or others.

I could add many more products here but just as this would be published, more will be added.  If you need any monitoring, check to determine if you can buy a product that can connect to the internet.  Some applications work on your phone and computer that use all of this information.

Other Devices

There are too many to comment on so here is a list.

• Voice control
• Vents
• Valves
• Panic button
• Refrigerators
• Microwave ovens
• Speakers
• Garage Door Opener
• Smoke detectors& alarms
• Shades/Blinds
• Sensors
• Remotes and buttons
• Outlets
• Other

Summary

To wrap up this article, you probably get the picture that home automation using smart devices can improve our lives.  Seniors stand to benefit perhaps more than most because not only can they directly benefit from items such as door locks, but their loved ones can gain access to the senior’s smart home to understand if their aging parents or relatives are doing well.

Let’s say that a concerned Son opens the app on his phone and determines that his aging father’s front door is unlocked.  He can lock it.  He can access a camera and see that his Dad is watching TV and tell his dad over the built-in speaker that he just locked the door.  Of course, he can see that his Dad is doing well.

One of the devices in the other category is remote.  You can program remotes to sound an alarm or send alerts to designate phones for example.  If you have a friend or relative who is ill and you are concerned, you can place remotes around the home or pin on clothing.  The remote can be programmed to do a variety of things from sounding an audible alarm to contacting you if pressed. You can also use your voice-controlled device to sound an alarm.

You can also be notified if a smoke detector or alarm goes off.  Perhaps there is a small kitchen fire.  You can then go to the kitchen camera and determine if there is a need to call 911 or go over.  While other devices and programs can do this, it’s the simplicity that Echo Show offers for instant no-hassle communication.  If your parents are technology challenged, this device is for them.

If you want to get started with a home automation project make a list of product categories you want to install e.g. door locks.  Then visit websites of major hub manufacturers which include among others, SmartThings, Apple, Google, Samsung, Amazon  After you have determined which hub you want, go to that device website and determine what items you want to connect in the categories you have selected.  Remember some hub makers prefer you to use their products or products that will only work with their hubs.

Research the features you want in a device.  For example, door locks which are a bit more personal than say smoke detectors will have more choices, texture, color, size, dead bold vs lock, key vs no key, touch screen vs buttons etc.  Do you want one for each door or just the entrance door?

After you have confirmed that your selections all work with the selected hub, shop for them at hardware stores, online, electronics stores, and specialty stores e.g. plumbing supply houses.  Be aware that some utility companies give rebates for devices.  Water companies may have a rebate for a WIFI irrigation controller.  Power and Gas companies may have rebates for wireless thermostats.   Check websites for all utilities and local governments for rebates.  Some people may be able to deduct the cost of devices for medical or business purposes. Some neighborhoods are in transition and not necessarily a safe place for seniors to live.

If you are a senior or a family member with seniors in these neighborhoods, the use of exterior safety devices may be warranted.  You can purchase this equipment at Sams and Costco along with other big box stores and online.  I recommend that you go to a big box store and allow the salesperson to explain what is available.

Virtually everything described here can be installed in your home with minimum effort.  You can find Utube videos on installing almost all home automation devices and troubleshooting as well.   Or, you could just call a vendor to do it all.

I suggest that if you are comfortable doing the research that you start with CNET, it is an online magazine that reviews all things electronic.  You can research categories or products.  They have videos on how the products work.