by Growing Needs | Oct 9, 2024 | Digital & Technology, Services
Back in March, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee outlined plans to introduce assistive technology and products to HDB flats, saying that there is a pressing need to prepare for a society in which Singapore has more seniors, and to help them live independently.
HDB will arrange for commercial vendors to offer these packages, he said, adding that more details will be released at a later date. Technology is especially apt in a fast ageing society like Singapore, to increase the autonomy and independence of seniors, allowing them to age better.
Smart home technology is of growing interest and one’s independence wanes as they get older due to increased dependence on caregivers and family members for their day to day needs. The issue comes when the caregiver or family member is not there to provide support and when they simply do not have the bandwidth to care for a loved one.
The concept of a smart home is not new, there has been a spotlight on assistive products for seniors and increased emphasis on the education portion of it to educate caregivers and seniors about assistive tools and gerontechnology, or gerontech – technology to enhance the safety, comfort and independence of seniors.
This article explores the best home technology gadgets for seniors – to live safer at home, boost their comfort and enhance their independence.
Seniors are often unsure of the help they require and unaware of the technology that is available to them, and thus, many of them resort to staying at home due to a fear of falling. Assistive products and technologies can help enhance safety at home.
Fall detection systems
Interested households can opt for a fall detection package from April 1, arranged by the Housing Board as part of efforts to improve the living environment of seniors and support their ageing in place. One example of a fall detection solution already available is a fall monitor designed by local technology provider iWow. It can be mounted on a wall, and alerts a 24/7 response centre manned by social enterprise SG Assist when it detects that someone has fallen.
Smart doorbells and alarms
With features like live video streaming, motion detection, two-way communication, and integration with smart home systems, smart doorbells and alarms can keep seniors safe from scammers and compromising on safety. These would give caregivers and family members an additional peace of mind when they are not at home.
Smart locks
A digital door lock is simple and accessible – one often just has to use their fingerprints or key in a passcode to unlock the door, removing the need for a physical key. Due to health conditions, seniors might find it more difficult to use a key and this would also reduce the likelihood of misplacing a key.
Smartwatches
Smart watches are wearables that can assist in taking care of one’s health. Be it sending reminders on the time to take medication, having notifications on heart rate and even fall detection, a smartwatch today functions like a personal health assistant.
Smart speakers, voice assistants
Voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant can assist seniors in day to day living and help them become more independent. With calling capabilities, these voice assistants can be used to place phone calls alongside the ability to set reminders for medications.
However, setting up these virtual assistants may require some form of support from family members and caregivers who would need to set up the commands and link the voice assistant to a speaker and home wifi.
Smart kitchen appliances
Smart ovens and microwaves help in creating a safer experience for seniors. Some seniors might shy away from cooking due to fears of forgetting to turn off the stove for example. Smart kitchen appliances can help seniors to remotely set cooking timers, adjust temperatures, which can prevent accidents from happening.
A smart home equipped with smart devices that can make daily living so much easier and safer sounds good right? However, if users ourselves are not equipped to use these technology applications safely, it is better to do without. A smart home also requires smart users. As caregivers or if you’re a family member preparing to get smart home technology gadgets for seniors, it is essential to educate them on not only how to use it but how to use it safely.
Growing Needs grew out of our own encounters with caring for our aging parents and reflecting on the Growing Needs that we ourselves would face as we advance in years. We hope to build a community that will learn, share and contribute towards caring for the growing needs of our loved ones.
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