July 2023 Special Needs Living Akron/Canton

Professional Perspective

Empowering Independence. How smart home technology can enhance life at home.

BY JARED CHEVRAUX

You’ve probably noticed that just about every product offered for your home is being integrated with “smart” features. While I haven’t yet found the need for my toaster to be connected to WiFi, the advancement in connected devices and systems is having a positive impact in adapting homes to promote independence for those living with disabilities. What were once specialized systems with costly installation and service fees are now off-the-shelf, consumer-grade electronics that most families can set up on their own. These options also offer more privacy and control than some third-party monitoring services that may be a bit too invasive for many people. In this article, I will share some of my favorite products that make life a bit easier at home and provide some peace of mind for family members.

Power Door Operators – While you won’t find a power door operator on the shelf at Best Buy, these systems have vastly improved in the residential sector. Both swing and slidingstyle doors can now be made to open automatically. The units from AutoSlide offer apps for your smartphone and can also be paired with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control. They even feature “pet modes” that can allow your furry companion to let itself in and out of the house.

Doorbell Cameras – Doorbell cameras and floodlight cameras from companies like Ring and Nest are a great way to see who is on your property and communicate with them without unlocking the door. If mobility is an issue, a doorbell cam used in conjunction with a smart deadbolt can allow someone to unlock the door for a visitor without physically going to the door. Doorbells can also be answered remotely, so families can get set up as a user and keep an eye on things from anywhere.

Touch and Voice-Operated Faucets – Just about any water source within the home can be operated by touch or voice when paired with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The new shower systems are also programmable so the shower can be set to the user’s preferences and turned on automatically on a set schedule. Moen, Delta, and Kohler are all offering great options for the kitchen, bathroom sink, and shower.

Water Leak Detection Systems – An often-overlooked area of concern for a homeowner living with a disability is the ability to turn off systems in the home during emergencies. Electrical is covered with the breaker panel and GFCI outlets which are all part of the building code. Water lines, on the other hand, typically do not have a failsafe or backup built into the system. With water leak detection systems, you can be alerted when a leak is detected in the house. Most systems offer several sensors that can be placed where leaks are common – near the hot water tank, under the kitchen sink, in the bathroom vanity, etc. I would recommend a system that has the ability to automatically shut off the main water line when a leak is detected, like Flo by Moen. This feature can save thousands of dollars in damages and keep things safe and dry until a family member or plumber can arrive.

Motion Sensors and Smart Plugs from Smart Alert Tech – The small motion sensors and smart plugs offered by Smart Alert Tech are my favorite products on this list. These patented devices have an alert feature that isn’t offered anywhere else. By downloading the free app to your smartphone, you can set up push notifications for when an event that is supposed to take place doesn’t happen. For example, if your son or daughter lives alone and leaves for work every Monday morning at 8:00 AM, you’ll be notified if the front door doesn’t open between 7:50 – 8:10 (or whatever timeframe you set). They’re so customizable! You can add as many users to be notified as you want, with no monthly monitoring fees. Do you know someone who takes medication several times daily? Place a motion sensor in the medicine cabinet and set your timeframes for each dosage. If the cabinet is not opened when it should be, you’ll get a notification on your phone. Then, you can call or text your loved one to remind them to take their medication. The applications are almost limitless and, at a one-time cost of around $150.00 each, you can set up several sensors or plugs in the home and sync them to anyone’s routine. Remember, these devices only alert you during a “non-event”, meaning you’ll only get a push notification when something that should have happened does not happen. There is no thirdparty monitoring and no cameras being accessed by an unknown employee of a monitoring service. The notification goes straight to you.

When paired with the right accessible home modifications, smart home tech can offer peace of mind for families and greatly improved independence at home for many individuals. Thanks to these systems being sold to the public in masse as luxury and convenience, the price of entry is much lower than even a few years ago. I hope some of these products can help boost independence and quality of life for someone special in your life and, as always, please reach out to me with any questions on making the homework for you and your family’s unique situation.