LIFESTYLE
A Little Something Extra
Voice-activated Technology Enhances Aging at Home with Jane Kelley at Blakeford at Green Hills According to recent studies by AARP, three out of four adults age fifty and older want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. Nearly one in six own a home assistant device (i.e., Amazon Alexa or Google Home). Are there new ways to live at home and avoid a move? How is voice-activated technology making it easier and safer to do so? A New Way to Age In Place One option for aging in place is joining a Continuing Care at Home (CCAH) program, which is a membership plan for healthy adults who want to continue living at home and includes wellness benefits and future long-term care benefits. More importantly, CCAH programs provide a sense of community while aging at home. As many seniors are becoming members of CCAH programs, they are also adopting voice-activated technology to solve some of the health and security risks that were previously related to living at home. From medication reminders to online shopping and ambient music, voice-activated technology helps address seniors’ everyday concerns and enhance their independence, at home. Smart Home Automation Smart home automation can make living independently at home convenient and help with the everyday tasks of home management. From smart thermostats to light switches, many modern home appliances respond to the sound of your voice. This means a safer home: regulated temperature levels throughout each season and instant lights for a night trip to the bathroom. You can even manage your grocery list and refrigerator through this technology by using voice commands to check what you currently have in stock at home, add to your list, and place grocery delivery orders. Seniors can choose to update individual appliances with voiceactivated technology or purchase a smart home hub that connects all the devices and appliances in your home and responds to voice commands. Entertainment Harold and Alice Smith, a Nashville couple who are members of LiveWell By Blakeford, a local Continuing Care at Home program, utilize voice-activated technology in multiple areas of their life at least three times per day, but their favorite is for entertainment. Alice frequently asks their Amazon Alexa to tell the “Joke of the Day,” and 46 MAY 2021
Celebrating 10 Years
Harold uses voice commands on their television to find his team’s basketball game and set reminders for when it’s about to start. Many people also use their home assistant devices to play music, perform internet searches, place online shopping orders, or listen to the news. Communication with Family and Friends Most adults use their home assistant device or mobile phone to voice call, video call or text message loved ones without having to pick up a phone. For hands-free texting, you can ask the device to text message a person and dictate the message out loud. This is useful when driving in the car, when your hands are messy while cooking or cleaning, or in case of an emergency when you cannot get to your phone. Scheduling and Time Management Home assistant devices are the perfect vessels to set reminders of tasks, events or appointments, and the devices can read those items back to you each day. Using your voice, you can also set timers for cooking or exercise or make a to-do list.
