Aging in Place with Modern Technology

Aging in place, by textbook definition, is “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely“, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level”. The term is more often than not associated with the elderly. For them, it’s more like “aging in peace”: the ability to carry on with their life without their family members bothering them to change their lifestyle or move into a retirement home. Aging in place is an increasingly relevant topic of our generation, since 90% of adults above their 60s claim to prefer their old residence to independent living facilities. Even though technology can make a senior’s wish come true and enable them to maintain their lifestyle, they must accept some changes and adapt themselves if they want to continue their independent life.

It goes without saying that medical alert systems and home security systems are all monitoring technologies, belonging into the safety and securitycategory of technologies for aging in place. Medical alert systems in particular are the safekeepers of independent seniors. Don’t think about monitoring technology as a peeping eye that follows you around, but instead you should regard it as a safety net. Medical alert systems and home security systems both share a common trait, namely that they’re monitored by a staff of highly trained response agents. Their duty is to answer any incoming emergency calls, assess the situations and take the necessary actions, like notifying the ambulance about a stroke victim or call the police when someone tries to break in.