Aging by Design

Just a short while ago, the idea of self-driving cars, Uber, Airbnb, 3-D printed kidneys and a phone that controls much of your life seemed completely foreign.

Life is changing exponentially quickly with the advent of new technologies; these monumental changes also apply to how and where we can age.

It is now possible to live safely at home vs. live IN a home. How do I know you ask? I have been designing senior living facilities for over 25 years and over the last few years I started an aging in-place social experiment of my own by moving my parents and grandmother in with my husband and daughter. The challenge was simple, could we utilize technology to help my parents and grandmother with dementia age in-place, while making it a beneficial environment for everyone under our roof?

The results have been shockingly positive, and they’ve made me a markedly better advocate for the seniors I serve when designing senior living homes. 

If you’re like me, you worry more about not being able to take care of yourself as you age than actually dying. While I love staying at a wonderful hotel, I want to be in control of when I go to bed, my visitors, when and what I eat, and have the complete freedom to come and go as I please.  Most people share this sentiment, not to mention the need and desire to avoid outrageously high long-term care costs, both of these combined is what has many so interested in the topic of aging in-place.

In our social experiment we have engaged sensors, artificial intelligence, robots, crowdsourcing, gamification, LED Lighting and more to help our family live together safely and age in-place. 

If it sounds really complicated, let me assure you that it’s not.  I am convinced that if you want to, you can safely live at home vs. IN a home. To be clear, please don’t think this is for everyone, some folks want to move into one of the many beautiful resort style senior living homes our company designs. The staff is great, the environment both beautiful and safe. But, for those that want to define freedom on their own terms, technology has finally caught up with our needs to age in-place wherever we choose.

To simplify this, lets break down the technology we use in our home. 

• Sensors & Wearables

We use Fitbits, Kardia, Nest, NuHeara IQ buds, and Coco Bidet toilets seats. These technologies help keep us healthy and increase independence. The Fitbits help to encourage us to move more, essential in maintaining the physical strength to stay somewhat independent. Kardia is an FDA approved EKG device about the size of a credit card that with a single touch of a finger can predict a heart attack or stroke 5 days in advance. I recommended it to someone and the day after using Kardia they had triple bypass surgery which saved their life. Nest helps to regulate the temperature in our home and has cameras to ensure my grandma’s safety when we are not at home. IQ buds are earbuds that help to hear in noisy situations and connect directly with the TV or phone.  The best technology in this category that we have used is by far the Coco bidet toilet seats. They are heated, antibacterial, wash your bum and blow it dry.  It’s like living at the Ritz and does wonders to maintain control of your privacy as you age. 

• Artificial Intelligence

Alexa is our personal assistant, personal shopper, DJ, searcher of lost phones, temperature and light controller, newsman, weatherman and comedian.  The Amazon Echo – Powered by Alexa is the newest member to our family.  “Alexa” is the persona you talk to similar to an I-phones “Siri.”  She is connected to Amazon, so she can do more and more each day as she learns about you.  I am considering getting a Samsung Family Smart Hub refrigerator and if I do, she will be connected to my fridge and help me order groceries. Alexa is a mash up of Rosie the Robot from the Jetsons meets Jarvis from Iron Man. 

• Robots

Technically, Alexa is a robot but I am referring more to the physical kind of robot. We have two in our home currently.  Right now, we can have our grass cut, pool cleaned, floors swept and enjoy a companion pet.  Our pool service bills have dropped by more than 75% because of the Dolphin, and it always shows up on time, never complains and does a fantastic job. We also use a companion cat and dog to keep my grandmother who is 95 with dementia company when we are not in the room.  I was a bit skeptical on companion pets at first, but she loves them and chats up a storm.  It’s amazing that robots can provide, comfort, connection and a safety for very little cost.

• Crowd-sourcing

Crowd-sourcing is a fancy name for getting someone else to help you for a small price. It may be using Uber to get a ride to the doctors or pharmacy or finding someone to help clean, cook, mow the yard or pay the bills. There are now so many different options available from Task Rabbit, Fiverr, Uber and Lyft to good old fashion Craigslist.  You can employ these folks safely and increase your freedom, all the while paying for only what you need.

• Gamification

AARP has one of the highest rankings for online games on Google. Playing games and competing against others is fun and healthy, especially when you add exercise.  Fitbit and Wii fit are fantastic examples of how games can help you stay active without having to go into a home and sit in a large room while someone yells BINGO!

• LED Lighting

We use LED lighting on sensors to regulate our sleep, notify us if grandma has left a space and control the lights to make it look like we’re home when we may not be. Connected lighting helps provide safety and security and is a must for aging in-place.

Ultimately, there is no perfect solution, or one-size-fits-all environment.  Just as we are entering into an age where we have personalized medicine, we now have choices of how and where we can age and the best option is often a combination of the old and new school thoughts.

Figure out what works for you from a need standpoint - both emotional and financial - and then live as you want, where you want.   

What’s the most important thing I discovered though my aging in-place social experiment? Technology has put us in control of our destiny. 

Lisa M. Cini – Transformational Living Expert
https://lisamcini.com/home

www.MosaicDesignStudio.com
A global senior living design, project management and procurement company, Mosaic’s mission is to "Improve Quality of Life By Design."

www.BestLivingTech.com
Curated products to Embrace Living as we age.  Think Sharper Image meets AARP!