Assistive Technology

Assistive technology has been a feature of human life since someone thought of using a stick to help himself or herself get around a little better. These days obviously, it’s gone way, way beyond that.

In fact, while it’s easy to think of assistive products like wheelchair ramps, adapted vehicles, grab bars, and easy-to-open door handles, there’s a whole new world of digital possibilities that can help people modify their homes to “age in place.”

“I think a lot of our members would be surprised to learn how many different kinds of products are available to help them stay in their homes,” said Spike Cheever, director of business development for Evolve. “They also might be surprised to learn the ways in which these products can help them.”

For example, take iPads or other larger-sized tablet devices. The size of these devices (as opposed to a smaller phone screen) makes them easy for elderly people to use, and they provide help in a variety of ways: reminders, helping organize daily living, operating other “smart” components in the home, and even contributing to memory care and alleviating loneliness.

For example, high school students in Michigan participated in a project in which they interviewed elderly people showing signs of dementia about their lives, hobbies and interests. The videos were then loaded onto tablets that the seniors can use to help retain those memories.

Tablets can also be used for video chats with distant loved ones. They offer apps that can provide touch-to-speak technology; therapy for cognitive problems, memory retention, and fine-motor skills; and ways to extend personal functionality as those motor skills decline.

Then there’s the device that can chat with you itself: virtual assistants, also sometimes called smart speakers. Whether you choose to interact with Alexa, Google, Siri, or another assistant, these devices can help seniors’ daily lives in myriad ways.

People use their assistants to provide daily reminders to do chores, take medications on time, or remember appointments. They can ask the assistant questions about the weather or local and national news. They can surf the internet and listen to sports scores.

“There’s a real value to a person in having someone to talk to in the home, even if it’s an Alexa device,” Cheever said.

Tablets and digital assistants also can be linked to security and monitoring systems, another digital frontier that improves daily living for many seniors. People can see who’s at the front door using an iPad integrated with a doorbell camera, and even talk to that person if they need to, without having to get up.

That’s not all. Relatives can use cameras installed in a home’s interior to make sure their loved one is safe. Automatic door openers help people in wheelchairs or who use a walker enter and exit their homes more safely. And features like remote door lockers and home systems control panels keep a home safe and secure, even from a distance.

Of course, there will always be a need for manual assistive devices like grabbers, can and bottle openers, sturdy step stools, and other household aids. But embracing the technological frontier, though it can be intimidating, can yield abundant peace of mind for families with aging loved ones.

And Evolve can help! We can assess your particular needs, make recommendations, and find the contractors to do whatever job you need. Contact us now for more information.