A common stereotype portrays older Americans as tech-phobic. Many developers of senior living communities understand that retiring Baby Boomers tend to be tech-savvy. As they search for housing alternatives, they expect technology to enhance their living experience.
The children of Baby Boomers —members of Generation X — often help their parents search for the right retirement community. They may be even more inclined than their parents to look for housing options that use technology to meet the needs of their aging parents.
Health and Wellness
Residence in senior living communities has been associated with longer lifespans. While residents appreciate the safety and tranquility of living in an age-restricted community, they are also attracted to features that promote health and wellness.
Many senior living communities have fitness centers. Residents who appreciate the health benefit of pedaling a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill may wonder whether they are using the machines wisely. Technology allows residents to take control of their exercise regimes. Linking a smartphone or smartwatch to tech-enabled exercise equipment allows residents to monitor their heartrate, measure their progress toward workout goals, and keep a record of their activity levels.
Many newer senior communities and some that are modernizing have installed exercise equipment that provides users with “virtual trainers.” Software embedded in the machines helps exercisers maintain a steady pace while providing personal feedback that encourages them to stay motivated. Programs can be tailored to the senior’s unique needs and abilities, taking into account factors (such as age, weight, and resting heartrate) that determine how strenuous a workout routine should be.
Telemedicine
Many retirement communities provide private rooms equipped with computers that run sophisticated telemedicine software. Rather than arranging transportation for routine doctor visits, seniors can have remote meetings with physicians and nurses to discuss ongoing health issues.
Many systems include devices that allow users to take their own blood pressure, monitor their heartrate, and measure their blood oxygen levels. At least one senior living community uses a companion robot to deliver remote health services to residents.
Smart Home Technology
Smart home technology is frequently incorporated into newly constructed houses. Purchasers of units in retirement communities are increasingly likely to search for the same innovations.
Some smart home devices are designed to make the living environment safer. Fall detection sensors, for example, recognize when a person inside the home has fallen. While seniors might wear or carry portable devices that allow them to call for help when they fall, those devices are only effective if the fall victim is conscious and able to reach them. Detection devices that use radar-based sensors can alert relatives or property managers to a fall even if the resident cannot.
Smart locks provide security while protecting seniors from inconvenience if they lock a door but forget to bring their key. Smart locks can be activated by PIN codes or biometric scans of a retina or fingerprint. While smart locks were once seen only in spy movies, the technology is now in widespread use. In the coming years, retirement communities are likely to replace traditional locks with smart locks as they modernize their units.
Doorbell cameras are another innovation that many homeowners have adopted. In retirement communities, a doorbell camera allows a resident to look at a smartphone and identify a person at the door before answering the bell.
Smart appliances make life easier for seniors. Voice-activated ovens, microwaves, and dishwashers save consumers the trouble of remembering which button to push to achieve a desired result. A touchscreen built into a refrigerator door can be used to make a note of shopping needs and to display recipes. Refrigerator touchscreens can even be programmed to alert a resident when a product stored in the refrigerator is about to spoil.
Smart lights and outlets are a step up from the Clapper that was once a standard of afternoon television commercials. Rather than clapping to turn a light on or off, the resident merely voices a command. Smart bulbs can be activated from a smartphone and programmed to turn on at a fixed time of day.
Virtual Reality
Community centers within a senior-living environment offer a place for residents to meet and mingle. Residents who want to take a break from the community without worrying about transportation can take advantage of virtual reality headsets. There is some evidence that VR improves wellbeing in seniors who suffer from dementia.
A “VR room” in a retirement community gives seniors the chance to visit new places, meet with friends and family members who live in other cities, and practice meditation or relaxation techniques. Residents can share virtual experiences with other residents and with headset-owning friends who live outside the community, creating more opportunities to socialize as a safeguard against loneliness and depression.