Technology is helping seniors to age in place

Mel Washburn is a former firefighter, professor and litigation attorney. Whether fighting fires in a building, a classroom or the courtroom, he realized once he retired that 90% of his social life had revolved around work.

Washburn, 77, knew he needed to find a way to build a social network in retirement. Washburn also knew that he and his wife, Pam, 75, wanted to continue living independently in their own home.

He quickly learned that technology could play a vital role in accomplishing both goals.

Early members of The Village Chicago, a membership-based organization whose purpose is to connect and improve the quality of life of Chicagoans over 50, the Washburns now socialize through both in-person and Zoom events. And they rely on technology to maintain a safe environment at home.

The Washburns are part of a growing demographic. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2050 more than 2 billion people will be 60 and older. The United States is also changing. According to Rodney Harrell, vice president of family, home and community for AARP, “In 2034, we will have more folks over 50 than under 18 for the first time.”

“A vast majority of folks want to stay in their home as they age,” Harrell said. And technology, increasingly, is making that possible, from touchless faucets to voice-controlled lights.

However, as Harrell points out, only 1% of homes have features that would help them age in place.

“Technology can’t do everything but plays an amazing role,” he said.

Felice Eckhouse, founder of Elderspaces, a Chicago business that helps clients design and modify homes so that they can age in place, said, “The smartphone is the driver behind a lot of digital resources, from hearing aids to security systems, lighting systems, door entry, to appliances in the kitchen.” Still, she pointed out, “We need a space we’re not retrofitting before you can get to the gadgets.”

Smartphones also offer basic help with everyday tasks and communication.

“I still use technology in all the normal ways. If I need to look up something, I look it up online,” Mel Washburn said. “I would have a severe case of boredom without my phone: news, books, calling people.”

His wife, Pam, who lives with multiple sclerosis, relies heavily on her smartphone as a daily communication tool.

Getting started

Identifying tech solutions for people who live in an ill-suited home may feel like a chicken-and-egg problem. This is because a lot of technology demands high-speed internet, which is not universal, notes Laurie Orlov, principal analyst for Aging and Health Technology Watch, an industry research firm.

Once internet service is in place, however, Orlov said a vast range of options, such as voice-based technologies, motion-detecting cameras and sensors can be used “for predictive analytics to identify a potential problem and make the world as safe as possible.”

But not everyone is tech savvy.

Mel Washburn remembers dictaphones and secretary pools, but he also experienced evolving technology over 28 years as a partner in a large law firm. Not everyone is as comfortable embracing new devices.

Orlov said that although many older people have become comfortable with some level of technology, many want to keep what they have, while the tech industry forces change. Phones are a prime example.

“Most people aren’t updating their phones as fast as the updates are coming,” Orlov said. Eventually, this leads to disabled, older devices, like phones that worked on 3G networks but no longer run on 5G. As a result, “Baby boomers will be just as frustrated” as the generation that came before, she said.

She said she loves apps like Noom and MyFitnessPal, which help seniors track their personal nutrition and exercise routines. These are simply another way technology can help seniors maintain healthy, independent lives.

Finding answers

Sorting through all of the apps and technologies available can be dizzying, but organizations like AARP and Caring.com offer critical information.

What works for one person may not work for another. In some cases, “technology isn’t always the best solution,” said Jim Rosenthal, CEO of Caring.com.

“The problem we face now,” according to Willie Gunther, executive director of Illinois Assistive Technology Program, “is that seniors need to be educated on what’s possible and as soon as possible before it becomes an emergency.”