Seventy-five percent of elderly Americans want to live out their golden years from the comfort of their own home, but aging at home safely often requires more caregiving support than families can provide alone, and professional in-home care can be costly.
To bridge the gap, a new generation of age tech is stepping in. The devices, many outfitted with AI, help monitor and support health and safety, aiding older adults’ independence and giving loved ones greater peace of mind.
Caregiving gets an update
One example is Sensi AI, a little white box that constantly listens for signs of danger.
- It monitors movement, speech patterns, and deviations in a person’s regular routine (e.g., a new cough or too much time spent in a bathroom).
- Caregivers can request transcripts and receive automatic alerts when the AI hears trigger words like “fall” or “help.”
There’s also JubileeTV, a smart TV with a built-in camera that can be controlled remotely, and AI companions like ElliQ, which can help with everything from medication reminders and managing appointments to solving crossword puzzles.
They’re not necessarily cheap (JubileeTV costs ~$800) but far more affordable compared to nursing home care, which averages $10k a month in the US, per Business Insider.
The biggest trade-off…
… is privacy. But for many seniors, the ability to remain independent and comfortable at home seems to outweigh the concerns.
Wired writer Steven Blum, who installed Sensi’s device for his 86-year-old father, said the older Blum, who insisted on staying put in his home, found it “pretty weird” but “worth it.”
Plus:
- Amid a caregiver shortage and rising cost of assisted living, the adoption of age tech might just be necessary, if not inevitable — already, 25% of caregivers are using apps, video platforms, wearables, and other systems to monitor loved ones, per AARP.
- As for those who don’t want to compromise, other solutions have also emerged, like homesharing platforms that match seniors with roommates to make aging in place more affordable and less lonely.
Now, about the 25% of seniors who don’t want to grow old at home… We can only assume they’re all trying to get into the Margaritaville-themed retirement community.
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