Sleep Tracking Without a Wearable
I wanted a way to track sleep without having to use a “wearable”, because I thought that would be preferable for the “loved one” I was researching this for. Here is the solution I evaluated. It worked well for me.
What is it: Devices, Tools, Objects
Devices, Tools, Objects relating to better quality life as grow older.
Hearing Loss and Loud TV: Explorer Report
Problem: My wife has lost some of her hearing and she turns up the TV volume loud to hear. Solution: We bought a BeHear Proxy Neck Speaker and a HearLink Plus in a bundle. Here is my report of our experience with this product thus far. Research: My research suggested we first try … Read more
Robotic Pets for Dementia Patients: Our Experiences
Caption: Memory Care Unit Robotic Pet Menagerie Wondering if “Robotic Pets for Seniors” are a good idea? Here is a real world report of the author’s experience deploying robotic pets for dementia patients in an assisted living and memory care facility in San Francisco (Rhoda Goldman Plaza). Read on to learn how they were used, what the reactions … Read more
Making It Easier to Command Alexa
Remembering the specific name of lights in each room can prove difficult, even when we use them daily! Here are solutions to that issue.
Aging in Place: Why Technology & Gadgets Matter
In my mind, there is a compelling argument that the right gadgets and technology can make aging in place more successful and less expensive. And by more successful, I am thinking in particular of higher quality of life, more autonomy, and less dependence on the kindness of strangers. I don’t think this argument gets made much in the media or by the aging services industry though. So here it is.
Smart Bathroom Features for Older Adults
Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash As part of our “Smart Home Features for Older Adults” series, we are sharing some specific recipes and “kit lists” for individual smart home features — organized on a “room by room” basis. Overview This article covers several smart bathroom features that author Frank Engelman has found useful for family members … Read more
Alexa Calendaring
A partial solution to this problem is to create an Alexa Calendar for your parent. Here is a detailed "How to" published by Frank Engelman on Tech-enhanced Life.
Add a Calendar to Alexa for Your Parent
This solution is for people who want to be able to help a parent with appointments; or possibly enter joint appointments into a calendar that they are able to see; or generally facilitate them being able to use Alexa for calendaring issues.
Simple Shared Calendaring for Distant Parent
It’s a common situation: an aging parent starts needing help from family members organizing things like doctors visits, or other care-related or social activities. How do you set up and maintain some type of mutually convenient, calendaring solution that maintains the right balance between “collaborating” and “helping” and “keeping things simple”?
Hearing: TV or Movies
Ever have trouble understanding what TV or movie characters are saying over the background music? Know anyone who turns the TV up so loud that it is annoying? We are exploring gadgets that can help in situations like this. Ideally without being ugly, stigmatizing, or super expensive — if you don’t feel hearing aids are … Read more