The things that make life fun, and more than just getting by, relating to better quality life as grow older.
One of the Longevity Explorers found a problem when her mother (in a nursing home) kept inadvertebtly touching the screen of her Echo Show, disrupting the video call. Here is my solution to that problem.
Caption: My Samsung Z Flip 3 Mobile Phone. Here are my experiences with two mobile phones I have used over the last 6 months. From my perspective (a tech-savvy older adult), one was really bad. The other was “OK”, but definitely not “for everyone”. Read about my experiences below. Google PIXEL 5. … Read more
I wanted a solution that not only “detected” when there was a water leak at my elderly parent’s house, but also could automatically shut off the water in certain situations before major damage occured. Here is my DIY solution, using sensors and a controllable valve.
We want to avoid water leaks altogether. Or, if that is not feasible, we want to get alerted as soon as possible after a water leak starts leaking, so we can intervene and minimize damage.
I love all things tech and for most of my life have been an early adapter. I'm in my third iteration of "smart home" devices. We're now to the sweet spot of phone apps, smart switches, lights, appliances and environment control enabled via home network and "the cloud" when away from home. When things go well, … Read more
Photo by Jonas Leupe 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. This is about the smart living room. Overview This article covers several smart living room features that … Read more
We have intensely automated lights and devices in our home with Alexa, and in most instances voice control is a wonderful substitute when painful backs and hips and legs discourage us from getting up to go turn things on and off etc.But I use a CPAP machine and mask at night for sleep apea therapy, and … Read more
Here is how to use an Alexa routine to send texts using only your voice, on a Jitterbug Flip2 “senior-friendly” phone.
I needed a smart thermostat to help overcome problems of an elderly relative with dementia and low vision. I ended up creating a solution that combined a commercially available thermostat with some DIY automation using Alexa.
Co-author: Stephen Gilson As our bodies change with age, we are often advised by well-meaning health providers, family and friends to relinquish the activities we value and that give our lives meaning. We prefer the process of rethinking and repurposing everyday, affordable objects — so we can keep doing the “things we love“. This approach has worked … Read more