Aging Well, Connected

Tech Helps Older Adults Live Independently

Story by Laura McGill

Nearly 90% of older adults say that it is important for them to age in place, in their home, instead of moving to an assisted living or nursing care facility, according to a 2025 AARP report. Also, it notes that by 2030, 21% of Americans will be at least 65 years old and the first millennials will turn 50.

When you pair the desire to grow older at home with demographics that show the ever-increasing number of older adults in the U.S. population, it makes sense that technology companies are paying attention and providing innovative ways to serve this audience. Today’s older adults and their caregivers have a growing list of tech tools to assist them in remaining independent.

The ability to live independently is not defined solely by how many birthdays you’ve celebrated. After all, age is just a number. The type and amount of help needed should be tailored to the individual situation and designed to adapt as conditions change.

Staying Safe

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that each year more than 1 in 4 people ages 65 and over fall. Those falls result in about 3 million emergency room visits, 1 million hospitalizations, and 32,000 deaths. Beyond the immediate medical impact, these falls are often the turning point for an older adult, leading to a loss of mobility and a need for more assistance.

While not all falls can be prevented, you can take steps to avoid many of the dangers that cause them. For example, starting an exercise program to build balance, strength, and flexibility, get your vision checked, install grab bars, use nonslip rugs, and keep key areas free of clutter.

Look for technology to help with smart home devices that reduce risks. Motion-sensor lights can make hallways, stairs and bathrooms safer. Smart doorbells, security cameras and lighting not only deter intruders and scammers, but they can also keep you from trying to hurry to answer the door. Voice-activated assistants can do more than play music. They can also turn lights on and off and make emergency calls.

If a fall does occur, getting help quickly is crucial. While medical alert pendants are an option used for years, newer technology includes wall-mounted radar systems to detect a fall. Some systems can be programmed to notify multiple contacts when a fall occurs.

Staying Healthy

Living a healthy lifestyle covers a lot of areas. It means staying active and maintaining a healthy diet to prevent or manage health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. It covers mental and cognitive health with efforts to keep the brain active and lower stress. It includes regular care from medical professionals and carefully following medication dosing requirements.

Many older adults can manage these concerns effectively on their own. Others, though, benefit from helpful tech tools designed to keep them healthy. Tips that don’t require technology include taking a daily walk, planning meals to ensure good nutrition, and scheduling timely checkups with healthcare providers.

Well-known tech tools can provide additional help. Digital blood pressure monitors and continuous glucose monitors can record your results to allow you to share accurate information with your doctor. Sleep devices such as CPAP machines treat sleep apnea. A wide range of devices from connected humidifiers and air purifiers to smart thermostats provide beneficial control of a home’s environment.

Everyone needs the occasional reminder, but if remembering to take your medication is a concern, an electronic pill dispenser can help avoid missing doses or extra doses. Other devices, such as voice-activated assistants, can give reminders about upcoming medical appointments.

Staying Connected

Using tech tools to stay connected is already commonplace. Social media platforms allow conversations with friends and family miles away. Smartphones put calling and texting at your fingertips. Additional ways tech devices can help you stay connected include telehealth, video chats, and access to a vast library of movies, music, classes, and social groups.

Showing that these areas really are intertwined, having a social group can help older adults be more active when they have friends to walk with, to share a meal with or even to accompany them to a doctor’s appointment. For all of these areas of your life, tech tools are available to support human involvement, not to replace it.

These are just a few of the many tech tools that can make aging in place more attainable for older adults. Each person will have unique needs. They will also have different levels of comfort with technology. As you research and plan, keep those considerations in mind.