Did you know that more than 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 every day? My dad falls into that group and comes from the generation that values choices and individual freedom. As he gets older, I often worry about his future and his independence, especially as relating to his ability to stay in his own home.Aging seniors want, and need, accessibility, which is why I’m so grateful for the smart home technologies that have been made available to them by Cox Communications. The senior phase of life encourages people to slow down and simplify but it doesn’t have to mean giving up your independence.Nearly 90% of adults age 65+ would prefer to grow old in their current home instead of moving to an assisted living facility. The want to the ability to “age in place”. With the smart home technology readily available on the market today, this is becoming more a more realistic option for aging Americans. Not only does technology empower seniors to live independently for longer, it is likely a less expensive option than moving.Check out this short video about Cox Communications Smart Home Living for Seniors:

Cox Communications partnered with senior living experts to showcase a new era in digital living that provides older adults with the ability to age in place, and be able to stay in their own homes and recently featured a “Connected Independence” Smart Home in Lake Forest, California, as part of a Cox Communications multi-city tour of its Aging in Place Experience. The home has more than 50 connected devices designed for seniors spread throughout a single-family home. The Aging in Place Experience event included senior living experts and internet-enabled smart devices, demonstrating how seniors can use new technology to live safely, independently and more comfortably at home while providing their adult children and caregivers with peace of mind. Also on hand were national and San Diego-based senior living innovators, businesses and experts. More than 35 interactive demonstrations, powered by Cox Communications’ broadband network, ran simultaneously throughout the home, including:

• Rendever, which offers a virtual reality platform so seniors can “travel” to favorite destinations
• Trapollo telemedicine services so doctors can diagnose and treat seniors from the comfort of their own home;
• A voice-activated TV remote control, giving seniors the ability to find their favorite shows without pressing buttons or navigating through menus
• Telehealth technology that allows patients to have live, personal interaction with doctors via video while at home. This technology relieves patients from travel to a medical facility for every consultation.
• Double Robotics Telepresence Robot – Provides a way to check on older adults when their loved ones can’t be there in person. People can see and be seen as they steer the robot via remote control from anywhere in the world.
• Smart Window/Door Sensor – Wireless device detects when doors and windows are opened.
• Pill Dispensers – Helps seniors stay on schedule with their medications. Helps prevent forgotten dosages or mixed medications, and sends audible and visual alerts up to 30 minutes before pills are scheduled to be taken.
• Extensive home automation and security features, including the ability to see who is at the front door and lock and unlock doors remotely through Cox Homelife, making it easier for seniors to let visitors and caregivers in and out of the home safely.
• An automatic pet feeder controlled through an app
• Amazon Kindle, giving users access to a vast library of books at their fingertips
• Readable Voice Mail – Sends transcripts of voice messages to email
• Clarity P300 Handset Landline Telephone – Makes sounds louder and easier to understand. Seniors can call people by pushing a photo button.
• GeniCan – Garbage can that scans items as they’re thrown away. The GeniCan app builds a shopping list based on what needs to be replaced, and schedules home delivery through Amazon Dash.
• Parrot Pot – Seniors never have to worry about their plants again. The Parrot Pot gives plants the right amount of water at the right time. This smart flowerpot has four sensors that monitor light, temperature, and soil moisture and fertilizer levels in real time. The simple app even has a database of over 8,000 plants to give seniors advice on how to help their favorite flowers thrive

Additional stations at the event included a Wi-Fi Slow Cooker, Wi-Fi vacuum, Wi-Fi cat (Joy for All Orange Tabby Cat), electronic pet feeder, electronic fork that tracks eating habits, smart door locks and video cameras, glass break sensors, water/flood sensors, motion sensors and other safety devices.

Smart home technology can help families avoid the wrenching decision and the expense of moving an aging parent to an assisted living facility. A connected home ensures seniors can continue their daily routine while maintaining, and even enhancing, their quality of life in their own home.” – said Ryland Madison, director of product marketing, Cox Communications.

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Cox Communications continues to aggressively invest in its network as well as new ventures such as healthcare and Internet of Things to better power smart homes, smart businesses and smart cities of the future. Cox has invested $15 billion in its infrastructure in the past 10 years and is investing another $10 billion in the next five years to bring fiber closer to homes, increase speeds and improve products.

For more information about Cox Communications, please visit here.