Aging in place: 3 ways technology can help independent living
To grow old in the comforts of the home you built — that is the dream, isn’t it? However, aging in place requires more effort than you could imagine. For starters, you may have to plan intricately to make your living space conducive to your changing needs. Remember that as you grow older, you may start to develop new limitations and care requirements, and your environment must be able to accommodate these new needs. Your space must be safe and comfortable enough to accept these changes. With this in mind, the questions now become these:
Have you made room for aging in place in your retirement and long term care plans?
If yes, then have you done enough?
In our recent monthly digest, we focused the various aspects of delayed retirement. In the article, we also focused on how the behavior of baby boomer is changing. Retirement and growing older are evolving right before our eyes, and we need to change along with it.
How do we do that? And what is the role of technology in all of this? Let’s find out:

The Role of Technology in Aging in Place
Here’s the deal:
Long term care needs can make or break your retirement. Without a comprehensive plan to beat the costs, you may find yourself losing a substantial portion of your retirement savings to long term care expenses. Many have had to rely on adult children to provide or pay the care that they need, and this may require moving to new place.
That doesn’t sound like independence, does it? This is where technology can help.
Through various strategies and tools listed below, baby boomers can achieve aging in place more easily. Let’s take a look at the different options you can use today:
1. Online Long Term Care Planning
The reality is that any baby boomer could end up in a situation like this:
You have started putting away money for your long term care. Then, your parents come to you for help in paying for their own care needs. Because of the substantial costs (family caregivers have confessed to spending more than $6,000 annually), you find yourself dipping into your long term care funds to pay for your parents’ care. When the time comes, you realize you have little resources to pay for your own care needs.
This is where insurance policies come in.
Insurance companies help you amass the money that you need to pay for your future care. On top of that, these industry experts provide inflation protection which allows your money to keep up with the growing costs.
By having funds that are only accessible when you need the care, you lessen the risk of facing retirement with no long term care coverage. A big bonus is that these policies can cover aging in place.
Technology plays a big role in this because companies have made securing a policy easier. If you wish to start securing coverage and future independence now, you may request long term care insurance quotes online.
2. Sensors and Fall Detection Devices
To grow older in your own home securely, you have to make it as safe as possible. But, on top of addition motion-detection lights in hallways, what is another way to ensure that your house is a safe space?
Well, did you know new sensors have created algorithms that measure a person’s routine and habits? Any changes in sleeping patterns or medication adherence that could potentially lead to danger will be recorded by these devices, and then these will be forwarded to emergency contacts. Your family members and loved ones will receive notifications via phone, email, or text message if anything is out of the ordinary.
It works as a security blanket that gives you and loved ones peace of mind. The best part is that these sensors are non-invasive.
3. Video Chatting
Did you know that 92% of individuals age 50 and older say that they are in contact with their family members, friends, or neighbors weekly? Technology makes this even easier by creating video chats.
Through programs, like Skye and FaceTime, you and your family members get to mimic what it is like to see each other face-to-face. These provide a way to check on each other without substantial disruptions from routine.
This even helps long distance caregivers in cutting travel costs. More importantly, this may help keep you from uprooting to be closer to family.

The Road to Independent Living
It’s too easy to fall into the trap of thinking you have time before the long term care needs set in. It is also too easy to think that there are more important matters to attend to — your child’s student loans, your loved ones care needs, or even your family’s annual vacation. What happens when the long term care needs happen tomorrow, and you are not prepared?
Aging in place takes time, so plan proactively. Use the available tools within your reach to make everything easier.
Lastly, if you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to ALTCP.org.
