Tools to Help You Live at Home Longer

How can you continue to dwell well as you age? According to a 2024 AARP report, 75% of adults 50 and older want to keep living at home as they age. Of those, 43% plan to implement various things to make it easier to remember, see, function and move at home.

Because everyone has different needs “finding the right tool, for the right person and the right symptoms, remains a critical question,” said neuropsychologist Jared Benge, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. “What are the needs for a given person, and what environment are they are in?”

Various factors, such as prior technology knowledge, willingness to learn new things, preexisting or new sensory or motor issues, along with routines already in place, all determine which tools will work best. Here are areas to think about:

1. Cellphone Capabilities

Some tools may be as nearby as the mobile phone you already use, said neuropsychologist Andrew M. Kiselica, PhD, an associate professor in the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Georgia. According to a Pew Research Center survey, of U.S. adults 65 and older, 95% own cellphones and 78% own smartphones. These devices have features such as digital calendars to keep track of appointment reminders or GPS for navigation, Dr. Kiselica pointed out. The Reminder app that comes preinstalled on iPhones can set prompts to help users recall anything they need to remember. It is “simple to use and easy to troubleshoot,” he said.

2. Smart Speakers

These devices respond to voice-activated commands and are another example of how tech can make daily tasks easier, Dr. Benge said. You can set reminders, play music and news, confirm the day’s weather, and more. Bluetooth-enabled speakers include the Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod and HomePod Mini, and Google Nest. The New York Times Wirecutter site has details about the differences between each speaker, as well as a profile of how one woman credits smart devices for helping her live independently.

3. Smart Appliances

Similarly, smart speakers can work as a hub to help control different appliances and other home features by voice, such as adjusting thermostats, contacting emergency personnel and more. For people who understand how the systems work and how to make adjustments, “these can be helpful for staying up on maintenance, troubleshooting problems and ordering replacement parts,” said Amanda LaRose, a Massachusetts-based certified kitchen and bath designer with Studio Bowerbird.

4. Household Safety Tools

People who experience unexpected physical challenges as they age can benefit from a variety of improvements, LaRose said. Beyond tech, a few simple home modifications can be life-saving. For example, installing grab bars in bathrooms, but also in hallways, mudrooms and laundry rooms, can help those with unsteady balance. Other tips: Remove throw rugs, get rid of clutter in walking areas, rearrange furniture to make walkways wider and more accessible, and add motion sensor lights or nightlights.

Making things brighter can be critical. “It helps to increase lighting, either through adding electrical fixtures or just increasing the wattage of existing lighting,” LaRose said. “Adding dimmer controls to replace existing switches can help give the maximum light output for tasks and also reduce glare for TV and media use.”

Remote-controlled beds help adjust mattress positions or enable blinds and shades to be lowered or raised easily, which can be helpful if mobility, strength or reach is compromised.

Modern smartwatches even have fall detectors, but there are also specific fall-detection watches or the more traditional medical alert systems to consider.

5. Household Improvements

In the bathroom, consider whether a zero-clearance shower is feasible. This allows a person to walk into a shower space without needing to step over a bathtub wall or threshold, LaRose said. It reduces the chance of trips or falls and makes it easier to access when using a walker or wheelchair.

Looking ahead, if you want to age in place, “it doesn’t mean somebody has to renovate their entire house, but there could be some improvements that could be made to make house maintenance more efficient,” she said.

“It’s a good idea to have the mechanical parts of a home audited for longevity and expected lifespan, such as electrical panels, furnaces and hot water tanks. They can cause major home disruptions if not properly maintained,” she continued. “The last thing anyone wants is to have roof leaks right after they undergo a hip replacement.”

Resources to Learn More

Senior Planet, a program of OATS (Older Adults Technology Services, from AARP), offers online and some in-person classes for older adults to improve technology and financial knowledge, creativity, health and wellness, social ties and community engagement.

Your local aging council or agency is a municipal organization that exists to help those usually 60 and older to find services such as health screenings, transportation, nutrition and social activities. Search your area in the Eldercare Locator database.

Senior centers in your community are typically the physical location where aging services are offered. Search online for “senior center near me” or “senior center” and your town/city/area.

For those living with or caring for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, the Alzheimer’s Association offers a 24/7 hotline via phone, chat or email for support and insight.