Moving is often expensive and stressful, which may explain why many older adults are choosing to age in place—that is, to remain in their own homes rather than move to assisted-living facilities. However, staying at home presents its own set of challenges. To meet these challenges, many older adults are turning to smart-home devices for help. These internet-connected DIY devices, including smart window shades, light bulbs, security cameras, speakers, doorbells, and smoke alarms, are powerful problem-solvers that can enhance convenience, comfort, and peace of mind.
Planning for Smart Home Devices
Before integrating smart technology into your home, keep these tips in mind.
- Make a plan: Start small and determine which devices will be most beneficial and comfortable to use daily.
- Arrange tech support: If you’re not familiar with installation, usage, or troubleshooting, enlist family, a caregiver, or a service for guidance.
- Organize controls: To use a single app, your devices must be compatible with the same smart platform, such as Alexa, Google Home, or Apple Home.
- Establish emergency contacts: Some devices can be configured to automatically notify a relative or other third party, as well as emergency services.
Anne Madison, a 73-year-old resident of Baltimore, has a growing collection of smart-home devices. Some provide light to prevent falls, while others remind her of important appointments, medications, and even connect her with emergency services when needed. “I think these little devices are helping to keep me independent and out of an assisted-living or nursing-home facility,” she said.
We have spent years testing a wide variety of smart-home devices, and with the help of experts and device owners, we have compiled this collection of devices that are particularly well-suited to help seniors live more independently. For those who rely on caregivers, these technologies can provide information on daily activities, immediate communication, and a greater sense of security.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide provides information for individuals wishing to age in place, along with family members, friends and caregivers who support this choice. According to the 2021 American Community Survey, there are over 77 million people in the U.S. aged 60 and older. Moreover, a 2021 AARP survey showed that more than three-quarters of people over 50 wanted to remain in their homes as they aged. Smart home devices aren’t replacements for human care, but they can be reliable tools for caregivers who are not always able to provide in-person care. Smart home devices provide a constant connection to help ensure safety, assist loved ones with daily tasks, and allow them to check in. These devices include:
- Home security cameras that enable communication or monitoring of comings and goings.
- Smart lighting that illuminates dark hallways and entryways.
- Smart plugs with timers to ensure devices like fans and space heaters are switched on and off at appropriate times.
“You’re really empowering someone to live ways that they’ve never been able to live before based on their chronic conditions,” said Andy Miller, senior vice president of innovation and product development at AARP. (Note: AARP has partnered with some smart-home device makers to provide discounts on certain devices and services.)
If you are buying and setting up smart devices for yourself, you need to be capable of interacting with smartphone apps and some basic installation, and you may need to do low-level technical troubleshooting, such as adjusting Wi-Fi settings. If you’re not up for that, you’ll need to depend on family, friends, a caregiver, or potentially a professional service to get things working (and, occasionally, working again).
If a caregiver is going to use smart devices in caring for someone, experts have emphasized the importance of collaboration. The person being cared for should be fully informed as to what devices are being used where, what they do, and how they work. The caregiver should explain how the devices can help them feel safer, more comfortable, and even live a more independent life.
Claire Perlman, Wirecutter’s editor of accessibility and aging in place, noted that most smart-home devices are not one-size-fits-all. “The spectrum of ages and abilities of those aging in place varies so widely that it’s difficult to choose just one smart-home device for such a broad community,” she said. “Is the goal to help the older person control their immediate environment or the ambience of their home? To help a long-distance caretaker know that their loved one is okay? I think it depends on the individual’s goals more than anything else.”
Furthermore, the decision to use smart technology raises security and privacy concerns. Wirecutter vets all product and service picks to ensure they follow standard safety practices. Despite any privacy sacrifices that may come with the devices we recommend, we believe the real-world benefits outweigh any potential risks.
“I don’t worry about privacy, because it’s already gone straight to hell,” Anne Madison told us. “These people are smarter than I am. I just don’t think about it much. I’m more worried about turning on my lights. That’s where I assign more worries.”
How We Chose and Tested Devices
This guide is the result of testing smart devices over several years. We also engaged in conversations and interviews with various manufacturers, doctors, caregivers, experts, and smart-home device owners. This group included William Dale, MD, PhD, professor and chair of supportive care medicine at City of Hope, and director of the Center for Cancer and Aging; Andy Miller, AARP; and Laurie Orlov, analyst and founder of Aging and Health Technology Watch. I also consulted the research that was conducted for Wirecutter’s previous guides to emergency-contact systems and pill dispensers.
The insights provided by these experts, along with the experiences of smart-home device owners, shaped our choices about which devices to include. Some of these selections may not align with our top picks from their respective guides, as older people and their caregivers may have different needs. For each section of this guide, we looked for devices that offered the following features and attributes:
- Simple operation: Devices should be intuitive to use and, if possible, allow for operation via manual controls in addition to voice commands or apps.
- Smart-home functions: All the devices we selected work with iOS or Android devices and should work together. To integrate these devices, confirm that they support the same smart-home software platforms. Popular platforms are Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Matter, and Samsung SmartThings.
- Wireless connectivity: Most devices require a Wi-Fi connection to function. If you plan to use multiple devices that stream video, verify that the home has sufficient Wi-Fi bandwidth. If the home has poor reception in some areas, consider a wireless extender or a Wi-Fi mesh-networking kit.
- Safety: We considered various types of smart-home devices, but focused on those that enhance safety and security, which is of particular importance to older adults.
- Unobtrusive design: We focused on devices that would not clutter the home and could function without disrupting daily life, including those that function in a traditional manner, while also supporting smart features.
Recommended Smart Home Devices
Whole-House Security Systems
While you can build a smart home gradually based on your time and budget, all-in-one home security systems include many essential devices at once, which work seamlessly together. A smart security system adds protection from break-ins and includes sensors to notify you if doors or windows are left open. Security cameras alert you if someone comes to the door and record deliveries. Some systems offer other helpful add-ons, such as water-leak sensors, key fobs, glass-break sensors, and panic buttons.
We strongly advise adding a professional monitoring plan to a security system, so a live person from a call center can alert you if an alarm goes off, and they can notify your emergency contacts. The call center can also contact the police or fire department.
Top Pick: Ring Alarm (2nd Generation) The best DIY security system
This security system works with a comprehensive variety of add-on devices, and it’s simple to install and use. You also have the option of professional monitoring for more security.
Why it’s a pick: Ring’s system is simple to set up, completely reliable, provides well-performing sensors, and offers a variety of indoor and outdoor camera add-ons. It also provides the best value when it comes to professional monitoring.
Essential Safety Devices
Personal safety should be a top priority when planning to age in place. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in four people over 65 fall yearly. Smart safety devices can keep tabs on potential dangers and connect you with emergency services if necessary, which is a huge benefit to both the person living in the home and also the caregiver.
Smart Smoke Detectors
Working smoke detectors should be in every home, but it can be hard to know if someone with reduced hearing can hear the alarm or react quickly. Smart smoke detectors provide an audible siren inside the home, but also send alerts to friends, neighbors, and caregivers.
Top Pick: Google Nest Protect The best smart smoke detector
This smoke and carbon monoxide alarm warns with a voice and siren and sends smartphone alerts to up to nine contacts. It also has a built-in self-check feature and a useful night-light.
Why it’s a pick: The Google Nest Protect sends notifications to you, family, friends, and caregivers, alerting them to danger whether they are home or not. The alarm gives a loud voice alert to indicate which room the danger is in and that the siren will sound shortly. It is available in hardwired and battery versions.
Smart Emergency-Contact Systems
Typical emergency-contact systems consist of wearable electronic devices that provide on-call monitoring and include fall alerts. In this guide, we included smart options that don’t require a contract, that can be worn daily, and incorporate a variety of convenience features.
Top Pick: Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) A smart emergency-contact system
With built-in fall and crash detection, also a side button that can call emergency contacts, the Apple Watch SE is more discreet than other emergency contact systems. This version can also share important medical information with emergency responders.
Why it’s a pick: The Apple Watch SE has built-in fall detection and crash detection, also includes a side button that can call emergency contacts, sharing important medical information with emergency responders.
Budget pick: Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) Low-cost voice control
If you don’t like the idea of a wearable device, an Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker offers easy access to assistance. With a simple voice command, you can connect with emergency contacts through Alexa Calling.
Why it’s a pick: Offers the least expensive way to access loved ones and emergency services instantly. Aside from the features to get help in an emergency, an Echo Dot—or any Echo smart speaker—is great for listening to music, the news, weather reports, and trivia games.
Smart Displays & Communication
Smart screens make keeping in touch simple, providing video and voice calls to family and friends, as well as telemedicine appointments and providing an instant link to emergency services. They offer voice control to call up news, weather, and trivia, as well as control and view smart-home devices such as light bulbs, security cameras, and smart plugs.
Top Pick: Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) A simple video-chat system
Instantly video-chat with family and friends, or call up music, recipes, and more. Alexa consolidates most smart-home devices for easier control via voice or a single app.
Why it’s a pick: The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) has excellent sound and a 13-megapixel camera, which is great for video calls. Alexa-based displays also have a “drop in” feature for easy communication.
Top Pick: Apple iPad (9th generation) An all-in-one control device
This tablet has a large screen that’s easy to see and control. It includes Siri voice control, is light enough to carry anywhere, and offers an easy way to have video and audio calls with family, friends, and caregivers.
Why it’s a pick: Provides news, weather, podcasts, games, and video-streaming services. You can use Siri to control multiple smart-home devices with a single voice command.
Helpful Accessories
As people age, they may develop motor or memory issues. The following devices may be especially helpful for anyone with such challenges to live more independently and accomplish everyday tasks, such as controlling lighting, fans and space heaters, and monitoring appliances.
Smart Contact Sensors
Smart contact sensors are a great way to create a DIY home security system that can keep tabs on doors, windows, and drawers. These sensors are also helpful for caregivers who need to track a loved one’s daily activities.
Top Pick: Aqara Door and Window Sensor A door/window contact sensor
This sensor is simple to install and reliable in providing alerts. It also integrates with other smart devices.
Why it’s a pick: The Aqara Door and Window Sensor uses Zigbee wireless technology instead of Wi-Fi, so it works in parts of a house where Wi-Fi is weak. You can also pair it with other smart devices around the house to create automated events.
Water-Leak Sensors
Smart water-leak sensors can alert you the instant they detect water by sending an alert to your smartphone. Some sensors also have a siren or alarm or can be configured to trigger other devices like smart lights to ensure that you catch small leaks before they become a big problem.
Top Pick: D-Link DCH-S1621KT Whole Home Smart Wi-Fi Water Leak Sensor Kit For detecting water leaks
The kit includes a plug-in hub with an optional sensor cable and can connect with up to 16 battery-powered remote sensors. Both respond quickly to water with a loud siren and instant smartphone alerts.
Why it’s a pick: This sensor ensures that you are aware of detected water, even if you aren’t home.
Smart Locks
Smart locks allow you to live key-free and also enable others to access your home without difficulty. They also respond to remote control, alert you when triggered, and set them to auto-lock. A smart lock can also be helpful if you’re caring for a loved one who tends to wander.
Top Pick: Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt The easiest smart lock
This is a commercial-grade lock that is simple to install and use, lets you lock and unlock the door remotely, and monitors when someone is coming or going.
Why it’s a pick: It’s simple to set up and use, and you are notified whenever the lock is triggered.
Cameras and monitoring
Smart security cameras help you see who is outside the door without opening it and allow you to screen visitors, capturing video footage when someone visits. Indoor cameras are a great tool for caregivers, as they provide insight into the activity of a loved one and can provide alerts when someone is moving about the house. All experts caution that the decision to put a camera into someone’s home should be made with the person who will live with the camera.
Top Pick: Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd Gen) The best doorbell camera
This doorbell sends fast, accurate alerts, including distinguishing between people, animals, and cars. It also offers free and paid video storage.
Why it’s a pick: Google Nest Doorbell delivers great performance when determining whether the visitor is a person, an animal, a car, or a package delivery.
Top Pick: Eufy Indoor Cam C120 A compact, low-cost indoor camera
This camera offers a sharp picture, four choices for video storage, and a continuous-recording option. It can distinguish between different types of motions and sounds.
Why it’s a pick: The Eufy Indoor Cam C120 can distinguish between people, pets, vehicles, and general motion, it’s inexpensive to run, and you can record 24/7 footage or just motion-activated events.
Smart Plugs
Smart plugs bless traditional electrical devices with smart controls, even providing remote control for lamps, heaters, and fans, and they are also simple to set up.
Top Pick: TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) A plug that adds smarts to regular lamps
Easy to use, reliable, and affordable, this plug also includes real-time energy monitoring, so you can keep tabs on electricity use.
Why it’s a pick: The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) offers remote control, easy timers, and works with smart-home platforms.
Smart Lighting
Smart lighting, in the form of in-wall switches or dimmers and LED bulbs, allows you to put lighting on schedules, have the lights triggered by movement or other devices, or simply turn lights on and off as needed using a voice command or a smartphone.
Top Pick: Leviton Decora Smart No-Neutral Dimmer DN6HD The best smart in-wall dimmer
This in-wall light switch works with most electrical systems and integrates with numerous smart-home devices, with an easy-to-use rocker paddle for dimming and powering lights manually.
Why it’s a pick: The Leviton Decora Smart No-Neutral Dimmer doesn’t need a neutral wire, making it great for any home’s wiring.
Top Pick: WiZ 60W A19 Color LED Smart Bulb The easiest way to add smart lighting
This inexpensive smart bulb is easy to control, includes a number of color options, and is a simpler, quicker option for easily controllable lighting.
Why it’s a pick: The WiZ 60W A19 LED Smart Bulb uses Wi-Fi for easy setup and offers an inexpensive way to add lighting throughout a home.
Considerations for Smart Pill Dispensers
While there are multiple varieties of pill boxes, we have yet to test any great, affordable smart pill dispensers. We have seen some models with high prices or subscription fees, and we have concerns about how they work. The decision to get one is best made with your physician.
Looking Ahead: Ome Smart Stove Knob
We were planning to test the Ome Smart Stove Knob, a Wi-Fi–enabled add-on that provides remote control and monitoring of a stovetop. However, we’re going to wait until the company releases its second-generation version this summer.
