Smart homes

Smart homes monitor the behaviour of the occupant and provide support in an autonomous fashion by activating support devices. To ensure it is suitable for elderly people, there is a need for purpose-designed equipment based on an understanding of user needs. Even people with dementia can be assisted if the new technology does not require complex interactions with the user. The house can provide support with automatic lighting, support in the kitchen and bathroom, provide memory support and help reduce wandering with people with dementia, with the aim of improving the occupants' independence and quality of life. Key elements of the technology are prompting and reminding devices, mainly using recorded voice messages. To be effective, the technology requires an external infrastructure to provide assessment, technical backup and monitoring. Evaluations of installations are looking very promising, although of course it can never replace personal human care, only augment it.