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Smart Home Smackdowns Roundup

April 4, 2019

Graphic: Home filled in with icons of technology and text: Smart Home Smackdowns Roundup

Are you interested in using technology to make your home smart?

If you’re like me, when you’re searching for new products to buy, you want to compare them quickly and easily with others.

If you know me, you know I hate duplication and recreating the wheels. Here are some kickass smackdowns (my loving term for comparison charts of popular products) for home automation and controls I found at
ASecureLife.com while I doing some research for a recent presentation on how I use technology with Grandma.

Doorbell Cameras

Link: https://www.asecurelife.com/best-doorbell-cameras/

Review of Doorbell Cameras at ASecureLife.com

Indoor/Security Cameras

Link: https://www.asecurelife.com/security-camera-reviews/

Review of Indoor/Security Cameras at ASecureLife.com

Home Automation & Environmental Control

Link: https://www.asecurelife.com/best-home-automation-devices/

Review of Home Automation devices at ASecureLife.com

Smart Locks

Link: https://www.asecurelife.com/best-smart-locks/

Review of Smart Locks at ASecureLife.com

If you are an iOS type, here is a link to a guide on how to make your home an Apple smart home: https://www.imore.com/homekit

Guide to Home Automation with Apple

As I shared with you before, I chose to Nest hands down, because I wanted one comprehensive suite of devices and software. I don’t have time to piecemeal solutions.

My best advice when looking at upgrading your home to a smart home is to go with a company that has been around for a while, with a strong reputation and positive reviews. Do your research and find what works for your specific situation.

· Caregiving Like a Boss, Keeping Grandma Safe, Uncategorized

Coming out From the Rock: Tech Sweet Tech

February 12, 2019

COMING OUT FROM THE ROCK TECH SWEET TECH

Technology is our life support as millennials. Many of us would not be able to function on a daily basis without it.

Our generation is used to having cameras in our faces. It doesn’t phase us when we get an idea and it’s the first thing that shows up in Google. It just comes natural to us.

Don’t assume that just because you are comfortable with something that your elders even know about it. Just how many times have your folks called you when they got a new device or were setting up a new service and needed your help? Put in some work now, or the calls will just keep coming… and coming.. and coming…

Here are some questions you should know the answers to when it comes to technology and your aging parents.

What kind of phone do they have?

What is their email address?

Do they have an Amazon account?

Are they paying their bills online?

Do they know how to look up an address on Google Maps?

What’s their favorite show on Hulu or Netflix?

They may sound trivial, but if your answers to these basic questions are “I don’t know,” you need to step your game up!

When I sent my mom a PDF to read the other day and she sent me back a Google Doc with comments, I just knew she’d be alright.

My grandma, on the other hand, knew only one of these (her email) when I came on the scene as her caregiver. When I started taking care of her, she had an old flip phone. I had to upgrade her.

The more you can do now to get your loved ones acquainted with and familiar with technology all around them, the better. [Another win: you might end up saving them some money cutting ridiculous extra costs like overpriced cable and internet, stamps, equipment.]

Get to work, right away!

The good news is there is TONS of technology out there, many of it simple stuff you can go out and buy or order online, that you can start using right away to start weaving technology into their daily lives.

Today, technology can be used as a support with many different needs. A beautiful and vast array of devices and services range from simple to sophisticated. Since it continues to creep deeper and deeper into every facet of our existence, the private sector is now entrenched in finding solutions that make our devices and environments smarter. New technologies are emerging all the time to make life easier for everyone.

The future is bright for those who want to age in place and want to rely less on other humans for help.

Check out my grandma turning off her lights with the help of her Google Home Mini.

Watch Grandma get up without worrying about falling or losing her balance using her lift recliner.

Already caring? That’s great. Amazing everyday apps and equipment are out there to boost your caregiving superpowers and enhance your mad caring skills.

Want to explore how technology can help you in a caregiving role? Check out our featured technology resource.

Resource: Tech Ur Elders

TechUrElders matches caregivers of aging parents, grandparents and elders with the right technology for their unique caregiving needs. Their custom technology plans save you time, money and a little bit of sanity. Take control of caregiving, get your custom tech plan today. Get the plug on caregiving technology at techurelders.com

In the next post in the series, we’re going to look at questions related to creating moments of joy and honoring last wishes. Aside from the instrumental activities of caregiving, we also have the important responsibility of facilitating our loved ones’ well-being. Not only that, we are often charged with making sure their final wishes are carried out.

It is important to collect as much data and information about your loved ones’ preferences and experiences NOW while you still can. I will share some questions and resources with you to help you on this adventure.

Coming Out from the Rock:  A series featuring questions to ask and conversations to have about life as your folks get older.
  • Looking in the Mirror: who are you now, outside of caring?
  • All About the Moolah: how will your LO afford to live?
  • Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes: how will your LO get the help they need?
  • No Place Like Home:where is your LO going to live?
  • Tech Sweet Tech: how can technology help you care?
  • Increasing Joy and Honoring Last Wishes: how will you help your LO find joy and honor them when they’re gone?

· Coming Out from the Rock, Coping with Caregiving

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