{"id":17512,"date":"2017-04-04T05:00:17","date_gmt":"2017-04-04T12:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/?p=17512"},"modified":"2026-02-22T15:33:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T23:33:45","slug":"voice-activated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/voice-activated\/","title":{"rendered":"Voice Activated"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sitting silently in the corner, Amazon\u2019s Alexa awaits the next command, ready to place online orders, adjust indoor temperatures o\"amazon-echo-hero\"r even provide a weather update. For senior citizens, the ability to manage a variety of tasks through voice command can help bolster independent living and provide caregivers with the ability to remotely monitor the health and safety of older patients. Whether used in the home or at a senior living facility, voice technology has the potential to modernize and personalize senior healthcare.<\/p>\n

Specialized Software<\/strong><\/p>\n

As part of the Internet of Things (IoT), voice recognition technology has entered the mainstream, with more and more households are adding computerized personal assistants. As the hardware becomes ubiquitous, opportunities to add software specialized for seniors abound.<\/p>\n

For companies keeping an eye on their bottom line, the ability to add voice-command technology software to existing hardware allows a senior living facility to upgrade services without needing to upgrade current infrastructure. Even multiple operating systems can be navigated with ease, with most emerging software applications designed to be compatible with everything from Apple\u2019s Siri to Amazon and Google home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe the future of senior-related technology is customizing existing products through software,\u201d says<\/a> Laurie Orlov, the founder of Aging in Place Technology Watch, a market research firm that provides thought leadership and analysis on senior care technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe aren\u2019t going to see senior living products that have their own hardware succeed [because] they can\u2019t scale. Without the product being able to scale, you can\u2019t make it work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Virtual Caregivers<\/strong><\/p>\n

For older adults, maintaining routines is essential, especially when it comes to medication management and other health-related tasks. While the plastic pill containers labeled with the days of the week can help keep seniors on track, the ability to preprogram voice-enabled devices adds an extra layer of security and oversight. In addition,\u00a0though many seniors\u00a0maintain cognitively alertness, their physical impairments, such as arthritis or Parkinson\u2019s, can make even pressing a button difficult. Voice activated devices make it easier to summon help.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can have an engaging experience, and you don\u2019t even have to touch [the device],\u201d Gail Baik of CDW Healthcare tells Senior Housing News<\/a>. \u201cTechnology care really take[s] some of the disabilities of seniors out of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still in its beta phase, LifePod<\/a> is one example of the type of Alexa-compatible device that can be designed specifically for senior citizens. LifePod can create daily reminders and alerts while also providing updates to caregivers and loved ones. LifePod integrates with Amazon Dash buttons for easy pill refills and can work with preexisting fire alarms and CO detectors to alert caregivers in the event of an alarm.<\/p>\n

Overall, LifePod\u2019s creators designed the device to be adaptable and functional.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the breadth of connected devices only increasing, the potential for further integrations seems endless,\u201d the company states in a Press Release<\/a> about the product.<\/p>\n

\u201cLifePod could be integrated with personal hygiene devices like connected toothbrushes, or motion detectors to better track the actions of the user and increase their safety or further assist them in the home. It could also integrate with medical devices like blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, or sleep trackers to track the user\u2019s health in correlation to the other data and include it in the daily reports, or use it to trigger alerts.”<\/p>\n

Provider Perks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Voice commands can help seniors navigate tricky tasks quickly and easily. For senior healthcare providers, voice-enabled technologies have the potential to enhance clinical services. Sidestepping some of the issues associated with wearables and med alert devices, voice-enabled systems open up two-way communication for improved monitoring of senior residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody needs a nurse call system, it is a necessary piece of equipment,\u201d Vitality\u2019s Guay explains to Senior Housing News<\/a>. \u201cBut that technology is not very advanced; it has not advanced beyond the push button. It\u2019s really dependent on whether the person wears a pendant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think [voice technology] is the direction of the future, and we are investing a lot of time and resources about how we can implement it into our communities,\u201d Chris Guay, CEO, and founder of Vitality Senior Living tells Senior Housing News.
\n\u201cImagine if help were always instantly available to residents, regardless of where they are; even outside the reach of alert stations,\u201d adds Smith. \u201cTheir privacy would remain intact, and yet their needs could be met, almost as though the caregiver was standing right in front of them,\u201d he adds. \u201cThat\u2019s what drives us to keep innovating.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Voice-recognition technology can help older adults stay connected while also allowing senior living providers to add an additional layer of care and oversight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":17521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_s2mail":"yes","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2952,6],"tags":[1014,1879,1734,1666,842,1678,1880],"class_list":["post-17512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-senior-living","category-technology","tag-internet-of-things","tag-iot","tag-senior","tag-senior-citizens","tag-senior-living","tag-smart-homes","tag-voice-technology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nYardi Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Voice-recognition technology can help older adults stay connected while also allowing senior living providers to add an additional layer of care and oversight.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/voice-activated\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Voice Activated\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Voice-recognition technology can help older adults stay connected while also allowing senior living providers to add an additional layer of care and oversight.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/voice-activated\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Yardi Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-04-04T12:00:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-22T23:33:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2017\/02\/amazon-echo-hero.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"940\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"448\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Cutright Elizabeth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Cutright Elizabeth\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/voice-activated\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/voice-activated\/\",\"name\":\"Voice Activated - 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