Part 6 · Living alone and technology
Living alone and the technology that cares
Content under professional review before publication.
1The alert button and fall detection
The problem
A fall when alone can go from a scare to a serious emergency. It is not so much the impact: it is the time on the floor without being able to call for help, which can bring dehydration, pressure sores, cold, and serious complications.
What is happening underneath
The longer help takes, the worse the outcome. That is why a simple device exists that warns instantly: a button worn on the body that, when pressed, connects to someone who sends help.
Step by step
- Get an alert button (pendant, wristband, or watch) that, when pressed, calls a service or the family, with two-way voice to talk.
- Choose one with automatic fall detection: if the person falls and cannot press, the device alerts on its own. Many who fall cannot reach the button.
- Have them wear it always, including in the bathroom and shower, where many falls happen. Look for one that is water-resistant.
- If they leave home, a model with GPS and a cellular signal works outside too, without depending on Wi-Fi.
- Practice pressing it once to lose the fear, and keep the contact phone numbers up to date.
What you must never do
- Never keep it in a drawer "so it does not wear out": a button in a drawer saves no one.
- Never rely on the button alone: keep making the home fall-safe (see the walking chapter and the after-a-fall chapter).
- Never leave the contact details un-updated.
When to ask for help
If the person lives alone or has already had falls, a button with fall detection is among the first things to add. Ask about the options that exist in your country.
2Sensors, reminders, and the home that warns
The problem
Living alone brings forgetfulness and moments without company: a medication not taken, a burner left on, a fall with no witnesses. There is simple technology that helps without taking away independence.
What is happening underneath
Used well, technology is a safety net, not a cage. The key is to choose what solves the most urgent problem and to always respect the person's dignity and decision.
Step by step
- For medication: pill dispensers that signal with light or sound at the right time, or that alert the family if a dose is not taken (see the medication chapter).
- A voice speaker can remind of appointments and medicines, make hands-free calls, and, in some, call for help by speaking.
- Motion or door sensors warn if something is out of the ordinary; choose those that protect privacy (motion or heat) over cameras.
- If cameras are used, only with the person's permission and never in the bathroom or bedroom. Privacy is not negotiable.
- Start with a single device, the one for the biggest need, and master it before adding another.
What you must never do
- Never put up cameras without telling or without permission: secret surveillance humiliates and breaks trust.
- Never fill the home with devices all at once: they confuse more than they help.
- Never use technology to control; use it to accompany.
When to ask for help
An occupational therapist or a technician can help you choose what is right for that home and that person. Telehealth (a video consultation) also saves difficult trips.
3Loneliness also needs care
The problem
Living alone is not the same as feeling alone, but they often go together. And sustained loneliness is not just sadness: it harms health as much as many illnesses.
What is happening underneath
Long loneliness is associated with more depression, memory decline, and heart problems. Conversely, doing things with others and feeling useful lengthens life and lifts the mood. Technology helps, but it does not replace human contact.
Step by step
- Set up a contact routine: a call or a visit on fixed days, so no one goes too long without talking to someone.
- Use video calls to see beloved faces, especially if the family lives far away. Seeing is more than hearing.
- Look for activities with others suited to them: a group, a club, the church, a workshop, or tasks that make them feel useful.
- Care for what opens the world: glasses, hearing aids, and a way to get around. Poor sight, deafness, and not being able to go out shut a person in.
- If you notice they withdraw, dim, or lose interest, do not let it pass: stay with them and, if needed, seek professional help.
What you must never do
- Never use screens as the only company: a call does not replace a hug.
- Never minimize isolation as if it were a detail: it is a real health risk.
- Never decide for them without taking into account what they want and enjoy.
When to ask for help
If deep sadness, listlessness that does not ease, or signs of depression appear, talk to the doctor. And for the caregiver who also feels alone, the caregiver wellbeing chapter is for you.
What about the home?
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