Why you should trust us
I’m a senior staff writer covering the smart home for Wirecutter. I have been writing about technology for more than 20 years, and I have written guides on outdoor security cameras, smart speakers, and smart bird feeders.
For this guide:
- I’ve tested more than 650 different smart-home products over the past seven years alone.
- I interviewed 10 different users, caregivers, doctors, and other experts.
- In accordance with Wirecutter standards, our staffers return or donate all products we’ve tested once our assessment of them is complete (this may involve longer-term testing conducted by my colleagues and me). We never hang on to “freebies” once testing is done.
Who this is for
This guide is for the person wanting to age in place, as well as family members, friends, or caregivers who support an older adult’s decision to live independently. Almost 58 million people over the age of 65 live in the US, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), and in a 2024 AARP survey, more than three-quarters of people 50 and over said they intended to remain in their homes as they aged, whether for comfort or cost reasons.
Smart-home devices aren’t a replacement for human care, but they can be a reliable tool when caregivers can’t be around in person, providing a 24/7 connection to help ensure safety, assist a loved one with daily tasks, and allow them to check in. These devices include:
- home security cameras for communicating or for monitoring who is coming and going
- smart lighting for illuminating dark hallways and entryways
- smart plugs with timers to ensure that devices like space heaters and fans are on and off at appropriate times of day
“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 offer discounts on select devices and services.)
If you’re buying and setting up smart devices for yourself, you need to be capable of dealing with smartphone apps and some lightweight installation, and you may need to do some low-level technical troubleshooting, such as adjusting Wi-Fi settings. If you’re not up for that sort of thing, you need to depend on a family member, a friend, a caregiver, or potentially a professional service to get things up and running (and, occasionally, back up and running).
If a caregiver is the person intending to use smart devices to help in the care of someone else, the experts we spoke with were emphatic that the caregiver and older person work in collaboration. The person being cared for should be fully informed as to what devices are being used and where, what they do, and how they work. The caregiver should explain how these devices can help them feel safer and more comfortable, and even live a more independent life.
Claire Perlman, Wirecutter’s editor of accessibility and aging in place, noted that it’s important to recognize 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,” Claire 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.”
Also, the decision to use smart technology necessarily raises security and privacy concerns. At Wirecutter, we vet all of our product and service picks to confirm that they abide by standard safety practices. Whatever privacy sacrifices you may incur by using the picks we recommend, based on our experience we believe that the real-world benefits outweigh any likely 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 picked and tested
This guide is the product of several years of testing and reporting on smart devices, as well conversations and interviews with a range of manufacturers, doctors, caregivers, experts, and smart-home device owners. That group includes 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 at AARP; and Laurie Orlov, analyst and founder of Aging and Health Technology Watch. I also consulted research conducted for Wirecutter’s previous guides to emergency-contact systems and pill dispensers.
The input of those experts, along with the experience of smart-home device owners, helped shape our decisions about which devices to include. Some of these selections may not be our overall top picks in their respective guides, since older people and their caregivers may be better off with a different option that meets their specific needs.
For each section of this guide, we looked for devices that offered the following features and attributes:
- Simple operation: Ideally, smart-home devices are intuitive to use, and when possible they allow operation via manual controls in addition to app or voice commands. And because all of these smart-home devices need to be operated and maintained remotely, we prioritized those that are easy for the caregiver to use from afar, as well as for the older adult living day-to-day with the technology.
- Smart-home functions: All the devices we selected work with iOS or Android devices, but if you intend to have several smart devices work together — to integrate them — you should first confirm that they support the same smart-home software platforms, because you don’t want to discover later on that the devices can’t talk to one another. The most popular platforms are Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Matter, and Samsung SmartThings. Many smart devices allow you to control them using at least one and often several of those platforms simultaneously.
- Wireless connectivity: Most of these devices require a Wi-Fi connection to function. If you’re planning to use multiple devices or any that stream video, first confirm that the person’s home has sufficient Wi-Fi bandwidth. If the home has poor reception in some areas, consider investing in a wireless extender or a Wi-Fi mesh-networking kit.
- Safety: We considered a lot of different types of smart-home devices for this guide but focused primarily on those that enhance safety and security, which are of particular concern for older people living at home and especially those living alone.
- Unobtrusive design: We don’t recommend using devices to spy on anyone, but we did look for devices that wouldn’t clutter the home and could function without interrupting a person’s everyday life. That group included devices that could work in a traditional manner, such as a light switch or doorbell, while also supporting smart features.
Do you want a whole-house security system?
Although you can start small and build up a smart home as your time and budget allow, do-it-yourself home security systems pack many of the devices we consider to be essential into one purchase that works seamlessly.
A smart security system provides more than just protection from break-ins. These DIY systems work with a wide array of helpful devices that make it easier to keep tabs on your home overall.
Such systems include relatively inconspicuous sensors that let you know when a door or window has been left open. Security cameras notify you when visitors of any sort come, and they also record when deliveries arrive. Some systems offer other helpful add-on devices, such as water-leak sensors, key fobs, glass-break sensors, and panic buttons. Conveniently, the systems also allow you to manage all of these devices using a single smartphone app (instead of juggling several).
We strongly recommend adding a professional monitoring plan to a security system so that in the event of an alarm, a live person from a call center will alert you directly — and if you’re unreachable, they’ll notify anyone else you deem an emergency contact. The call center can also contact the police or fire department if there’s a need, or if no one can be reached.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Works With Ring
How it helps: The Ring Alarm system can support almost every add-on you can imagine, including a few options for door and window sensors, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and several types of hardwired and battery-operated doorbells and cameras. If you want something more advanced, the Ring Alarm Pro system can improve Wi-Fi coverage in your home and includes emergency internet backup (for a fee) and up to 24 additional hours of backup power in case of an outage.
Why it’s a pick: Ring’s system is easy to set up, it’s completely reliable, its sensors perform well, and Ring offers more types of indoor and outdoor camera add-ons than we’ve seen for any other system we’ve tested. It also offers the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to professional monitoring ($20 per month or $200 per year).
The essentials
When you’re making an aging-in-place plan, personal safety should be a top priority. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one out of four people 65 and older fall each year. The US Fire Administration (an entity of FEMA) says that the same age group is 2.5 times more likely to die in a fire than the population as a whole. Smart safety devices can keep tabs on potential dangers and connect you with emergency services if needed. And if you’re a caregiver, you can keep an eye out for some of those worries and possibly save your loved one’s life, notifying both emergency services and contacts whether they’re on the other side of town or the other side of the country.
Smart emergency-contact systems
Typical emergency-contact systems consist of wearable electronic devices that provide on-call monitoring and may include fall alerts; some charge a monthly fee. Having a way to contact emergency services is an absolute must. “A device that can be worn on the wrist allows for 24/7 monitoring and can help identify against the biggest and most common concern, which is a fall,” said David Siegel, CEO of Nationwide Medical. “A wrist-worn device can also provide important data, detect falls, determine location, and even serve as a telephonic or text communication device.”
For this guide, we considered nontraditional smart options, which don’t require a contract, can be used every day, and incorporate a variety of convenience features.
Top pick
Compatibility: Apple Home
How it helps: An emergency-contact system works only if you actually wear the device. Our experts noted that they’ve frequently heard of resistance to wearing devices such as clunky bracelets and necklaces with built-in emergency buttons. “[Many people] don’t want to wear them because of the stigma,” said Andy Miller, senior vice president of innovation and product development at AARP. “It makes them feel old.” The Apple Watch SE is more discreet than any other emergency-contact system out there — probably because it wasn’t designed as an emergency-contact system. It’s a smartwatch that can make and take calls, stream music, control smart-home devices via Siri voice commands, and more.
Why it’s a pick: The Apple Watch SE has built-in fall detection and crash detection, as well as a side button that can call emergency contacts. This version of the Apple Watch can also share with emergency responders important medical information, such as blood type and medications, and physical activity including ECG stats. It even works with apps like FallCall, which can trigger a central monitoring station (versus 911) via Siri voice commands or an icon on the watch. If you want more advanced sensors to monitor additional heart info and signs of sleep apnea, we recommend the Apple Watch Series 10.
One important note: To contact emergency services, the base-model Apple Watch must be paired with an iPhone that’s within Bluetooth range or connected to a known Wi-Fi network (with Wi-Fi calling enabled). If that’s a concern inside or outside the home, opt for a pricier model with a cellular plan (which costs extra). We also recommend pairing the Apple Watch with a bedside wireless charger, which increases the cost but also improves the functionality.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa
How it helps: If you don’t like the idea of a wearable but want the assurance of easy access to assistance, consider Alexa Emergency Assist, a paid service ($6 per month or $59 per year) that connects you to live responders who can request emergency services and relay critical medical information. It works with all Amazon Echo smart speakers and screens, but we like the Amazon Echo Dot because it’s the smallest, least expensive Echo smart speaker, and it responds well to voice commands to deliver entertainment and news, as well as to put you in near-instant touch with emergency contacts such as family, friends, and caregivers through Alexa Calling.
Why it’s a pick: Alexa Emergency Assist had the fastest response time of any medical alert system we tested. In addition to connections with live emergency services and notifications when a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm has been detected, the service can notify up to 25 of your emergency contacts. If you aren’t familiar with smart speakers, it may impose a bit of a learning curve, but once you get used to it, Alexa Emergency Assist offers several potentially useful features, including the ability to act as an intercom, allowing family, friends, and caregivers with Echo devices to “drop in” for an instant two-way conversation.
Anne Madison told us that the service works well and she’s “now a firm believer in it” after a fall in the bedroom left her unable to get up. “I said something along the lines of ‘Alexa, call for help,’ and an actual human operator answered, listened to my problem, and indicated that they would call 911,” she said. Paramedics arrived within a few minutes and suggested that she call a relative. In the chaos, Anne misplaced her phone, but a quick “Alexa, call my phone” helped her locate it just as swiftly.
Smart displays and voice-communication devices
Smart screens make keeping in touch easier and more personal than a simple phone call. These devices connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network, allowing for video and voice calls to family, friends, telemedicine appointments, emergency services, and more. They also offer voice control, which allows you to call up news, weather, and trivia, as well as to control and view smart-home devices such as light bulbs, security cameras, and smart plugs.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa
How it helps: Smart speakers with a built-in screen let you stay on top of the news and weather, and stay in touch with the important people in your life. “Voice-enabled technologies also provide a little bit of information and social interaction for people who live alone primarily,” said Laurie Orlov, founder and principal analyst at Aging and Health Technology Watch. “A smart speaker is so nice because they can ask a question and hear a voice.”
Why it’s a pick: The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) has excellent sound and a 13-megapixel face-tracking camera, both of which are great for making video calls. Alexa-based smart displays also have a “drop in” feature, which enables a two-way video chat with another Echo Show, just like on a two-way intercom. (If only one party has an Alexa device, that’s okay: Video chats also work with the Alexa app on any smartphone.)
People who are more tech-savvy can also use Alexa on the Echo Show to schedule Reminders about appointments and medication doses, watch videos about cooking, or view video with closed captioning (when available). In addition, the 8-inch touchscreen can call up the Show and Tell feature, in which blind and low-vision people can identify grocery items simply by holding them up to the Echo Show’s camera and asking “Alexa, what am I holding?”
If you have speech limitations, you may have problems using Alexa successfully.
Top pick
Compatibility: Apple Home
How it helps: Several experts we spoke to highly recommended a tablet, especially the Apple iPad due to its easy-to-use touchscreen, portability, and large screen size, as well as the Siri voice-control system. Like all smart speakers and screens, the iPad can provide news, weather, and podcasts, as well as games, video-streaming services, and more. Many people find an iPad more comfortable to use than a laptop, especially as it functions more or less like a smartphone and manual controls are easier to use because the app icons are larger.
Why it’s a pick: If you’re a little tech-savvy, you can use an iPad to access the apps for all of the devices we mention elsewhere in this guide. Using both Siri and an iPad, you can combine the control of multiple smart-home devices with one voice command: For instance, you can say “Siri, turn on the living room” to power several lights — and you can combine those lights with smart plugs, cameras, and other smart devices, as long as they support the Apple Home platform. (Siri voice commands and the Home platform are not compatible with as many smart-home devices as Alexa and Google Home are.)
Smart contact sensors
If you’re planning to get a home security system, such as the Ring Alarm system, buy sensors that work with that specific system. Otherwise, individual smart contact sensors are very inexpensive and offer a good way to create a do-it-yourself home security system that can keep tabs on doors, windows, and drawers. Such sensors are also helpful for caregivers who need to track a loved one’s daily activities. For instance, a sensor on a door can send smartphone alerts whenever someone enters or leaves, or if the door has been left open too long. And a sensor placed on a refrigerator door lets you know that your loved one is remembering to eat.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, IFTTT, Matter, SmartThings
How it helps: Many smart contact sensors are tied to security systems or specific platforms, such as Alexa, Apple Home, or Google Home. All of them can integrate with other smart devices so that opening a door can trigger a light, prompt a voice announcement, or even call the police.
Why it’s a pick: The Aqara Door and Window Sensor uses Zigbee wireless technology instead of Wi-Fi, so it works well in parts of a house where Wi-Fi is weak. This device requires the use of a plug-in device called an Aqara Hub, which can support up to 128 sensors and also adds smart-home support so that you can pair it with other smart devices around the house. For instance, we created automated Routines using the Alexa app that would announce “The back door is open” on an Amazon Echo Show and trigger a smart light bulb to turn on whenever someone opened the door.
Water-leak sensors
About one in 60 US households each year file an insurance claim related to water-damage incidents, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Those often happen in hard-to-notice and even harder-to-reach areas such as the basement, by the water heater, or behind the washing machine. Smart water-leak sensors can alert you the instant they detect water, by sending an alert to your smartphone. Some 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 headache.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, IFTTT
How it helps: A good leak sensor ensures that you are aware of detected water, even if you aren’t home or nearby. The best models have a loud alarm and the ability to integrate with smart-home platforms so that you can receive smart alerts. We also prefer when alerts can be silenced in the app, so you don’t need to physically access the detector (or wade through water) to stop an alarm.
Why it’s a pick: The YoLink Water Leak Sensor 4 requires a YoLink hub, which you can buy separately or as part of a bundle with multiple sensors. The YoLink model is one of the few to have both top- and bottom-mounted sensor probes, which makes such designs potentially more versatile — in our tests, both sensing methods detected water within two seconds. If water is present, the hub emits an 87-decibel alarm and sends a smartphone alert.
YoLink also sends a smartphone alert when the sensor has gone offline, which we appreciate. You can set an off timer in the app to ensure that the sensor won’t keep beeping after it detects water. If you don’t want to purchase a hub or want Google Home compatibility, we recommend the Kidde Water Leak + Freeze Detector.
Smart locks
Everyone forgets their keys now and then—and sometimes people forget to lock the door, too. Smart locks let you live key-free if you like, and they also allow others to have access to your home without difficulty. Smart locks can respond to remote control as well, and you can set them to alert you when the lock is 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, or if you just want to make sure the house is locked up for the night. (Note that although many smart locks also offer a keypad option, we don’t recommend that option for anyone with memory issues.)
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home
How it helps: From a security perspective, smart locks are especially handy because there are no keys to lose — and you can be notified whenever someone triggers the lock. You can also check the status of locks using voice or an app, and you can program them to automatically lock after a set period, when you leave or arrive home, and at a set time every night.
Why it’s a pick: The Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt doesn’t have some of the bells and whistles of other smart locks, but this model is about as easy as it gets to set up and use. This lock is also strong and reliable, with built-in smarts that allow you to lock and unlock the door remotely, as well as to check whether the door has been left open. And if you or a loved one ever forgets or misplaces a key, you can use an app to unlock the door.
Another option to consider: The Aqara Smart Lock U100 offers more ways to get into the house, including a keypad and a fingerprint reader. And if you own an Apple Watch or iPhone, you can set up this smart lock to unlock when you simply hold up your phone, via Apple HomeKey. This lock is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Matter.
Cameras and monitoring
Smart security cameras are like a digital castle wall—they allow you to see who is outside your door without having to open it. Doorbell cameras let you screen who is visiting and allow you to decide whether to answer, and regardless they send smartphone alerts and capture video footage when someone visits. Indoor cameras are a great tool for caregivers to keep an eye on the things of a loved one, and they can send alerts when someone is moving about the house (and can serve as a way to document falls for health professionals).
All the experts we spoke with cautioned that the decision to put a camera into someone else’s home should be made in conjunction with the person who will be living with the camera. Some people find a camera to be intrusive, and it can be very scary for anyone with memory issues.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home
How it helps: A smart doorbell camera allows you to screen whoever comes to the door from anywhere in the world, regardless of whether the guest rings the bell. When someone rings the bell, you hear it at home but also receive a smartphone notification. From there, you can opt to answer the door remotely or just keep a record of who is coming and going—and how long they hang around. “Video doorbells are great, especially if [the person living with them is] having mobility challenges,” said William Dale, MD, PhD, professor and chair of supportive care medicine at the Center for Cancer and Aging at City of Hope. “Maybe the house is a little big for them or they have to be in a far part of the house, and getting all the way to the doors becomes a challenge.”
Why it’s a pick: The Google Nest Doorbell delivers the best performance, when it comes to speed and accuracy, for determining whether a visitor is a person, animal, car, or package delivery. It can record video to cloud-based storage for free—though it hangs on to that footage for only three hours. If you want to keep video recordings longer, a Nest Aware plan costs $10 per month or $100 per year; bumping that up to $20 per month (or $200 per year) buys you motion-event storage for up to 60 days or 10 days of 24/7 recording.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, SmartThings
How it helps: An indoor camera provides peace of mind when you’re not home, whether you want to monitor your property or your pet. For caregivers, it allows you to remotely monitor home visits, movement, and whether someone is taking their medicine.
All the experts we spoke with were adamant that for caregivers, installing indoor security cameras needs to be a decision made between you and your loved one. “Transparency should be obvious. Nobody likes to be monitored without knowing,” said City of Hope’s William Dale. “These kinds of things have to be really carefully thought about rather than just assumed that it’s okay.” Talk about why it’s important to the person living with the camera, how it works, and how you can use it to communicate, since most cameras come equipped with a speaker and microphone.
Why it’s a pick: The TP-Link Tapo C120 can distinguish between people, pets, vehicles, and general motion, but it’s also inexpensive to run. You can opt to use a microSD card and record 24/7 footage or just motion-activated events. It also supports cloud storage, so you never have to worry about accessing content if someone pulls the card or a power outage occurs; a Tapo Care plan starts at $3.50 per month for one camera and increases to $7 for two, $10.50 for three, and $12 for up to 10. For multiple cameras, this model is more expensive than some of our other picks, but we think the price is still reasonable.
Another option to consider: The Tapo C120 supports Alexa and Google Home but not Apple Home. If Apple Home is your preferred ecosystem, or if you want to use Apple HomeKit Secure Video (a free video-storage service that comes with paid iCloud plans starting at $1 per camera), we recommend the Eufy Indoor Cam C120. The Eufy camera has some of the same features as the Tapo model but is a bit more expensive.
Other useful 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 turning lights on and off, turning fans and space heaters on and off, and monitoring appliances.
Smart plugs
Smart plugs bless traditional electrical devices with smart controls, yet they are the most straightforward assistive devices around: Plug one into an electrical outlet, pair it with a smartphone, and then connect a table lamp, a fan, or another on/off device to the smart plug. You can now remotely turn your device on or off or put it on a repeating schedule.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings
How it helps: Smart plugs alleviate the need to physically manipulate switches for devices such as table lamps, heaters, and fans, as well as for Christmas lights and other items that may be inconvenient to access. Smart plugs are also less complicated to set up than traditional timers, which often have tiny pins and buttons that make programming them complicated.
Why it’s a pick: The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) has everything you may want in a single-outlet smart plug, including remote control, easy-to-set timers, and scheduling. It’s also compatible with all of the major smart-home platforms for voice control. An extra feature for anyone who is conservation-minded is that it monitors the energy usage of whatever device you plug into it.
Smart lighting
A dark house can be intimidating but also dangerous for people of any age. 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. “For so many, getting up to turn off the lights before bed or fumbling to find the light switch when you need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night isn’t only inconvenient, it can pose a real danger,” said Claire Perlman, Wirecutter’s editor of accessibility and aging in place. “These devices can make so many things in your house hands-free, which can be a game changer.”
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings
How it helps: Many people prefer the option to control their lights the old-fashioned way: by flipping a switch. Smart light switches and dimmers, which replace existing light switches, extend smart capabilities such as remote control, scheduling, and integration with other smart devices to existing non-smart lighting.
Why it’s a pick: The Leviton Decora Smart No-Neutral Dimmer DN6HD doesn’t need a neutral wire, so it should work just fine no matter how old a home’s wiring is. We also like that the dimmer looks and functions like any non-smart dimmer, making it easy to operate lighting at the switch location. It does require a $20 plug-in Wi-Fi bridge, which creates a wireless network to make up for Wi-Fi dead zones in your home. The hub can accommodate up to 25 no-neutral-wire dimmers and switches, which you can control individually or in one or more groups of devices, as well as schedule to go on or off at specific times and dimming levels.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri Shortcuts, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings
How it helps: Smart light bulbs are a quicker and less permanent option for smart lighting than smart dimming switches. Most of them look like standard bulbs and fit the same fixtures but provide smart-lighting features such as remote control and scheduling. Just keep in mind that if you turn the bulb off at the lamp or a switch, you can’t use an app, scheduling, or voice control — that restriction makes smart bulbs best for areas where you want them to turn on and off on a regular schedule.
Why it’s a pick: The WiZ 60W A19 Color LED Smart Bulb uses Wi-Fi (so there’s no need for a wireless hub) and is easy to set up and control, yet it’s inexpensive enough that it allows you to add smart lighting throughout a home. You can dim it, tune it to different colors and white temperatures (warm white, daylight, or cool white), control it remotely, and put it on a schedule, all through the app.
Smart pill dispensers
You can find many varieties of pill boxes, but smart pill dispensers can deliver daily reminders about medication times, and dispense proper portions on a set schedule. We’ve seen several models with particularly high prices ($700 to $1,500), hefty subscription fees (averaging $30 per month), or both. However, if you’ve had issues with missed or incorrect doses, it may be worth the added expense. (And you should check with insurance to see if any of those costs can be covered.).
Top pick
How it helps: If you take more than one pill a day, a pill box is a must. However, they need to be filled weekly (or sometimes more), and some people need an extra nudge. A smart pill dispenser can organize several weeks of medication, and ensure the right dose is being dispensed at precisely the right times.
Why it’s a pick: The Hero Smart Pill Dispenser can hold up to 90 days of 10 different meds. When it’s pill-taking time, the Hero delivers an audible and visual alert. Then you simply press a button on the device itself to have your meds dispensed. If someone decides to skip a day or a dose, the Hero will send a smartphone alert to the user but also anyone else you choose to designate, using the companion app. It can also remind users to take up to 10 additional meds that aren’t stored in the device. One downside is that the Hero requires a 1-year commitment to a monthly $45 subscription, or $30 if you pay annually.
Our tester found the Hero to be reliable, and said that while the cost was covered by insurance, the price out of pocket would still be a lot less than paying someone to manage and monitor medications.
What to look forward to
We started looking at the Ome Smart Stove Knob 2.0, a Wi-Fi–enabled add-on that provides remote control and monitoring of a stovetop. However, we noticed a few issues, particularly a very low battery life of just a few days. Ome told us that it is working on the battery and a few other updates, and we plan to continue testing the device soon.
This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.
Sources
-
Christian Cerda, CEO of SimpliSafe, phone interview, March 12, 2020
-
William Dale, MD, PhD, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, phone interview, February 19, 2020
-
Anne Madison, smart-home device owner, video interview, February 22, 2024
-
Andy Miller, senior vice president of innovation and product development, AARP, phone interview, March 5, 2020
-
Laurie M. Orlov, principal analyst, Aging and Health Technology Watch, phone interview, April 23, 2020
-
Claire Perlman, editor of accessibility and aging in place, Wirecutter, email interview, April 12, 2024
-
David Siegel, CEO of Nationwide Medical and board member of the American Association for Homecare, email interview, April 8, 2024
Why you should trust us
I’m a senior staff writer covering the smart home for Wirecutter. I have been writing about technology for more than 20 years, and I have written guides on outdoor security cameras, smart speakers, and smart bird feeders.
For this guide:
- I’ve tested more than 650 different smart-home products over the past seven years alone.
- I interviewed 10 different users, caregivers, doctors, and other experts.
- In accordance with Wirecutter standards, our staffers return or donate all products we’ve tested once our assessment of them is complete (this may involve longer-term testing conducted by my colleagues and me). We never hang on to “freebies” once testing is done.
Who this is for
This guide is for the person wanting to age in place, as well as family members, friends, or caregivers who support an older adult’s decision to live independently. Almost 58 million people over the age of 65 live in the US, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), and in a 2024 AARP survey, more than three-quarters of people 50 and over said they intended to remain in their homes as they aged, whether for comfort or cost reasons.
Smart-home devices aren’t a replacement for human care, but they can be a reliable tool when caregivers can’t be around in person, providing a 24/7 connection to help ensure safety, assist a loved one with daily tasks, and allow them to check in. These devices include:
- home security cameras for communicating or for monitoring who is coming and going
- smart lighting for illuminating dark hallways and entryways
- smart plugs with timers to ensure that devices like space heaters and fans are on and off at appropriate times of day
“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 offer discounts on select devices and services.)
If you’re buying and setting up smart devices for yourself, you need to be capable of dealing with smartphone apps and some lightweight installation, and you may need to do some low-level technical troubleshooting, such as adjusting Wi-Fi settings. If you’re not up for that sort of thing, you need to depend on a family member, a friend, a caregiver, or potentially a professional service to get things up and running (and, occasionally, back up and running).
If a caregiver is the person intending to use smart devices to help in the care of someone else, the experts we spoke with were emphatic that the caregiver and older person work in collaboration. The person being cared for should be fully informed as to what devices are being used and where, what they do, and how they work. The caregiver should explain how these devices can help them feel safer and more comfortable, and even live a more independent life.
Claire Perlman, Wirecutter’s editor of accessibility and aging in place, noted that it’s important to recognize 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,” Claire 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.”
Also, the decision to use smart technology necessarily raises security and privacy concerns. At Wirecutter, we vet all of our product and service picks to confirm that they abide by standard safety practices. Whatever privacy sacrifices you may incur by using the picks we recommend, based on our experience we believe that the real-world benefits outweigh any likely 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 picked and tested
This guide is the product of several years of testing and reporting on smart devices, as well conversations and interviews with a range of manufacturers, doctors, caregivers, experts, and smart-home device owners. That group includes 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 at AARP; and Laurie Orlov, analyst and founder of Aging and Health Technology Watch. I also consulted research conducted for Wirecutter’s previous guides to emergency-contact systems and pill dispensers.
The input of those experts, along with the experience of smart-home device owners, helped shape our decisions about which devices to include. Some of these selections may not be our overall top picks in their respective guides, since older people and their caregivers may be better off with a different option that meets their specific needs.
For each section of this guide, we looked for devices that offered the following features and attributes:
- Simple operation: Ideally, smart-home devices are intuitive to use, and when possible they allow operation via manual controls in addition to app or voice commands. And because all of these smart-home devices need to be operated and maintained remotely, we prioritized those that are easy for the caregiver to use from afar, as well as for the older adult living day-to-day with the technology.
- Smart-home functions: All the devices we selected work with iOS or Android devices, but if you intend to have several smart devices work together — to integrate them — you should first confirm that they support the same smart-home software platforms, because you don’t want to discover later on that the devices can’t talk to one another. The most popular platforms are Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Matter, and Samsung SmartThings. Many smart devices allow you to control them using at least one and often several of those platforms simultaneously.
- Wireless connectivity: Most of these devices require a Wi-Fi connection to function. If you’re planning to use multiple devices or any that stream video, first confirm that the person’s home has sufficient Wi-Fi bandwidth. If the home has poor reception in some areas, consider investing in a wireless extender or a Wi-Fi mesh-networking kit.
- Safety: We considered a lot of different types of smart-home devices for this guide but focused primarily on those that enhance safety and security, which are of particular concern for older people living at home and especially those living alone.
- Unobtrusive design: We don’t recommend using devices to spy on anyone, but we did look for devices that wouldn’t clutter the home and could function without interrupting a person’s everyday life. That group included devices that could work in a traditional manner, such as a light switch or doorbell, while also supporting smart features.
Do you want a whole-house security system?
Although you can start small and build up a smart home as your time and budget allow, do-it-yourself home security systems pack many of the devices we consider to be essential into one purchase that works seamlessly.
A smart security system provides more than just protection from break-ins. These DIY systems work with a wide array of helpful devices that make it easier to keep tabs on your home overall.
Such systems include relatively inconspicuous sensors that let you know when a door or window has been left open. Security cameras notify you when visitors of any sort come, and they also record when deliveries arrive. Some systems offer other helpful add-on devices, such as water-leak sensors, key fobs, glass-break sensors, and panic buttons. Conveniently, the systems also allow you to manage all of these devices using a single smartphone app (instead of juggling several).
We strongly recommend adding a professional monitoring plan to a security system so that in the event of an alarm, a live person from a call center will alert you directly — and if you’re unreachable, they’ll notify anyone else you deem an emergency contact. The call center can also contact the police or fire department if there’s a need, or if no one can be reached.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Works With Ring
How it helps: The Ring Alarm system can support almost every add-on you can imagine, including a few options for door and window sensors, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and several types of hardwired and battery-operated doorbells and cameras. If you want something more advanced, the Ring Alarm Pro system can improve Wi-Fi coverage in your home and includes emergency internet backup (for a fee) and up to 24 additional hours of backup power in case of an outage.
Why it’s a pick: Ring’s system is easy to set up, it’s completely reliable, its sensors perform well, and Ring offers more types of indoor and outdoor camera add-ons than we’ve seen for any other system we’ve tested. It also offers the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to professional monitoring ($20 per month or $200 per year).
The essentials
When you’re making an aging-in-place plan, personal safety should be a top priority. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one out of four people 65 and older fall each year. The US Fire Administration (an entity of FEMA) says that the same age group is 2.5 times more likely to die in a fire than the population as a whole. Smart safety devices can keep tabs on potential dangers and connect you with emergency services if needed. And if you’re a caregiver, you can keep an eye out for some of those worries and possibly save your loved one’s life, notifying both emergency services and contacts whether they’re on the other side of town or the other side of the country.
Smart emergency-contact systems
Typical emergency-contact systems consist of wearable electronic devices that provide on-call monitoring and may include fall alerts; some charge a monthly fee. Having a way to contact emergency services is an absolute must. “A device that can be worn on the wrist allows for 24/7 monitoring and can help identify against the biggest and most common concern, which is a fall,” said David Siegel, CEO of Nationwide Medical. “A wrist-worn device can also provide important data, detect falls, determine location, and even serve as a telephonic or text communication device.”
For this guide, we considered nontraditional smart options, which don’t require a contract, can be used every day, and incorporate a variety of convenience features.
Top pick
Compatibility: Apple Home
How it helps: An emergency-contact system works only if you actually wear the device. Our experts noted that they’ve frequently heard of resistance to wearing devices such as clunky bracelets and necklaces with built-in emergency buttons. “[Many people] don’t want to wear them because of the stigma,” said Andy Miller, senior vice president of innovation and product development at AARP. “It makes them feel old.” The Apple Watch SE is more discreet than any other emergency-contact system out there — probably because it wasn’t designed as an emergency-contact system. It’s a smartwatch that can make and take calls, stream music, control smart-home devices via Siri voice commands, and more.
Why it’s a pick: The Apple Watch SE has built-in fall detection and crash detection, as well as a side button that can call emergency contacts. This version of the Apple Watch can also share with emergency responders important medical information, such as blood type and medications, and physical activity including ECG stats. It even works with apps like FallCall, which can trigger a central monitoring station (versus 911) via Siri voice commands or an icon on the watch. If you want more advanced sensors to monitor additional heart info and signs of sleep apnea, we recommend the Apple Watch Series 10.
One important note: To contact emergency services, the base-model Apple Watch must be paired with an iPhone that’s within Bluetooth range or connected to a known Wi-Fi network (with Wi-Fi calling enabled). If that’s a concern inside or outside the home, opt for a pricier model with a cellular plan (which costs extra). We also recommend pairing the Apple Watch with a bedside wireless charger, which increases the cost but also improves the functionality.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa
How it helps: If you don’t like the idea of a wearable but want the assurance of easy access to assistance, consider Alexa Emergency Assist, a paid service ($6 per month or $59 per year) that connects you to live responders who can request emergency services and relay critical medical information. It works with all Amazon Echo smart speakers and screens, but we like the Amazon Echo Dot because it’s the smallest, least expensive Echo smart speaker, and it responds well to voice commands to deliver entertainment and news, as well as to put you in near-instant touch with emergency contacts such as family, friends, and caregivers through Alexa Calling.
Why it’s a pick: Alexa Emergency Assist had the fastest response time of any medical alert system we tested. In addition to connections with live emergency services and notifications when a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm has been detected, the service can notify up to 25 of your emergency contacts. If you aren’t familiar with smart speakers, it may impose a bit of a learning curve, but once you get used to it, Alexa Emergency Assist offers several potentially useful features, including the ability to act as an intercom, allowing family, friends, and caregivers with Echo devices to “drop in” for an instant two-way conversation.
Anne Madison told us that the service works well and she’s “now a firm believer in it” after a fall in the bedroom left her unable to get up. “I said something along the lines of ‘Alexa, call for help,’ and an actual human operator answered, listened to my problem, and indicated that they would call 911,” she said. Paramedics arrived within a few minutes and suggested that she call a relative. In the chaos, Anne misplaced her phone, but a quick “Alexa, call my phone” helped her locate it just as swiftly.
Smart displays and voice-communication devices
Smart screens make keeping in touch easier and more personal than a simple phone call. These devices connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network, allowing for video and voice calls to family, friends, telemedicine appointments, emergency services, and more. They also offer voice control, which allows you to call up news, weather, and trivia, as well as to control and view smart-home devices such as light bulbs, security cameras, and smart plugs.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa
How it helps: Smart speakers with a built-in screen let you stay on top of the news and weather, and stay in touch with the important people in your life. “Voice-enabled technologies also provide a little bit of information and social interaction for people who live alone primarily,” said Laurie Orlov, founder and principal analyst at Aging and Health Technology Watch. “A smart speaker is so nice because they can ask a question and hear a voice.”
Why it’s a pick: The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) has excellent sound and a 13-megapixel face-tracking camera, both of which are great for making video calls. Alexa-based smart displays also have a “drop in” feature, which enables a two-way video chat with another Echo Show, just like on a two-way intercom. (If only one party has an Alexa device, that’s okay: Video chats also work with the Alexa app on any smartphone.)
People who are more tech-savvy can also use Alexa on the Echo Show to schedule Reminders about appointments and medication doses, watch videos about cooking, or view video with closed captioning (when available). In addition, the 8-inch touchscreen can call up the Show and Tell feature, in which blind and low-vision people can identify grocery items simply by holding them up to the Echo Show’s camera and asking “Alexa, what am I holding?”
If you have speech limitations, you may have problems using Alexa successfully.
Top pick
Compatibility: Apple Home
How it helps: Several experts we spoke to highly recommended a tablet, especially the Apple iPad due to its easy-to-use touchscreen, portability, and large screen size, as well as the Siri voice-control system. Like all smart speakers and screens, the iPad can provide news, weather, and podcasts, as well as games, video-streaming services, and more. Many people find an iPad more comfortable to use than a laptop, especially as it functions more or less like a smartphone and manual controls are easier to use because the app icons are larger.
Why it’s a pick: If you’re a little tech-savvy, you can use an iPad to access the apps for all of the devices we mention elsewhere in this guide. Using both Siri and an iPad, you can combine the control of multiple smart-home devices with one voice command: For instance, you can say “Siri, turn on the living room” to power several lights — and you can combine those lights with smart plugs, cameras, and other smart devices, as long as they support the Apple Home platform. (Siri voice commands and the Home platform are not compatible with as many smart-home devices as Alexa and Google Home are.)
Smart contact sensors
If you’re planning to get a home security system, such as the Ring Alarm system, buy sensors that work with that specific system. Otherwise, individual smart contact sensors are very inexpensive and offer a good way to create a do-it-yourself home security system that can keep tabs on doors, windows, and drawers. Such sensors are also helpful for caregivers who need to track a loved one’s daily activities. For instance, a sensor on a door can send smartphone alerts whenever someone enters or leaves, or if the door has been left open too long. And a sensor placed on a refrigerator door lets you know that your loved one is remembering to eat.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, IFTTT, Matter, SmartThings
How it helps: Many smart contact sensors are tied to security systems or specific platforms, such as Alexa, Apple Home, or Google Home. All of them can integrate with other smart devices so that opening a door can trigger a light, prompt a voice announcement, or even call the police.
Why it’s a pick: The Aqara Door and Window Sensor uses Zigbee wireless technology instead of Wi-Fi, so it works well in parts of a house where Wi-Fi is weak. This device requires the use of a plug-in device called an Aqara Hub, which can support up to 128 sensors and also adds smart-home support so that you can pair it with other smart devices around the house. For instance, we created automated Routines using the Alexa app that would announce “The back door is open” on an Amazon Echo Show and trigger a smart light bulb to turn on whenever someone opened the door.
Water-leak sensors
About one in 60 US households each year file an insurance claim related to water-damage incidents, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Those often happen in hard-to-notice and even harder-to-reach areas such as the basement, by the water heater, or behind the washing machine. Smart water-leak sensors can alert you the instant they detect water, by sending an alert to your smartphone. Some 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 headache.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, IFTTT
How it helps: A good leak sensor ensures that you are aware of detected water, even if you aren’t home or nearby. The best models have a loud alarm and the ability to integrate with smart-home platforms so that you can receive smart alerts. We also prefer when alerts can be silenced in the app, so you don’t need to physically access the detector (or wade through water) to stop an alarm.
Why it’s a pick: The YoLink Water Leak Sensor 4 requires a YoLink hub, which you can buy separately or as part of a bundle with multiple sensors. The YoLink model is one of the few to have both top- and bottom-mounted sensor probes, which makes such designs potentially more versatile — in our tests, both sensing methods detected water within two seconds. If water is present, the hub emits an 87-decibel alarm and sends a smartphone alert.
YoLink also sends a smartphone alert when the sensor has gone offline, which we appreciate. You can set an off timer in the app to ensure that the sensor won’t keep beeping after it detects water. If you don’t want to purchase a hub or want Google Home compatibility, we recommend the Kidde Water Leak + Freeze Detector.
Smart locks
Everyone forgets their keys now and then—and sometimes people forget to lock the door, too. Smart locks let you live key-free if you like, and they also allow others to have access to your home without difficulty. Smart locks can respond to remote control as well, and you can set them to alert you when the lock is 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, or if you just want to make sure the house is locked up for the night. (Note that although many smart locks also offer a keypad option, we don’t recommend that option for anyone with memory issues.)
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home
How it helps: From a security perspective, smart locks are especially handy because there are no keys to lose — and you can be notified whenever someone triggers the lock. You can also check the status of locks using voice or an app, and you can program them to automatically lock after a set period, when you leave or arrive home, and at a set time every night.
Why it’s a pick: The Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt doesn’t have some of the bells and whistles of other smart locks, but this model is about as easy as it gets to set up and use. This lock is also strong and reliable, with built-in smarts that allow you to lock and unlock the door remotely, as well as to check whether the door has been left open. And if you or a loved one ever forgets or misplaces a key, you can use an app to unlock the door.
Another option to consider: The Aqara Smart Lock U100 offers more ways to get into the house, including a keypad and a fingerprint reader. And if you own an Apple Watch or iPhone, you can set up this smart lock to unlock when you simply hold up your phone, via Apple HomeKey. This lock is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Matter.
Cameras and monitoring
Smart security cameras are like a digital castle wall—they allow you to see who is outside your door without having to open it. Doorbell cameras let you screen who is visiting and allow you to decide whether to answer, and regardless they send smartphone alerts and capture video footage when someone visits. Indoor cameras are a great tool for caregivers to keep an eye on the things of a loved one, and they can send alerts when someone is moving about the house (and can serve as a way to document falls for health professionals).
All the experts we spoke with cautioned that the decision to put a camera into someone else’s home should be made in conjunction with the person who will be living with the camera. Some people find a camera to be intrusive, and it can be very scary for anyone with memory issues.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home
How it helps: A smart doorbell camera allows you to screen whoever comes to the door from anywhere in the world, regardless of whether the guest rings the bell. When someone rings the bell, you hear it at home but also receive a smartphone notification. From there, you can opt to answer the door remotely or just keep a record of who is coming and going—and how long they hang around. “Video doorbells are great, especially if [the person living with them is] having mobility challenges,” said William Dale, MD, PhD, professor and chair of supportive care medicine at the Center for Cancer and Aging at City of Hope. “Maybe the house is a little big for them or they have to be in a far part of the house, and getting all the way to the doors becomes a challenge.”
Why it’s a pick: The Google Nest Doorbell delivers the best performance, when it comes to speed and accuracy, for determining whether a visitor is a person, animal, car, or package delivery. It can record video to cloud-based storage for free—though it hangs on to that footage for only three hours. If you want to keep video recordings longer, a Nest Aware plan costs $10 per month or $100 per year; bumping that up to $20 per month (or $200 per year) buys you motion-event storage for up to 60 days or 10 days of 24/7 recording.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, SmartThings
How it helps: An indoor camera provides peace of mind when you’re not home, whether you want to monitor your property or your pet. For caregivers, it allows you to remotely monitor home visits, movement, and whether someone is taking their medicine.
All the experts we spoke with were adamant that for caregivers, installing indoor security cameras needs to be a decision made between you and your loved one. “Transparency should be obvious. Nobody likes to be monitored without knowing,” said City of Hope’s William Dale. “These kinds of things have to be really carefully thought about rather than just assumed that it’s okay.” Talk about why it’s important to the person living with the camera, how it works, and how you can use it to communicate, since most cameras come equipped with a speaker and microphone.
Why it’s a pick: The TP-Link Tapo C120 can distinguish between people, pets, vehicles, and general motion, but it’s also inexpensive to run. You can opt to use a microSD card and record 24/7 footage or just motion-activated events. It also supports cloud storage, so you never have to worry about accessing content if someone pulls the card or a power outage occurs; a Tapo Care plan starts at $3.50 per month for one camera and increases to $7 for two, $10.50 for three, and $12 for up to 10. For multiple cameras, this model is more expensive than some of our other picks, but we think the price is still reasonable.
Another option to consider: The Tapo C120 supports Alexa and Google Home but not Apple Home. If Apple Home is your preferred ecosystem, or if you want to use Apple HomeKit Secure Video (a free video-storage service that comes with paid iCloud plans starting at $1 per camera), we recommend the Eufy Indoor Cam C120. The Eufy camera has some of the same features as the Tapo model but is a bit more expensive.
Other useful 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 turning lights on and off, turning fans and space heaters on and off, and monitoring appliances.
Smart plugs
Smart plugs bless traditional electrical devices with smart controls, yet they are the most straightforward assistive devices around: Plug one into an electrical outlet, pair it with a smartphone, and then connect a table lamp, a fan, or another on/off device to the smart plug. You can now remotely turn your device on or off or put it on a repeating schedule.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings
How it helps: Smart plugs alleviate the need to physically manipulate switches for devices such as table lamps, heaters, and fans, as well as for Christmas lights and other items that may be inconvenient to access. Smart plugs are also less complicated to set up than traditional timers, which often have tiny pins and buttons that make programming them complicated.
Why it’s a pick: The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) has everything you may want in a single-outlet smart plug, including remote control, easy-to-set timers, and scheduling. It’s also compatible with all of the major smart-home platforms for voice control. An extra feature for anyone who is conservation-minded is that it monitors the energy usage of whatever device you plug into it.
Smart lighting
A dark house can be intimidating but also dangerous for people of any age. 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. “For so many, getting up to turn off the lights before bed or fumbling to find the light switch when you need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night isn’t only inconvenient, it can pose a real danger,” said Claire Perlman, Wirecutter’s editor of accessibility and aging in place. “These devices can make so many things in your house hands-free, which can be a game changer.”
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings
How it helps: Many people prefer the option to control their lights the old-fashioned way: by flipping a switch. Smart light switches and dimmers, which replace existing light switches, extend smart capabilities such as remote control, scheduling, and integration with other smart devices to existing non-smart lighting.
Why it’s a pick: The Leviton Decora Smart No-Neutral Dimmer DN6HD doesn’t need a neutral wire, so it should work just fine no matter how old a home’s wiring is. We also like that the dimmer looks and functions like any non-smart dimmer, making it easy to operate lighting at the switch location. It does require a $20 plug-in Wi-Fi bridge, which creates a wireless network to make up for Wi-Fi dead zones in your home. The hub can accommodate up to 25 no-neutral-wire dimmers and switches, which you can control individually or in one or more groups of devices, as well as schedule to go on or off at specific times and dimming levels.
Top pick
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri Shortcuts, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings
How it helps: Smart light bulbs are a quicker and less permanent option for smart lighting than smart dimming switches. Most of them look like standard bulbs and fit the same fixtures but provide smart-lighting features such as remote control and scheduling. Just keep in mind that if you turn the bulb off at the lamp or a switch, you can’t use an app, scheduling, or voice control — that restriction makes smart bulbs best for areas where you want them to turn on and off on a regular schedule.
Why it’s a pick: The WiZ 60W A19 Color LED Smart Bulb uses Wi-Fi (so there’s no need for a wireless hub) and is easy to set up and control, yet it’s inexpensive enough that it allows you to add smart lighting throughout a home. You can dim it, tune it to different colors and white temperatures (warm white, daylight, or cool white), control it remotely, and put it on a schedule, all through the app.
Smart pill dispensers
You can find many varieties of pill boxes, but smart pill dispensers can deliver daily reminders about medication times, and dispense proper portions on a set schedule. We’ve seen several models with particularly high prices ($700 to $1,500), hefty subscription fees (averaging $30 per month), or both. However, if you’ve had issues with missed or incorrect doses, it may be worth the added expense. (And you should check with insurance to see if any of those costs can be covered.).
Top pick
How it helps: If you take more than one pill a day, a pill box is a must. However, they need to be filled weekly (or sometimes more), and some people need an extra nudge. A smart pill dispenser can organize several weeks of medication, and ensure the right dose is being dispensed at precisely the right times.
Why it’s a pick: The Hero Smart Pill Dispenser can hold up to 90 days of 10 different meds. When it’s pill-taking time, the Hero delivers an audible and visual alert. Then you simply press a button on the device itself to have your meds dispensed. If someone decides to skip a day or a dose, the Hero will send a smartphone alert to the user but also anyone else you choose to designate, using the companion app. It can also remind users to take up to 10 additional meds that aren’t stored in the device. One downside is that the Hero requires a 1-year commitment to a monthly $45 subscription, or $30 if you pay annually.
Our tester found the Hero to be reliable, and said that while the cost was covered by insurance, the price out of pocket would still be a lot less than paying someone to manage and monitor medications.
What to look forward to
We started looking at the Ome Smart Stove Knob 2.0, a Wi-Fi–enabled add-on that provides remote control and monitoring of a stovetop. However, we noticed a few issues, particularly a very low battery life of just a few days. Ome told us that it is working on the battery and a few other updates, and we plan to continue testing the device soon.
This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.
Sources
-
Christian Cerda, CEO of SimpliSafe, phone interview, March 12, 2020
-
William Dale, MD, PhD, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, phone interview, February 19, 2020
-
Anne Madison, smart-home device owner, video interview, February 22, 2024
-
Andy Miller, senior vice president of innovation and product development, AARP, phone interview, March 5, 2020
-
Laurie M. Orlov, principal analyst, Aging and Health Technology Watch, phone interview, April 23, 2020
-
Claire Perlman, editor of accessibility and aging in place, Wirecutter, email interview, April 12, 2024
-
David Siegel, CEO of Nationwide Medical and board member of the American Association for Homecare, email interview, April 8, 2024
