CHULA VISTA, CA—From telemedicine sessions and online nutritionists to Internet-enabled smart devices, seniors can use technology to live safely and independently at home in Cox Communications' and Shea Homes' Senior Smart Home. The home was introduced recently at an event held at Vista Del Cielo at Bella Lago, a new home community by Shea Homes here.

Cox has been at the forefront of smart-home technology in the San Diego market. As GlobeSt.com reported in August, Cox helped the city of San Diego become a Smart Gigabit Community, a program founded by the non-profit US Ignite, which focuses on advanced networking technology in order to build smart communities.

According to AARP, nearly 90% of adults age 65-plus prefer growing old in their current home rather than moving to an assisted-living or retirement community. The “Connected Independence” senior smart home technology allows seniors to keep living in their homes while providing their adult children with peace of mind.

“Smart-home technology can help families avoid the wrenching decision and the expense of moving an aging parent to an assisted living facility,” said Ryland Madison, director of product marketing for Cox Communications, in a prepared statement. Madison added that a connected home ensures that seniors can continue their daily routine while maintaining—and even enhancing—their quality of life in their own home.”

During the smart-home event, San Diego-based senior-living innovators, businesses and experts contributed to more than 50 interactive demonstrations, powered by Cox Communications' high-speed broadband network, which ran simultaneously throughout the home. These include virtual reality, telemedicine sessions, a double-robotics telepresence robot, remote physical therapy, readable voicemail, an automatic pill dispenser, a sound-enhanced landline telephone and a garbage can that scans items that are thrown away, builds a shopping list based on what needs to be replaced and schedules home delivery through Amazon Dash.

Additional stations included a Wi-Fi slow cooker, Wi-Fi vacuum, Wi-Fi cat, electronic pet feeder, electronic fork that tracks eating habits, Smart Door locks and video cameras, glass-break sensors, water/flood sensors, motion sensors and other safety devices.

“By connecting healthcare providers, caregivers and families to innovative care services through the smart home environment, families can prolong the quality of life at home and lower healthcare costs without sacrificing peace of mind,” Madison said, adding that reliable high-speed internet is essential for multiple devices to work properly at the same time.

Instant Insights /

How Technology Can Help Seniors Age in Place

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