We all need smart homes, whatever our age.  For the elderly, if their houses are also ‘smart’ then they may help to keep seniors at home longer.

Soon, their own homes could help keep seniors with dementia safe, reminding them with a friendly voice to turn off the tap or to shut off the stove if they forget, says a British researcher.

The “smart” home system was designed “to enable a person with dementia to have a bit more control over their lives and to stay where they want to stay, which is in their own homes where their memories are and where they feel comfortable until such time as they really do need a lot of detailed care,” says Roger Orpwood, director of the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering.

His system was presented Wednesday in a mock-up living environment at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s ‘Pioneers 09′ showcase in London.  It’s the latest in a string of technological innovations confronting the challenges of an aging population, from preserving independence to connecting with the outside world.

The Bath Institute of Medical Engineering (BIME) is a design and development charity working in the fields of medicine, health care and assistive technology for disabled people.  Their team of electrical and mechanical design engineers work on a large number of projects from technology for people living with dementia to very practical items of daily living equipment. The Institute aims to ensure all successful designs are made available to whomever can benefit.

Technorati Tags: Assistive technology, Dementia, Disability, smart house