The use of smart home technologies and voice-first applications and services (technology controlled primarily by speaking to it) are on the rise. Recognizing an opportunity for senior living, not-for-profit provider Front Porch of Glendale, Calif., decided to explore the ways this technology might help its residents.

Working with Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing (FPCIW), a Front Porch program focused on using technology to support seniors’ health and well-being, a pilot program was launched in February 2017 at Front Porch’s Carlsbad by the Sea community in San Diego.

Named the Voice-activated Independence and Smart Home Engagement Project (VISHN), the program set out to better understand how voice assistance and home automation technology could promote greater independence, safety, and social engagement.

Davis Park, director of FPCIW, says the Amazon Alexa device was chosen for the project because of its ability to provide a customizable experience and address the many needs of older adults. For example, he says one resident may utilize it to connect to a classical internet radio station while another may rely on it to provide reminders to take medicine.


“Everyone comes from a different place of need or experiences a certain loss that voice first has the power and potential to address,” he says.

The pilot was divided into two phases, launched four months apart: Phase 1 focused on project training, adoption, and implementation; Phase 2 focused on creating a smart home, with participants able to add Alexa-compatible smart plugs and thermostats in their apartments.

Resident interest in the program was high—22 residents applied for 12 devices. Working with the community’s resident technology chair and executive director, FPCIW selected 18 individuals in 12 homes for the rollout.

While Carlsbad by the Sea was already equipped with Wi-Fi, the community upgraded its broadband circuit to support the increased demand for connectivity and streaming load. After devices were installed in residents’ apartments, participants received a reference sheet of basic Alexa commands and attended bimonthly training workshops.

To further expand the program’s reach, staff members were also trained and devices were installed in high-traffic areas, including a transportation desk and main lobby, to allow residents and staff to use them and share their experiences.

During the 12-month program, FPCIW gathered feedback through focus groups and anecdotal reports from community members as well as post-pilot surveys. Overall, 71 percent of participants said they felt more connected to family, friends, and their community. Among the most common uses for the technology were weather updates, timers, and music (see box for more information). Some of the challenges shared by participants were volume/speaker issues, integrating personal calendars, and keeping track of the expanding library of Alexa skills.

Participants who chose to install one of the smart home devices also reported high satisfaction, citing the sense of independence and self-management that resulted from the ability to control certain features in their home.

For example, one resident with low vision said the smart thermostat helped her to set the right temperature in her home, while another appreciated the convenience and improved safety of lighting his bedroom with a smart-enabled lamp, especially in the middle of the night.

“What we learned is that personalizing the skills and services to the individuals’ interests and preferences is what drives this high impact,” says Kari Olson, chief innovation and technology officer for Front Porch and president of FPCIW. “Voice first combined with smart home solutions offers us a platform to deliver high-impact, low-cost personalized experiences and services to meet older adults’ individual needs on a large scale.”

Building on the success of the initial program, Front Porch received a grant this summer from the Consumer Technology Association Foundation to implement the technology at eight more of its senior living communities in California, Davis says. The organization is also working to develop an “Alexa in a Box” toolkit to outline adoption strategies, technical support protocols, educational programs, and staff engagement.

“The deployment of voice-first and smart home technologies in residents’ homes has opened up an exciting world of new opportunities for how we can support social engagement and independence for older adults,” Olson says.