A buying guide for the best smart speaker for elderly

There has been a lot of skepticism about the usefulness and security of smart speakers. However, they’re a great addition to your home, especially the best smart speaker for elderly will make your life easier. Things like setting reminders to take your medicine or asking tech-related questions will make your life less stressful.

We live in an era of technology and your aging parents will most likely not be familiar with all the new gadgets since technology and devices change so often, it can also be hard for you to keep track. Over the last two decades, mobile phones have changed from devices that use physical buttons for calling and messaging to touchscreens that are very easy to use. However, their user interface and operating systems may not be easy for the elderly to navigate. This is where smart speakers come into play. They’re very helpful especially with the elderly suffering from visual problems, Parkinson’s, and other ailments to help them have a sense of independence and be able to carry out their daily tasks.

What are smart devices?

The word ‘smart’ refers to any device that can communicate with other devices through the internet. They can help you save a lot of time, money, effort, and even your loved one’s life. Smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home make it easier for you to make your grocery list, play music, help with your kid’s homework, and set up reminders like the doctor’s appointment. Having smart lights and thermostats can help to hugely reduce your energy bill.

Your smart assistants

As our homes become smarter, you’re relying more on digital helpers like Alexa, Google Home, and Siri that live inside these devices and obey voice commands to turn on/off the lights, set timers, play music, and even teach our kids how to spell difficult words.

The best-recommended voice assistant is Alexa if you’re working with a wide range of smart home devices.

Google home assistant is better for more basic, music, and question-focused smart speaker use.

Siri works mostly with Apple devices and comes with an extensive home automated support through Apple home kit, so it’s used in fewer phones, home entertainment devices, and smart speakers than Alexa or Google assistant. However, different rooms may require the use of different smart assistant devices.

How do smart speakers work?

Amazon Echo and Google Home are voice-activated assistants that work wirelessly through a wifi connection just like you would with your laptop. These devices are the size of a soda can or a medium-sized coffee mug. For you to use a smart speaker, you will need to have a smartphone or tablet and an account on Google or Amazon then download the Goggle home Alexa apps and follow the instructions to your wifi. For you to use the new assistant, you just need to say “Alexa” for Amazon Echo and “OK Goggle” to activate it, then you can give it a command or ask your question. The voice assistants can recognize different voices so your schedules, calendars, or medication routine won’t get mixed up with another. If your home has other smart appliances, you can use your smart speaker to set the sprinkles, turn off your oven, or even turn the lights on/off.

Smart devices unlike other products use unique software and data to do what you command. They gather information from different sources that include the human voice, face and thumbprint biometrics, sensors, and apps so that each device performs a bit differently for each person.

Benefits of using smart speakers for elderly people

• If you have a loved one who is having problems with their mobility or has Parkinson’s disease, smart speakers can serve as a backup in case of an emergency and also help to improve their quality of life around the home. Many older people nowadays are living an independent lifestyle and smart speakers can be very useful in the following ways:
• A smart speaker can help organize small tasks by automating key household tasks like controlling your house’s heating system through the thermostat, completing a shopping list and sending it to your phone, and even answer questions about the bus and train times or the weather forecast for the week. It can work like a sophisticated remote control that can remove some of the strain of doing too many small tasks like turning on/off the lights without having to get up to do it that can be difficult for someone with mobility or not stable on their feet. You now have more time to do other things with your day and pursue what you enjoy doing for longer.
• The smart speakers have a voice activation that can recognize different individual voices which is very helpful for someone with visual impairment to help cope with different everyday tasks which might normally seem overwhelming. Some of the most common conditions that affect older people include Parkinson’s and arthritis but these speakers can make work easier because they can work from a seating position.
• Smart speakers are very easy to access with just a voice activation from a question or command to elicit a response. Some speaker models can be set to respond in case of an emergency like in case of a fall, the speaker can alert emergency services and a family member which can help save your life. This ensures that you’re living in a safe environment even if you’re living alone in your home.
• For older people who live alone, having a friendly voice 24/7 is a very comforting option. Google speakers have been programmed with Google assistant that has a personality of its own. You can ask it to sing you a song, play your favorite music, play trivia games, or even tell you a story. Smart speakers are designed to be friendly and can talk back to people and allows you to express yourself if you have problems making friends in the outside world. It’s like having a digital companion who can learn your habits and preferences and offer some connection and simulation even if it’s not the real thing. These speakers are also programmed to provide support for functional skills that will help to teach you how to be more organized and independent.
• You can make hand-free calls which will help improve communication and you get to stay in contact with family and friends. Google home allows older people to make free calls anywhere using a voice command by synching with your contact list on your phone.

Table for the best smart speaker for elderly

Product	Smart assistant	Check on Amazon
Echo 2nd generation smart speaker with Alexa	Alexa	Check price
Echo dot 3rd generation smart speaker	Alexa	Check price
Google home mini	Google	Check price
Fabriq portable wifi and Bluetooth smart speaker	Alexa	Check price
Echo studio high fidelity smart speaker	Alexa	Check price

Echo 2^nd generation smart speaker with Alexa

This is a very popular speaker with amazing assistance in the form of a built-in Alexa that will help to answer questions, set timers and reminders, play music, control your compatible smart home appliances, and more. Seniors with arthritis and mobility issues can easily turn the lights on and off by giving Alexa orders and even set the temperature on the thermostat and lock doors. Older people love information and with this smart speaker they can ask Alexa any question and she will give an answer from the latest news, weather, and more.

Alexa can also help them in remembering to take their medicine and keep doctor appointments. With Alexa, you can also make calls, send and receive messages free-hand this way you stay connected with your family and friends. Echo features Dolby processing to improve the sound in the microphones that use beamforming technology so you can hear even if you’re in another room. You can control multiple devices with a single voice command and by activating Alexa guard, you can get smart alerts if the speaker detects smoke alarms or glass breaking which keeps your home safe.

Pros

• It produces quality sound
• It comes with a temperature sensor
• Very attractive design
• The Alexa app has amazing features
• Alexa for seniors is the perfect choice for simple comforts

Cons

• The sound quality diminishes with time

Verdict

A smart speaker that uses Alexa’s assistant will allow you to voice control various tasks around your home.

View price on Amazon

 

Echo dot 3^rd generation smart speaker

Echo dot is a very popular smart speaker and as the name suggests it’s a very small speaker the size of a mug with a very nice fabric design that makes it perfect for small spaces. It’s very easy to set up and use with amazing sound quality. With Alexa assistant, you can voice-control your music, lock doors, turn on/off lights, adjust your thermostat, and connect with more compatible devices. Alexa will make your life easier at home and more manageable by using your voice to create timers, calendar events, medicine reminders so you won’t forget anything.

This is very helpful for the elderly because they tend to forget things and have trouble keeping track of time. You can ask for information on the weather, traffic, movie showtimes, news, restaurant hours, etc. Alexa devices are like an intercom so you can talk to any room in the house to let everyone know when dinner is ready or check on the kids when it’s bedtime. You can also make hands-free calls to any contact in your phone so you can keep in touch. Alexa has skills that you can learn so you also get to learn and be smarter. This speaker has a microphone off button which disconnects the microphone to protect your privacy.

Pros

• Has a great look
• Useful and versatile around your home
• You can connect the built-in speaker with your other speakers via Bluetooth
• It has a neutral color that blends well with nearly any décor

Cons

• Its overall microphone sensitivity isn’t that good

Verdict

A small smart speaker with a classy design that can fit in small spaces and blend well with your décor. It has a great quality sound with a very easy setup and an Alexa app to make your life simple around your home.

 

View price on Amazon

 

Google home mini

This is a Dot genie mini smart speaker that comes with an outlet wall mount hanger stand with Google voice assistant. It has a compact design so it’s easy to move from one room to the next and even ideal for travel. It’s a very small speaker so it doesn’t take much space in your room and has an aesthetic appeal so it can blend in well with any décor. The built-in Google Assistant will provide the elderly with information on the weather, news, change the thermostat settings, and even widening their information on facts. The elderly have a hard time moving around the house, but with this speaker they can automate most of the tasks around the house to make it easier to get things done with minimal movement.

With just one voice command, Google assistant can create a routine of tasks like when you say ‘good morning Google’, it will switch on the lights, set the thermostat temperature, give you a weather update, remind you to take your medicine, etc. Google home will allow the elderly to talk to their family and receive calls and messages without having to move thanks to the hands-free calls feature. The speaker supports a wide range of languages including English, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and German.

Pros

• The mount design keeps the speaker securely on your wall
• Very practical
• You can customize the base
• Has vast storage for the song library

Cons

• The power cord partially blocks the second plug

Verdict

A speaker with a built-in Google assistant with various useful features that make your home easier to manage with just a few commands.

View price on Amazon

 

Fabriq portable wifi and Bluetooth smart speaker

A wifi smart speaker with a unique and attractive fabric design that will help the speaker either blend in with your décor or stand out. It’s available in several attractive patterns that will match your mood or preference. It uses a built-in Alexa voice service to give you full control of your home from your music, lights, thermostat, doors, and even making and receiving calls and messages. This is a perfect speaker to help make their life a little easier and help them become more independent when living alone.

It uses both wifi and Bluetooth and has a built-in battery which makes it a great speaker for both your home and travel. This is a standalone Alexa device so you don’t need a Dot or an Echo for it to function, however, you can pair it with more than 10 similar speakers to create a multi-room audio system. It produces crisp clear sound at any volume which is very helpful for older people with hearing problems.

Pros

• Has quality sound
• Alexa is responsive
• Very nice design
• Very easy to set up

Cons

• You have to push a button for Alexa to respond
• Short battery life

Verdict

A nice-looking smart speaker that uses both wifi and Bluetooth and comes with an in-built Alexa feature that you can command with your voice to perform different tasks around the house.

View price on Amazon

 

Echo studio high fidelity smart speaker

A 5 speaker smart speaker that uses Dolby Atmos technology that adds clarity and depth to create a 3D-dimensional sound so you’re able to hear from all directions in your home. This makes this speaker perfect for the elderly with hearing problems. With the help of Alexa, you can use your voice to dim the lights or turn then off in your living room or bedroom, check the weather update, set the alarm, and control other compatible smart home devices.

The 5 speakers have been strategically positioned in the speaker to generate sound that can fill the room to produce a crisp clear sound. You can connect and manage your smart home with the help of the built-in hub that will allow you to control compatible devices that use Zigbee from your lights, fan, TV, door lock, even garage door. You can connect your echo studio to your smart tv to give you a rich sound when watching your favorite movie.

Pros

• Excellent sound quality
• Can pair with more studio speakers
• Alexa is very responsive
• The 6 midrange speakers produce great sound in all directions

Cons

• The light that shows Alexa is listening is only at the top

Verdict

An excellent sound-producing smart speaker that you can pair with other studio speakers to ensure you can listen from any room. The Alexa voice commands allow you to control all the smart devices in your home.

View price on Amazon

 

Conclusion

The elderly might worry about the new technology because it might seem intimidating and intrusive or be concerned about their security and privacy, but this technology can help them live a more independent and easier life. The Echo 2^nd generation smart speaker with Alexa is one of the best smart speaker for elderly as it uses Alexa voice command to handle different tasks and control your smart home devices.