Innovative Technology for Seniors Preserves Independence — Without Sacrificing Privacy
June 23, 2025One of the main concerns adult children of seniors often have is their parents’ safety, especially if they have a parent who lives alone.
Fortunately, today’s technology for older adults offers a variety of solutions that can benefit nearly any senior, including those who live in a community like The Variel, which offers independent living, as well as assisted living and memory care.
Some of the most advanced senior care technology is powered by artificial intelligence (AI) — like AUGi, the technology we use at The Variel to help prevent residents from falling.
At The Variel, We’re Leading the Way
While advances in technology are transforming the senior care industry, not all communities offer the advantages of senior technology like AUGi and K4Community Plus, the mobile app that helps residents stay informed and connected.
We decided during The Variel’s planning stages to make technology a cornerstone of our community, and we’ve been delighted to see how quickly residents embrace these features and capabilities when they move in.
AUGi Perfectly Complements Assisted Living
Fear of falling is high on the list of safety concerns among older adults and their families. Once a fall occurs, the fear of falling again can be overwhelming. In many cases, this prompts the decision to move into assisted living.
AUGi works around the clock, helping to ensure residents’ well-being without invading their privacy. This brings peace of mind not only to residents but also their loved ones.
We’ve found that AUGi bolsters residents’ confidence, too. Knowing that AUGi is there for support helps them feel less reliant on others, increasing their sense of independence.
How AUGi Works
AUGi, which stands for augmented intelligence, was developed by Inspiren™ to assist with fall management. According to Inspiren’s research, senior living communities that use AUGi have seen a 60% decrease in hospitalizations resulting from falls.
Using no cameras or microphones, AUGI works with small, wall-mounted sensors placed where falls commonly occur, like near the bed and in the living room. The system automatically monitors movement in the room, so there’s no need for residents to interact with AUGi.
AUGi sees moving shapes.
The images AUGi captures are digitized, so they don’t look like regular video images. For example, when AUGi alerts our care team that a resident is sitting up to get out of bed, they only see a moving shape. This helps protect residents’ privacy.
AUGi sends alerts in real time.
When AUGi senses that a resident is at risk of falling, the system activates an alarm at the care team’s station and sends an alert to team members’ cellphones.
AUGi can aid in early detection.
When AUGi detects a change in movement patterns, a member of the care team can talk with the resident to see what might be causing it.
And There’s More Technology for Seniors at The Variel
AUGi is a prime example of how brand-new technology is enhancing the quality of life for residents in our community — especially those in assisted living.
There’s other technology that residents throughout The Variel have been using for years, like the K4Community Plus app developed by K4Connect specifically for seniors. It’s easy to navigate and access whether residents use the app on their smartphone, tablet or computer.
Residents can use the K4Community Plus app to:
- Connect with neighbors, family and friends
- Stay up to date on what’s going on in the community
- Sign up for events
- Check daily menus, the Zenergy class schedule and transportation times
- Submit requests for service or maintenance
Elevating Convenience and Safety With Voice and Smart Home Technology
With K4Community’s Smart Home technology, residents can easily control the lighting, temperature and fans in their apartments without having to manually turn them off and on or adjust them.
The Smart Home technology also discreetly monitors motion and automatically lets our staff know when residents are up and active. This helps to ensure their safety without requiring them to check in with the staff.
K4Community’s Voice technology lets residents use voice commands for all kinds of simple tasks.
Keeping Tabs on Technology So We’re Prepared for the Future
Technological advances will undoubtedly continue to improve senior living in the years ahead, and we have every intention of maintaining our role as an early adopter.
Want to learn more about the technology available at The Variel and the convenience, security and lifestyle we offer? Contact us and we’ll be happy to make an appointment for you to visit us.
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