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TECHNOLOGY AND AGING IN PLACE
PART 1: THE BASICS a suite of rooms. Then there are couples that are
Ric Johnson, owner of the firm Right at looking to the future and wanting to downsize into a
Home Technologies, is an NAHB Certified new home so that they can age gracefully together.”
Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) in Ohio. A Wired Backbone Plus the Right Devices
For the standard CAPS build, either a remodel or
Although Johnson specializes in assisting new construction, a backbone of structured wiring is
Alzheimer’s and early onset dementia patients essential, said Johnson.
and their families, the technology he’s using has
the potential for broad applications in the rapidly “While we have a lot of wireless devices and
growing aging-in-place market, he said. apps, they need a robust Wi-Fi network. We find that
providing an enterprise-grade router and switch
“Many of the patients we work with initially along with properly placed and calibrated wireless
display symptoms of ’night timers’ — they’re fairly access points allow our wireless devices to connect
symptom-free throughout the day, but as dusk and clearly. We use a backbone of both Category 6
nighttime approach, they tend to become forgetful, cabling with runs of fiber to very specific locations
think they are somewhere else (and with someone such as bathroom, bedroom and kitchen,” he said.
else) and display confusion, fear, and sometimes
anger,” Johnson said. Johnson and his team run wire paths in hallways,
baths, bedrooms and kitchen cabinets for very
“Additionally, we see a rise in wandering, slips, specific purposes.
and falls. These common issues are a constant
worry for caregivers and other family members who “When we have an individual who tends to
do not live with the individual or close by.” wander at night, we place pressure pads along the
edge of the bed or in the bathroom. Those pads
As a result, said Johnson, “We see increased trigger program notifications if a motion detector is
interest in remodeling one’s home to age tripped in the nighttime hours, sending an email or
comfortably, and we also see adult children taking text message to caregivers and family members,”
in a parent and needing the addition of a room or
he said.
16 AUGUST 2018 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
