It was 3:30pm and my Dad received a phone call at work. Grandma has gotten confused again, forgetting how to turn the stove off and her professional caregiver had arrived to find her home filled with acrid smoke hours after she had eaten. Tracking her wellbeing had become increasingly difficult as her Alzheimer’s progressed and it was frustrating to not know whether she was safe or in danger. 

Today, modern sensors have increased in sophistication and declined in cost to the point where they can be installed in any home to relieve the stress and uncertainty facing home care. Indeed, technology plays an important role in the movement towards “Aging in Place”. 

Why Aging in Place Matters, and Why Technology Can and Should Rise to the Occasion 

Studies consistently show that aging in place can improve mental well-being, foster a stronger sense of independence, and even lower healthcare costs. But for families and caregivers, it can also bring a great deal of stress and uncertainty—like wondering, “Did Grandma turn the stove off today?”.

This is where technology can help. Sensor-based solutions designed specifically for elder care can bridge the gap between a loved one’s desire to remain at home and a family’s need for peace of mind. When thoughtfully implemented, these discreet sensors can monitor daily routines, detect unusual patterns, and alert caregivers before a minor issue turns into a crisis.

Consumer adoption to date, however, has lagged behind the available technology, leading to senseless tragedy. 

Why Has Consumer Adoption Lagged Behind Technological Advancements? 

First, product awareness. Most caregivers are aware of low-tech, button-style alert systems from LifeAlert, Philips Lifeline and others. But these require the beneficiary to have them within reach at all times, including in bath and while bathing. We believe that a non-invasive sensor-based solution would be preferable. 

Second, complex hardware and software mean that there are barriers to installation and usage. Some sensors, like the ceiling-mounted HALO Smart Sensor, are designed to be hardwired into a room, which is impractical for residential settings. Others, like the Aloe Care Medical Alert Hub and radar fall sensor, are only available to trained caretakers and must be carefully calibrated. 

Third, cost is a major issue. The Empoweryu networks together existing home automation devices and creates custom behavioral patterns which can be monitored. But the work behind-the-scenes is manual, leading to a high monthly cost of $80 to $160.

Wellnuo Smart Plug: Making Aging In Place Safer 

The Wellnuo Smart Plug was developed by experienced hardware inventors from Western Digital and Google to solve these issues. 

It is simple to install: simply plug one into each room of the beneficiaries’ home. Integrated motion, smell, light, humidity, time and location sensors capture detailed data which is collected securely and analyzed using machine learning to create a day-to-day picture of health and wellness which is accessible to professional and family caregivers via our password-protected app. If there is a deviation from healthy behavior, then our system can send alerts via in-app message, email, SMS or phone.

The system is low-cost and requires little maintenance. The Wellnuo team is committed to expanding access to our products to make aging in a sensor-enabled house affordable and accessible for all seniors. 

We must ask ourselves, if Gene Hackman had Wellnuo installed in his home, would he still be alive today?

Partners in Home Care Innovation

Wellnuo is an innovative way to utilize home care technology to improve health outcomes for seniors. The senior care space has long lagged behind other industries in its adoption of modern technology, relying on legacy systems and low-tech solutions that introduce inefficiencies and risks.

At Sage, we’re on a mission to supercharge home care operations for agencies, using proven operational technology to boost efficiency 2–3x and save dozens of staff hours per week. Together, these innovations demonstrate how thoughtful, tech-based solutions can modernize a long-overdue industry, giving seniors greater independence, families peace of mind, and agencies the tools to operate smarter.

This post was guest authored by Matt Stewart, CMO of Wellnuo. Matt leads Wellnuo’s marketing program and go-to-market operations. He is an experienced marketer (Care.com, LendingTree, NerdWallet) and healthcare business professional (McKesson, UCLA Health System). He holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson and a BA from Hamilton College. Matt draws inspiration from his grandmother’s 21-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.