18 Best Smart Home Devices to Help Aging in Place in 2026

When you’re making an aging-in-place plan, health and personal safety should be a top priority. You can find tech devices to help with everything from hearing sounds to taking daily medications to ensuring that someone is staying active and out of danger. And if you’re a caregiver, these devices make it easier to monitor loved ones, whether they’re on the other side of town or the other side of the country.

Emergency-contact systems

This smartwatch-style system is stress-free to set up and use. But it’s expensive, and during testing its GPS wasn’t always accurate.

How it helps: According to the CDC Foundation, more than one in four people 65 and older fall each year. It’s the leading cause of injury for that age group, with over 38,000 deaths recorded from falls in 2021 alone. Having a way to contact emergency services is an absolute must. “A device that can be worn on the wrist allows for 24/7 monitoring and can help identify against the biggest and most common concern, which is a fall,” said David Siegel, CEO of Nationwide Medical. “A wrist-worn device can also provide important data, detect falls, determine location, and even serve as a telephonic or text communication device.”

Why it’s a pick: The UnaliWear Kanega Medical Alert Watch doesn’t look like an emergency device, but it acts like one, providing on-the-go care both inside and outside the home. It relies on the Verizon network but also connects to Wi-Fi (and we found that the GPS worked best in that mode). When an emergency arises, just push a button or verbally tell the watch using set wake words; from there, you’re connected to a live operator. For times when you can’t do that, the Kanega watch has fall detection. In our testing, we found that agents would call a cell phone if the user couldn’t hear them clearly through the watch. The Kanega watch also includes medication reminders, and because it comes with a pair of swappable rechargeable batteries, you never have to worry about being without it for charging.

The Kanega watch costs $300 (including the setup fee), plus a monthly service charge of nearly $80, which may seem high. However, it can be used anywhere within range of a cellular signal, not just in your home like the less expensive LifeFone Safe Watch Active (more information on that and other options below).

This voice-activated option works with any Echo speaker or smart screen. It responds quickly, it’s unobtrusive, and it has a low long-term cost.

How it helps: If you don’t like the idea of a wearable but want the assurance of easy access to assistance, consider Alexa Emergency Assist. This paid service ($6 per month or $59 per year) relies on your having an Amazon Echo voice-controlled smart speaker, through which you can connect to live responders who assist in calling emergency responders and relaying your medical information.

Why it’s a pick: Of the medical alert systems we tested, Alexa Emergency Assist had the fastest response time. In addition to connecting with live emergency services, the service can notify up to 25 of your emergency contacts. Alexa Emergency Assist works with all Amazon Echo smart speakers and screens, but we like the Amazon Echo Dot for this purpose because it’s small and inexpensive. If you aren’t familiar with smart speakers, it may involve a bit of a learning curve, but once you get used to it, Alexa has other useful features, including the ability to act as an intercom, allowing family, friends, and caregivers with Echo devices or the Alexa app to “drop in” for an instant two-way conversation.

Anne Madison has been using it since 2023. She told us that the service works well, and she’s “now a firm believer in it” after a fall in the bedroom left her unable to get up. “I said something along the lines of ’Alexa, call for help,’ and an actual human operator answered, listened to my problem, and indicated that they would call 911,” she said. Paramedics arrived within a few minutes and suggested that she call a relative. In the chaos, Anne misplaced her phone, but a quick “Alexa, call my phone” helped her locate it just as swiftly.

This system isn’t as sleek as our other options, but it has a 32-hour backup battery and provides multiple ways to summon assistance.

How it helps: If you aren’t tech-savvy, know that there are still plenty of reliable emergency alert systems that let you call for help without having to deal with apps or smart speakers. These options are very straightforward and easy to set up. Some include a wearable device that goes on your wrist or around your neck; either option allows you to get help just by pushing a button so long as you are at home and in range of the wireless base station.

Why it’s a pick: The LifeFone At-Home Cellular is an easy-to-use system with strong wireless coverage provided by AT&T’s cellular network. The system includes a base unit with a speaker and the option of a neck pendant or a wristband and is designed for use when you are at home (if you prefer a model that works everywhere, consider the UnaliWear Kanega Medical Alert Watch, above).

We particularly like the pendant for people with limited dexterity or strength, because it has a magnetic clasp that’s still easy enough to use for those with dexterity limitations. If you need help, push a button on your wearable, and you’re quickly connected to an audio call with a live agent who can contact designated family, friends, and caregivers. In order to speak to the agent, though, you need to be in voice range of the base station. We also like that LifeFone has no setup or cancellation fees, but the service with one wearable pendant starts at $31 per month if you pay annually (otherwise it costs $35 per month).

Another option to consider: The Apple Watch SE 3 combines the features of an iPhone with a smartwatch. It also includes built-in fall detection and crash detection, which you can enable to automatically alert emergency contacts or even 911 in case of an accident; you can also summon help by pressing a side button. In addition, you can set up the Apple Watch to share important medical information, such as allergies and medications, with emergency responders. While the cellular model works independently like a phone (and has its own number and cell plan), the less expensive base-model Apple Watch needs to be paired with an iPhone that’s always within Bluetooth range in order to send alerts or make calls; it can also connect to Wi-Fi, but it works that way only with known networks.

Smart smoke alarm

This hardwired alarm detects smoke and carbon monoxide and interconnects with non-smart models. It also lets you cancel false alarms through an app.

How it helps: According to the National Fire Protection Association, 59% of home fire deaths result from the absence of a smoke alarm or the presence of a faulty one. Everyone should have working smoke detectors throughout the house, but there’s a particular concern as to whether someone with reduced hearing will notice an alarm — and how quickly they might react to it. Smart smoke detectors not only deliver an audible siren inside the house but can also send alerts to friends, neighbors, and caregivers.

Why it’s a pick: The Kidde Smart Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm is a hardwired model that can detect both smoke and carbon monoxide. When the device detects danger, it sends a smartphone alert to the owners so that they are alerted while home or away, as well as to any other designated contacts. If it turns out that someone is just cooking up bacon, you can easily silence the alarm through the Kidde app. And because it interconnects with hardwired non-smart Kidde detectors, every detector in the house can have the same smart features. Note that this hardwired model still requires backup batteries (that’s a good thing) and issues an alert when those are getting low.

Another option to consider: If you want emergency services to be available, consider the Kidde Ring Smart Smoke and CO Alarm. This model is almost identical to the above Kidde detector, except it works with the standalone $5-per-month 24/7 Smoke and CO Professional Monitoring plan or a Ring Home plan (if you have the Ring Alarm). Unlike the other version, this model uses the Ring app. Also, you can’t silence it in the app: You need to push a physical button on the device (unless the smoke subsides first).

Hearing aids

These customizable hearing aids offer multiple audio modes, Bluetooth streaming, and an intuitive app.

How it helps: Prescription hearing aids are expensive, yet many are not covered by insurance. Over-the-counter hearing aids are a slightly more affordable option specifically designed for people who have mild to moderate hearing loss and are able to clearly communicate feedback. These devices don’t require a prescription and can be set up by the wearer, a family member, or a caregiver. Our headphones expert, writer Lauren Dragan, advises that anyone with more severe hearing loss or who needs sound processing that bypasses the inner ear should consult a medical professional instead of trying to use an OTC hearing aid.

Why it’s a pick: The Jabra Enhance Select 300 is easy to set up, customize, and use, thanks to the Jabra app, which includes a video orientation section with an audio professional. We found this set to be more adjustable than most, with options to fine-tune the volume, as well as to balance treble, midrange, and bass. Instead of using replaceable button batteries, this set runs on rechargeable batteries, which provide about 15 hours of use. We found that the earpieces were good at staying in place and also provided a pretty comfortable fit.

Another option to consider: If you need amplification in only one ear or a device for only occasional use, check out the Tweak Enhance. It’s available in single-ear form, and it ships with two pairs of 2B sound tubes and two sizes of domes for a good fit. Our panelists found its sound to be really good, but it isn’t as lightweight or feature-packed as other, more expensive options.

Smart pill dispensers

This app-dependent dispenser reminds you when it’s time to take your meds, dispenses them on a schedule, and keeps caregivers in the loop.

How it helps: If you take more than one pill a day, a pill box is a must. However, you have to fill the box weekly (or sometimes more often), and some people need an extra nudge to take their medications. A smart pill dispenser can organize several weeks’ worth of meds and can ensure that the right dose is being dispensed at precisely the right times.

Why it’s a pick: The Hero Smart Pill Dispenser can hold up to 90 days’ worth of 10 different medications. When it’s pill-taking time, the Hero plays both audible and visual alerts. Then you simply press a button on the device itself to have your meds dispensed. If someone skips a day or a dose, the Hero sends a smartphone alert to the user but also to anyone else you designate, through the companion app. It can also remind users to take up to 10 additional meds that aren’t stored in the device. One downside is that the Hero requires a one-year commitment to a monthly $45 subscription (or $30 per month if you pay annually).

Our tester found the Hero to be reliable and said that while the cost was covered by insurance, the price out of pocket would still be a lot less than paying someone to manage and monitor medications.