Your How To Guide: Sustainably Aging in Place by Alert1

Aging in place can be simple and sustainable, seeing that many Alert1 members have accepted the green challenge. Going green doesn’t mean giving up the comforts you’ve earned as a senior. After all, you’ve finally gotten your home just the way you like it, and it's perfect for you to age in place. Luckily, going green can give you more control over your home than ever before. 

Conserving energy is easy when your house does the hard work for you. Make a few simple changes with smart technology and experience the difference in your new sustainable home. You will feel like the ruler of your castle. The lighting and temperature will automatically adjust to just how you like it. You won’t need to lift a finger. It's perfect for aging in place!

• Light bulbs: As your light bulbs burn out, replace them with energy efficient LED bulbs. Look into smart bulbs that you can control with your smartphone. You will never again leave the lights on by accident or have to stumble around in the dark. Your lights will turn on just when you need them and turn off when you are no longer in the room.

• Thermostat: Are you constantly adjusting your thermostat? Stop getting up and down and let a smart thermostat take care of it for you. It's easy to use and sustainable. It will learn your preferences and adjust the temperature for you. When you have gone out it will turn the temperature down to save energy. You will never have to come back to a cold house when your thermostat knows when you will be home. It's ment for you to comfortably age in place.

Do you really want that toxic smell of chemical cleaners in your sustainable home? Make cleaning a pleasant experience with these natural, non-toxic alternatives. Who knew there were so many basic household products to use for savvy seniors?

• Vinegar. If you need to clean laundry, wash windows, or remove stains from carpets, vinegar should be your go-to. Infuse it with lemons or oranges for a fresh scent.

• Baking soda. This staple is an excellent deodorizer. Sprinkle it in your garbage cans and leave an open container in the fridge to soak up smells. Baking soda is also good for cleaning silver, soaking up grease spills, and removing stubborn food from dishes.
  
  
• Lemon. Use lemon as a substitute for bleach when doing laundry or cleaning your bathroom. It has antibacterial properties and will make your clothes fresh and your bathroom shine. 

How much unwanted paper have you accumulated over the years? Are you keeping piles of old magazines? Is your purse full of crumpled receipts? Go paperless and get rid of the extra clutter in your life.

• Banking and billing.  You can receive bank statements and bills by email and pay directly online. It is convenient, fast, and secure.
  
  
• Receipts. Do you collect crumpled up receipts? Get organized with applications like OneReceipt. Simply scan your receipts and recycle them. They will stay neat and organized in the application so you can find them easily.

• Magazines and newspapers Avoid physical magazine and newspaper subscriptions. Opt for the electronic version instead. With electronic copies, you can read your favorite articles anywhere you go. And you will avoid the junk mail that likes to hitch a ride with your subscriptions. 

At Alert1, we believe being comfortable and living sustainably are no longer mutually exclusive.  With a few simple changes you can make your life easier and greener than ever before. Pair your new sustainable lifestyle with a medical alert system to complete your aging in place plan.

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