Keeping Your Loved Ones Safe at Home with Smart Tech

When I first had kids, I decided to move back to my hometown to be closer to my family. I needed support, and having my parents nearby to help with our little ones proved invaluable.

 

These days, it's my mom who needs the help. She's living alone, and even though I'm just across town, I can't always be there to make sure she's safe. Thankfully, Cox Homelife allows me to keep an eye on her from virtually anywhere.

 

 

My mom is super savvy but can be forgetful. That's why I had smart locks installed on her front door — they're programmed to lock automatically, so she doesn't have to remember to lock the doors when she takes her morning walk or before going to bed at night. She doesn't even need to take her key when leaving the house, since the lock is activated by key pad.

 

And if she forgets her code? No problem — she's got a front door security camera, which I can access from my smartphone using the Homelife App. I can check to see if she's waiting outside the door, and even enter the code remotely to allow her to enter.

 

The front door camera also enables me to see when someone is at her doorstep. This way, I can screen for solicitors or strangers, or let my mom know there's a delivery. And with smart motion sensors, I receive an alert if there's any unusual movement in her house, or if anyone breaches an entry point.

 

I'm not the only one who's looking out for my mom — there's a team of security professionals monitoring her home 24/7. Now I can sleep more soundly knowing that my mother's house is secure.

 

 

Safety is my No. 1, but I also want my mom to feel relaxed in her home. With Cox Homelife Automation, I can set up my mother's house for maximum comfort and convenience. She can control the smart thermostat from her smartphone, and her lights are on a timer so she doesn't have to search for the switch when she gets up before the crack of dawn. I also set up my mom's coffee maker to allow her to hit the "on" switch from her tablet, so her coffee is hot and ready to go when she heads downstairs.

 

I can also create routines to help provide additional support for her. For example, I set it up so that when my mom says “Good night," her sound machine turns on automatically. I also have programmed her robotic vacuum to clean the downstairs while she's sleeping, so she doesn't have to lift a finger. And if my mom wants to change up anything, she can do so from one place using the Cox Homelife Hub.

 

Since my mom lives alone, it's important for her to stay connected to the community and the world around her. When she turns on her smart TV, it automatically switches on her local news and weather, keeping her up to date with what's going on in the area. She can even watch her Homelife cameras on Contour TV.

 

I've also set up her tablet with video chat, so we can connect at any time, from any place. Even if I can't make it over to her house, I can check in and see how my mom is doing. Plus, my kids can show her their art projects when they get home from school.

 

To keep everything running smoothly, my mom needs to have a fast and reliable Internet connection. With Cox Panoramic Wifi, I can rest assured that there's high quality, uninterrupted service throughout her home. Whether I'm across the country — or just across town — I take comfort in knowing that I can check on my mom with the touch of a button.