With an aging population keen to stay in their own homes, elder care is a growing issue in the United States. Whether folks are contending with chronic illness, dementia, or simply finding it harder to get to the store, we will likely all need some help toward the ends of our lives. Even elders with paid carers still need support from their families, and those who can’t afford care, doubly so.
But you might have children to care for, a partner to support, and a demanding career. If you don’t live near your parents, it’s not always possible to drop in, and even if you do, busy lives can get in the way. You will worry about whether they are taking their medication, eating properly, and avoiding the rising tide of predatory scams. If you can’t reach them on the phone, the fear that they may have fallen and could be unable to get up is excruciating.
JubileeTV is part of a new wave of products and services that seek to give you some insight into how your elderly relatives are doing and empower you to help from your own home. It’s a package that includes a box designed to sit on top of a TV to enable video calls, family photos and video sharing, and reminders for medications, appointments, and other important events. For folks who need it, JubileeTV can track activity and presence, and enable you to control the TV from anywhere on your phone.
I’ve been testing the JubileeTV for the last few weeks. It feels a little cobbled together, requires an expensive subscription, and raises privacy concerns. But it makes staying in touch easy, boasts some thoughtful features, and could simplify life for many families by lessening the burden of elder care.
Senior Setup
Installing JubileeTV is a challenge, and you will want to do it for your elder (there is an option to book in-person installation for $99 or video call assistance for free). Everything is color-coded, and the instructions are pretty good, but set aside at least half an hour. A TV with an HDMI port and a Wi-Fi network are required.
Photograph: Simon Hill
JubileeTV looks like a chunky set-top box and is designed to work with your relative’s existing TV and services. To be clear, it doesn’t provide any content, so you still need a Netflix subscription or cable service. For all of the features to work, you must plug the TV and a cable, set-top box, or streaming player into the JubileeTV box (you can connect up to three devices via HDMI). I tested with a Roku, but check the Jubilee website for the list of supported devices before you buy. There’s also a special split power cable and smart plug, so you can connect the TV and box to the same outlet and remote control them.