What we mean by smart home

Designed around the person, not the technology.

The phrase "smart home" can feel intimidating — complicated apps, devices that need constant maintenance, technology that feels like it was designed for someone decades younger. That is not what we install.

Kortland selects and configures technology specifically for older adults and people with disabilities — devices that work reliably, require minimal interaction, and can be operated by voice, a single button press, or automatically without any action at all.

Every system we install is configured before we leave your home. We walk through it with the resident and family together. And we are available by phone if anything needs adjustment.

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Configured for the individual

We adjust sensitivity, alert thresholds, and interfaces to match how this specific person lives — not a generic default setting.

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Privacy first

No cameras inside the home. No audio recording. Monitoring systems detect motion and activity patterns — not images or conversations.

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Family peace of mind

Caregiver apps and dashboards let family members check in without intruding — and receive alerts only when something is actually wrong.

What we install

Six categories of independence technology.

Each system is optional and can be installed independently or as part of a complete smart home setup.

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Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)

A wearable pendant or wristband that connects to a 24-hour monitoring center with a single button press. Modern PERS devices include automatic fall detection — they call for help even if the person cannot press the button.

What we install

In-home base unit · GPS wearable pendant · Caregiver app setup · 24/7 monitoring enrollment

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Voice Control Systems

Voice-activated control of lights, locks, thermostats, and entertainment — configured specifically for senior use. We simplify the interface, set up the most useful commands, and ensure the wake word works reliably throughout the home.

What we install

Amazon Echo or Google Nest devices · Simplified command library · Connected lights, locks, thermostat

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Automated & Motion-Activated Lighting

Lights that turn on automatically when someone enters a room — especially critical for nighttime bathroom trips, the highest-risk fall scenario for older adults. No switches to find in the dark.

What we install

Motion sensor night lights · Smart switches · Pathway lighting · Automatic shutoff

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Smart Locks & Video Doorbells

Keypad and app-enabled door locks eliminate the need to handle keys — critical for people with arthritis, hand weakness, or cognitive changes. Video doorbells allow answering the door from a chair, bed, or another room.

What we install

ADA lever-style smart lock · Video doorbell with remote answer · Family access codes · Auto-lock scheduling

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Non-Invasive Activity Monitoring

Passive motion sensors and activity monitors that detect patterns without cameras or microphones. Designed to alert family members when something is out of the ordinary — not to watch or record daily life.

What we install

Passive motion sensors · Door/window sensors · Activity pattern dashboard · Anomaly alerts to family

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Medication & Routine Reminders

Automated reminder systems for medication schedules, appointments, and daily routines — delivered by voice, display, or phone notification. Reduces caregiver burden and supports independence for people with early cognitive changes.

What we install

Smart displays with reminder scheduling · Voice reminder setup · Caregiver notification integration

The privacy question

Non-invasive monitoring: what it is and what it is not.

The most common concern families hear from a parent or loved one is "I don't want to be watched." Non-invasive monitoring is designed specifically to address that concern — providing safety awareness without surveillance.

✓ What non-invasive monitoring IS

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Passive motion detection — small sensors detect when someone moves through a room. No image is captured. No recording occurs. The sensor simply reports "motion detected in kitchen at 7:14 AM."

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Activity pattern awareness — the system learns the person's normal daily routine and alerts family only when something deviates significantly from that pattern.

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Door and window sensors — detect whether exterior doors are opened, helping families know their person has been up and about, or alert if a door is left open at an unusual hour.

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Fall detection via wearable — the PERS pendant detects sudden falls using an accelerometer. No camera, no image, no recording — just a physical motion sensor worn by the person.

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Alert only on anomaly — the system does not stream data to family members continuously. It sends a notification when something unusual happens — not a constant feed of activity.

✗ What non-invasive monitoring is NOT

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Not a camera system — Kortland does not install interior cameras as part of home monitoring. We believe cameras inside the home cross a privacy line that most people — rightly — are not comfortable with.

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Not audio recording — while voice assistants use a wake word to activate, they do not continuously record. We configure wake word sensitivity carefully and discuss the privacy implications with every family.

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Not a continuous live feed — family members do not watch a real-time stream of their parent's day. The caregiver dashboard shows summary activity — not surveillance footage.

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Not installed without consent — every monitoring system we install is discussed with and consented to by the person living in the home — not just the family requesting it. Dignity is non-negotiable.

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Not shared with third parties — activity data is accessible only to the resident and designated family members. It is not sold, shared, or used for any purpose beyond the safety function for which it was installed.

The conversation that matters

How to introduce monitoring to a loved one.

The technology is the easy part. The harder part is the conversation. Here is what we have found works.

Start with what they want, not what you want

Ask "what would help you feel more confident at home?" rather than "we want to make sure you're safe." The goal is independence, not surveillance — and the conversation should reflect that.

Show them what the technology actually does

Many people imagine cameras and microphones when they hear "monitoring." Showing the actual device — a small motion sensor, a wearable pendant — and explaining exactly what data it collects (and does not collect) usually reduces resistance significantly.

Give them control

Let the person choose which rooms have sensors. Let them decide who receives alerts. Let them turn the PERS pendant on and off. Autonomy over the system makes it more likely to be used and less likely to feel intrusive.

Frame it as the alternative to moving

For many families, the choice is between monitoring technology and moving to a facility. When it is framed that way — "this is what allows you to stay at home" — the conversation often changes.

Start small and build trust

A single PERS pendant and a motion-activated night light is a reasonable starting point. Once a person experiences the benefit — and sees that the monitoring works the way it was described — expanding to additional sensors is much easier.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions.

Yes — always. Kortland will not install monitoring systems in a home without the knowledge and consent of the person living there. Beyond the ethical issue, monitoring installed without consent rarely works well — the person finds ways around it, or the family relationship suffers. We involve the resident in every conversation about what gets installed and where.

Modern PERS devices include automatic fall detection using an accelerometer — the same technology in your smartphone that detects orientation. If the device detects a sudden impact consistent with a fall and the person does not respond to a check-in prompt within a short window, it automatically contacts the monitoring center. This is one of the most important features to look for when selecting a PERS device.

Yes — all PERS devices we install are waterproof and designed to be worn in the shower. This is critical, because the bathroom is the highest-risk location for falls. A device that cannot be worn in the shower provides far less protection than one that can.

Voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Home use a local wake word detector that is always listening for the specific trigger phrase — "Alexa" or "Hey Google." When the wake word is detected, the device sends the following command to the cloud for processing. The audio is not continuously recorded or stored. We explain this in detail with every installation and discuss privacy settings, including the option to mute the microphone when not wanted.

Many of the systems we install require no interaction from the resident at all — motion-activated lights turn on automatically, fall detection works passively, and door sensors operate without any action required. We start with passive systems that require nothing from the person and work up from there if they are open to it. The goal is always to add safety without adding burden.

Medicare does not cover smart home devices or installation. However, some long-term care insurance policies do — check your policy for "home modification" or "assistive technology" coverage. PA Medicaid waiver programs may cover certain assistive technology for qualifying recipients. PERS monthly monitoring fees may also be covered by some supplemental insurance policies.

Technology that supports independence at home.

Designed around the person, not the technology.

Six categories of independence technology.

Non-invasive monitoring: what it is and what it is not.

How to introduce monitoring to a loved one.

Frequently asked questions.

Ready to explore your options?