As your parents age, their house can become an increasingly dangerous place. So spend $1,000 on high-tech gadgets that can make your folks more secure and help you care for them more effectively. These are three of the most crucial devices, says Laurie Orlov of ageinplacetech.com.
A personal emergency response system so your parents can request help at the push of a button. One of the best: the Philips Lifeline with AutoAlert, which combines a monitored response system with an automatic fall sensor ($370 for activation and six months of service).
Automatic stove shutoff to minimize the risk of fire. The $360 device from CookStop (cookstop.com) continually checks for movement in the kitchen to ensure an active stove hasn't been left unattended.
An easy-to-use cellphone: Make sure your folks can reach you anytime. The Jitterbug phone (greatcall.com) has large, backlit buttons, a powerful speaker, and a guided menu of questions such as "Call?" ($220 for the phone and six months of basic service.)
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