Amazon Introduces Alexa-Based System for Senior Living Space

Amazon is moving into the senior living space, it said Monday, announcing Alexa Smart Properties for senior living communities and healthcare facilities. The business is designed to simplify deploying and managing Alexa-enabled devices at scale to offer customized voice experiences for residents and patients. Senior living residents using the Alexa-based system have an Echo device in their room, allowing them to keep in touch with loved ones, connect with their community and access community news, it said. Administrators can customize community information such as activity schedules and meal menus. Senior living communities including Atria and Eskaton will integrate with Alexa Smart Properties at select locations, Amazon said. Hospitals can provide information tailored to their facility, including skill experiences such as games and podcasts, it said. Addressing privacy, Amazon said voice recordings aren't saved, and Echo smart speakers have “multiple layers of privacy protection"; residents and patients can disable Alexa’s ability to respond to the wake word by pressing the mute button on top of the Echo device. Amazon for Residential, announced last year (see 2009030036), is also part of Amazon Smart Properties.