Elderly persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or early-stage dementia have specific needs that differ from those of fully cognitively intact seniors. Rooms and Smart Home devices must be designed to reduce reliance on memory and use other senses instead.
Four Cognitive-Friendly Design Principles
Reduce the number of choices: do not install too many switches and buttons. Elderly persons with memory decline become confused easily when facing multiple options. Recommended: one central Smart Hub, a single large brightly coloured button with one function.
Tactile Markers on critical switches: attach raised dots (Braille-style) or textured stickers to the bathroom light switch, air-conditioner button, and Panic Button so they can be identified by touch without looking.
Colour contrast for wayfinding: paint the bathroom door frame a bright colour contrasting with the wall (e.g. orange frame on a white wall); use bright tape on bed edges and steps; Panic Button should be bright red on a light background.
Voice commands as backup: elderly persons who forget how to use a remote can still speak naturally. Install a Smart Speaker accepting simple Thai commands such as open light, close air con, call daughter. Short words, natural language, no long keywords to remember.
Devices Suited to Elderly with Cognitive Decline
Wrist or neck wearable Panic Button (not placed on a table where it is forgotten): 800–1,500 THB. Thai-language Smart Speaker with audible medication reminders: 2,000–3,500 THB. Motion Sensor Lights on all pathways (no switch press required): 500–1,000 THB per point. Smart Plug with pill organiser repeating reminder every 30 minutes until pills are taken: 800–1,500 THB. Bedroom mmWave Sensor requiring no action from the elderly person: 3,000–4,500 THB.
Case Study: Grandmother, 80, Ladphrao, mild MCI
Original problems: forgetting to turn off the bathroom light, forgetting medication, losing the remote. Changes made: replaced all switches with automatic Motion Sensors (no pressing needed); fitted a Panic Button wristband that is difficult to remove; installed a Smart Speaker with medication reminders twice daily; applied tactile dots to the Panic Button. Outcome: daughter’s check-in calls reduced by 70%; grandmother no longer needs to remember complex steps; quality of life and dignity improved.