Google's home automation business Nest has been in talks with senior living homes about developing new products to help seniors live independently for longer, sources tell CNBC.
Nest's ideas about revolutionizing senior living are only in the discussion stages. However, the company is considering using its motion sensors to automatically turn on lights to help seniors get to the bathroom at night, or tracking the movements of seniors during dangerously hot days to warn them about their risk of dehydration. Another idea involves predicting life-threatening falls by detecting changes in a senior's movement, along with other common occurrences before a fall.
Some Nest products are already well-suited for senior care. For example, its camera products and smart locks can be used by family members or caregivers to check in on their loved ones.
Sources told CNBC the employee in charge of Nest's projects for the elderly is Grant Wedner. He joined Google in October 2017 in a position described as "Something Interesting" on his LinkedIn.
Other technology companies, like Amazon, are also exploring the aging space. Since 2015, Amazon has been meeting with the AARP, a lobbying group that supports older Americans, to discuss various collaborations and share research. Although no specifics have been released, an April CNBC report suggested Amazon could be developing products and services to help seniors "age in place," a term that describes older Americans' desires to remain at home, as opposed to in nursing homes. Amazon's products might focus on aiding seniors with monitoring devices and other sensors.