Page 16 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 8, 2023 avavvyvy avvy S iorn oreniioor a avvy Dear Searching, If your mother is game, smart home products – such as smart lights, video doorbells and voice-activated speakers – can be very useful for aging in place. These devices can add safety and convenience to a home by providing voice and app-controlled operation, which is extremely helpful for seniors who have mobility issues or reduced vision. Smart home technology can also provide family members peace-of-mind by giving them the ability to electronically keep tabs on their elder loved one when they can’t be there. If you’re interested in adding some smart home products to your mom’s house, she’ll need home Wi-Fi installed, and she’ll need either a smartphone, tablet or smart speaker to operate them. To help you get started, here are some diff erent types of devices to consider that are very helpful to older adults. Smart speakers: A smart speaker – like the Amazon Echo, Google Nest or Apple HomePod – can serve as the brains of a smart home, controlling the devices with voice commands or automating them. These devices can also play your mom’s favorite music, read audiobooks, make calls, set timers and alarms, provide reminders for medications, appointments and other things, check traffi c and weather, answer questions, call for help in emergency situations and much more – all done by voice commands. Smart light bulbs: To help prevent home falls – which are often caused by fumbling around a dark room looking for a light switch – smart light bulbs will let your mom turn on and off the lights by voice command, smartphone or tablet. These bulbs can also change brightness and color and be programmed to come on and off whenever she wants. Smart plugs: These small units plug into a standard outlet and connect to the internet. That means your mom can control whatever she plugs into them – from a space heater to a coff ee maker – using her voice or phone. Video doorbell: Safety is also a concern for older adults, especially those who live alone. A video doorbell would let your mom see and speak to visitors at the door without having to walk over and open it. Smart locks: For convenience and safety, smart locks would give your mom keyless entry to her home, provide customized access to family, friends and caregivers, and let you monitor who comes and goes from your mom’s house. Smart thermostat: This lets your mom preprogram or manually control the temperature in her home with voice command or via phone, and let you monitor it too. Smart smoke alarms: These will alert your mom when smoke or carbon monoxide is detected and will also send alerts to your phone if a problem is detected. Stovetop shut-off : To prevent home cooking fi res, smart stovetop shut-off devices, like the IGuardStove, will turn off electric and gas stovetops when left unattended, and will alert you via text. Medical alert system: These devices provide wearable wrist and/or necklace emergency buttons that would allow your mom to call for help if she were to fall or need assistance. Many systems today also provide voice activated and fall detection features, and caregiver tracking apps that will let you keep tabs on her. Cameras and smart sensors: If your mom needs more in-depth monitoring, there are indoor cameras you can install so you can see, hear and talk to her from your phone. Or, if that’s too intrusive, you can install smart contact sensors on her doors so you can know when she comes and goes, or on her refrigerator door so you can know if she’s eating. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “Th e Savvy Senior” book. iori by Jim Miller Smart Home Devices to Help Seniors Age in Place Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve been talking to my mobility challenged mother, who lives alone, about automating her house with some smart home products to make it more convenient. She’s very interested but we’d like to get your opinion as to which types of smart devices are most helpful for seniors aging in place. Searching Daughter Of Malden. Passed away peacefully on December 4th, 2023 surrounded by family that loved her dearly at the age of 86. Born August 14th, 1937 in the West End of Boston to Anthony and Florence (Arria) Fama (both deceased), Ann Marie grew up with her brother, Santo Fama (deceased), and her sisters, Joan Fama Wixon and Elizabeth Fama in a home full of much love. Her extraordinary bond with her siblings throughout her life brought her much joy, comfort and strength. On February 28th, 1960, Ann married Lawrence DiBlasi and together they spent many happy years enjoying all of the simple things in life, including many fun trips to Las Vegas and Florida. Ann worked as a home health aide for numerous years helping many people through their diffi - cult time in life. She was loved by the people for whom she worked and everyone who was lucky enough to have known her. Ann’s memory will live on with her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, whom she loved to dote on and spoil. Her laughter and silliness enriched all their lives and will never be forgotten. A Funeral service will be held at the A. J. Spadafora Funeral Home, 865 Main Street, Malden on Friday December 8th at 11:00am. Visitation will be held ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ Invitation to Bid MHA #082823 Tree Removal and Maintenance Services Malden Housing Authority (MHA), is accepting sealed bids from responsible companies to perform and furnish all labor, travel, equipment, services, permits, disposal, and insurance necessary for, or incidental to, a contract to perform intermittent Tree Removal and Maintenance Services at various properties owned and operated by the MHA. Bid is estimates at 25,000.00 per year. The MHA will enter contracts with the selected vendor for a minimum term of one (1) year up to a maximum term of five (5) years, either initially or by extension at MHA’s sole discretion. If the initial term of the contract is for less than five (5) years, the MHA may extend the contract term by written notice to the Contractor within 30 days of the contract expiration date. All extended contract awards made by MHA shall be subject to this provision. In no instance shall either an initial or any extended contract award made by MHA exceed a total duration of five (5) consecutive years. Bid documents are available December 4, 2023 at the Malden Housing Authority, 630 Salem Street, Malden, MA 02148, and will be received at that address and time stamped until January 17, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Bidding documents are available at the Malden Housing Authority, and by email by request at efahey@maldenhousing.org Each bid shall be accompanied by a bid deposit of not less than 5% of the highest value of the submitted bid including possible term extensions and all deductive alternates (if any). The MHA reserves the right to waive any informality or to reject any or all bids if it be in the public interest to do so. All Bidders Note: Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines regarding employment for minorities and females, shall be strictly enforced as described in section 01100 Labor and EEO Regulations, and compliance with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701u) (as amended), and HUD-1476-FHEO Rev 2, OMB Approval Number 2529-0043 (exp. 8/31/2007) The MHA is an Equal Employment Opportunity and a Drug Free Workplace December 08 2023 OBITUARIES Ann Marie DiBlasi from 10:00am-11:00am prior to the service. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment will be in St. Michael Cemetery, Roslindale. In lieu of fl owers, donations can be made to Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org Ellen Marie (Geagan) Leahy A longtime resident of Malden. Passed away peacefully on Friday, December 1, after a brief illness. Born in Charlestown in 1931, Ellen was the daughter of John and Catherine Geagan. She was raised and educated in Charlestown, graduating from Charlestown High School with the Class of 1948. In 1951, she married her sweetheart, John Joseph Leahy. The two fi rst lived in Charlestown, before spending many years in Somerville and then settling down in Malden where they raised their family. The two shared close to 50 Years of marriage before John’s passing in 1998. In addition to being a housewife and mother, she also worked in data entry at Bunker Hill Community College for two decades. In retirement, Ellen volunteered her time with the Quincy Teen Mothers Program and Cerebral Palsy of the South Shore. She enjoyed traveling, was an avid bowler, and liked to cross stitch, but spending time with family was her favorite pastime. She is survived by her fi ve children, Janice L. Walsh and her husband, Tom Walsh of Braintree; James J. Leahy of Reading; Cathy Doucet and her husband, Stephen Doucet of Stoneham; Carol M. Leahy of Melrose; and Mary Gross and her husband, Chris Gross of West Tisbury; her sister, Bonnie McDonald of Stoneham; her 11 grandchildren, Gregory, Katie, Gillian, Matthew, Kevin, Susan, Sean, Andy, Ryan, Nicholas, and Olivia; and her 9 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Ellen was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, John, and her brother, John (“Jack”) Geagan. Funeral services will be held at the Weir-MacCuish Golden Rule Funeral Home, 144 Salem St, Malden on Saturday, December 9, at 11 AM. Interment to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, December 8, from 3 – 7 pm and Saturday, December 9, from 10-11 am. In lieu of fl owers, memorial donations can be made to the SHARE Foundation, C/O https://thesharefoundation.org. Roger Graham A longtime resident of Malden and later in life Amesbury, OBITUARIES| SEE PAGE 17 ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~
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