Detroit seniors will soon have another tool to help them feel safer at home through a new partnership that pairs technology with community support. 

Amazon and the Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) announced a new initiative that will provide 1,000 Ring home security devices to older adults across Detroit at no cost. Eligible seniors who enroll in the program will receive a Ring camera, professional installation from a technical team working with Amazon and the DAAA, and a lifetime Ring Basic subscription, all free of charge. 

The program is designed to help older adults remain safe, connected, and independent while aging in place, a goal leaders from the city, Wayne County, Amazon, and the DAAA said they share. 

Speaking at the Coleman A. Young Recreation Center, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield thanked older residents for the generations of service they have given to the city before highlighting the latest investment in their well-being. 

“I just wanted to be here to say thank you to Amazon and thank you to DAAA for this investment in support for our seniors,” Sheffield said. “We know that being safe in your home is so essential to quality of life. Everywhere I go throughout the city with our seniors, safety always comes up in all the ways of staying in their homes. So to provide free access to a camera is just so important to the overall quality of life and dignity of our seniors.” 

Sheffield said the camera initiative builds on work the city has already undertaken during her first six months in office to improve services for older adults. She pointed to the creation of Detroit’s Office of Senior Affairs, the launch of a senior food access program serving senior apartment buildings, the expansion of senior advocates working throughout neighborhoods and efforts to improve housing conditions for older residents. 

“We have been busy working to ensure that we are advancing the issues and priorities of our seniors,” Sheffield said. “It’s our responsibility as the city to now pour back and give to you. God bless you all. I love you and thank you for all that you’ve done for us.” 

Wayne County Board of Commissioners Chair Alisha Bell said the Ring cameras offer seniors added peace of mind by allowing them to see who is at their door before opening it. 

“As we get older, feeling safe and secure in our home becomes more important than ever,” Bell said. “Doorbell camera systems such as Ring can provide an extra layer of protection by allowing seniors to see who’s at their door without having to open the door, whether it’s a family member, a delivery driver or an unexpected visitor.” 

Bell also emphasized the cameras’ role in deterring crime. 

“Visible cameras can discourage package thieves,” she said. “We know how those porch pirates come onto our porch to steal our packages, but it can reduce vandalism and unwanted visitors. If something does occur, you have the footage to take to the police so they can have that as evidence.” 

She said it represents another investment in helping older adults remain independent while feeling secure in their own homes. 

“The safety, protection, and independence of our seniors is so very important,” Bell said. “Whatever the Detroit Area Agency on Aging can do, whatever Wayne County and the State of Michigan can do, we are there to help our seniors live in their homes independently, with privacy and protection.” 

Ronald Taylor, president and CEO of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, said the organization sees the initiative as another way to fulfill its mission of helping older adults age with dignity while addressing challenges that often extend beyond physical safety. 

“This initiative is more than just the distribution of products,” Taylor said. “This initiative is really about improving outcomes and improving the lives of individuals.” 

Taylor noted that tens of thousands of older adults in metro Detroit live alone, often spending much of their day without regular interaction. 

“What you may not realize is that these individuals probably spend 10 hours or more of their awake hours by themselves,” Taylor said. “Loneliness leads to depression, and depression leads to mental health issues. This Amazon project really helps us address the issue of loneliness by providing connectivity and also by addressing safety.” 

The DAAA will oversee outreach, enrollment, and ongoing support for participants. As seniors sign up for the program, technical teams working with Amazon will schedule installations and ensure participants understand how to use their new devices. 

“Our team will provide outreach, enrollment assistance and technical support to the individuals who receive the product,” Taylor said. “We will also work to ensure that individuals who receive this product can benefit from the resources that it provides.” 

Taylor said the organization’s work has always centered on helping people remain in the homes and neighborhoods they know best. 

“We believe that aging means living,” he said. “Individuals should not feel like they’re isolated or forgotten. We believe that gracefully aging means living life abundantly. It is our mission to create a community where individuals can age in place with dignity and quality of life.” 

For Amazon, the donation reflects the company’s commitment to strengthening the communities where its employees and customers live. 

Ian Conyers, Amazon’s head of community affairs, said the company hopes the cameras will extend the sense of security seniors feel in community spaces to the place that matters most. 

“At Amazon, we don’t only want to be a great employer, but a great neighbor,” Conyers said. “We want to make sure that safety and security extends to your home. We’re very invested in Ring’s mission to make neighborhoods safer, and we’re so happy to be able to provide these for our seniors to feel safe and age with dignity.” 

Conyers said the initiative also supports family members and caregivers who help older adults remain independent. 

“We want to make sure that Detroiters feel safe at home and are connected to their community,” he said. 

The Detroit Area Agency on Aging, established in 1980, serves older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers throughout Detroit, the five Grosse Pointes, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and Highland Park. The nonprofit connects residents with home- and community-based services, advocates for healthy aging and helps individuals make informed decisions about long-term care. 

Applications for the Ring camera program will be managed by the Detroit Area Agency on Aging. Seniors selected for the initiative will receive one of the 1,000 donated devices, professional installation and a lifetime Ring Basic subscription at no cost, giving them another resource to help them remain safe, independent and connected in the homes they have spent a lifetime building.