By Arlene Weintraub

Staying Healthy and Safe, at Home

Why spend precious years in a nursing home or assisted living facility when you could remain healthy, comfortable, and safe in your own home? Technology giants such as Intel (INTC), General Electric (GE), Philips Electronics, and Honeywell (HON) are finally starting to deliver on the age-old dream of a "smart home" that can watch over its elderly occupant, spot signs of trouble, alert doctors, and even teleconference physicians into the living room when there is a problem. In just one instance of companies hoping to cash in on so-called aging-in-place technology, GE and Intel are committing $250 million over five years to develop products. Consultancy Aging in Place Technology Watch predicts that the market for home monitoring and communications devices could eventually generate $20 billion a year.