Move over, millennials, and let your grandparents show you what smart homes are all about.

Older adults are now using the latest in next-gen technology to vacuum their homes, generate shopping lists based on items in their trash cans or take virtual vacations to their favorite destinations.

These and other digital devices were featured at the “Connected Independence” Senior Smart Home event in Lake Forest on Thursday, April 19. Sponsored by Cox Communications in partnership with businesses and senior living experts, the event showcased the latest in digital living that provides seniors with the ability to age in place safely and independently in their own homes.

According to research by AARP, nearly 90 percent of adults 65 and older prefer aging in their current home rather than moving to an assisted living facility.

“Smart home technology can help families avoid the wrenching decision and the expense of moving an aging parent to an assisted living facility,” said Ryland Madison, director of product marking for Cox Communications. “A connected home ensures seniors can continue their daily routine while maintaining, and even enhancing, their quality of life in their own home.”

Want to start your slow cooker, feed your cat or water your plants without leaving your chair? There’s an app for that.

Health care professionals and caregivers are also jumping on the smart-home bandwagon. The latest trend in telemedicine services from Trapollo lets doctors diagnose and treat seniors from the comfort of their own home. iPad-based telepresence robots manufactured by Double Rotobics provide a way to check on older adults when their loved ones can’t be there in person.

Technology also can help prevent forgotten pill dosages or mixed medications, sending audible and visual alerts up to 30 minutes before pills are scheduled to be taken.

Here are some of the products and services demonstrated at the smart home expo:

The Rendever virtual reality platform allows seniors to virtually “travel” to their favorite destinations if they are unable to physically.

Clarity P300 handset landline telephone makes sounds louder and easier to understand. Seniors can call people by pushing a photo button.

Demonstrations by Alison Jacobson, The Safety Mom, on how connected devices can assist with caregiving.

GeniCan — garbage can that scans items as they’re thrown away. The GeniCan app builds a shopping list based on what needs to be replaced and schedules home delivery through Amazon Dash Replenishment.

The Parrot Pot gives plants the right amount of water at the right time using sensors that monitor light, temperature, soil moisture and fertilizer levels in real time. The app has a database of over 8,000 plants to give users advice on how to help their flowers thrive.

Smart window/door sensor — wireless device detects when doors and windows are opened

Readable voicemail — sends transcripts of voice messages to email

The event — held at a single-family home in Lake Forest outfitted with smart home technology — featured 35 interactive demonstrations. Additional stations included a WiFi slow cooker, vacuum cleaner and pet feeder, an electronic fork that tracks eating habits, smart door locks and video cameras, glass-break sensors, water/flood sensors, motion sensors and other safety devices.