Independent Living

Independent Living

This is one of the moments that makes it all worth it.

I recently had a conversation with a customer who absolutely made my day. My new friend found us through the use of Gemini and was so impressed with what she discovered that she immediately called. Jim was able to answer all of her questions adequately and at her request, we were able to accommodate a same day installation and got there to install her system that afternoon. 

Upon Jim’s arrival to begin the installation, we needed to gather information to finish setting up her account. The conversation I had with her over the phone was just so enjoyable and fun. Once we were done with the information gathering, this woman gave me a beautiful compliment and asked if we were hiring. Given that she was born in 1942, I was surprised that she was interested in a part-time job with us. She said that she liked our family so much that she would love to spend more time together. This was just about the sweetest thing I ever heard. She also reiterated how impressed she was with what she heard about JAL through Gemini, which included a synopsis of the information on our website and a mention of our impressive reviews.

At the end of the conversation, she expressed such heartfelt gratitude for making her feel safer in her new home. This is truly what it’s all about. We recently began focusing more on helping older adults and seniors find better ways to be safe and independent. Many retired folks and seniors want to stay in their homes rather than move in with family members or go into a group home facility. Through the use of security systems, video surveillance and smart home automation products, the older generation has a greater ability to stay safely and independently in the space of their choosing. 

The security system is just one example of what can be used to keep people safe. It also has a lot to do with smart home automation devices. There’s the obvious – video doorbells and cameras. When these are added to a security system, they can be invaluable for safety. The ability to clearly see and even communicate with people who are outside of the home eliminates the need to open the door unless 100% comfortable in doing so. Floodlight cameras include the added feature of motion activated lighting for the exterior of the home. In addition, there are indoor motion activated lights to help decrease the chance of falling and automatic door locks to easily allow caregivers in and out of the house. Medical alert devices and optional virtual wellness checks can keep you one step ahead in the event of an emergency.

Family members can also be given access to the system. They can provide assistance with the things that are mentioned above and can help manage and make decisions alongside their loved ones even if they are not physically present. It is just one more way to give loved ones peace of mind while maintaining independence. 

People have all different abilities and comfort levels with technology. When having security or automation devices installed, all questions should be answered and apps understood so that all of the benefits of the systems are realized.

There are several names for this type of service. Aging In Place, Aging At Home, Independent Living, Living In Place, Home Support. Whatever term you prefer, the goal is to allow people to stay safely in their homes and maintain independence with the assistance of modern technologies and physical adaptations to their current physical space. As our population ages, this is an option that people need to be aware of, so it’s possible to remain in a familiar place that they likely have loved and cared for over many years. 

 

Welcome! Introduction to JAL

Hello!
Thank you for joining me. In celebration of ten years in business, we are starting a blog to keep in touch with customers and anyone who is interested in learning more about our business and security & automation. So much has changed over the last decade and what better way to talk about it than right here? For today, you’ll learn a little about our beginnings and some of what has happened since.

JAL Custom Home Security started out as a small business in Philadelphia led by a husband (Jim) and wife (Lisa) team. Jim spent several years installing security systems in the area before being offered the opportunity to become an ADT Authorized Dealer in 2016 and I was thrilled to join him in his venture. After a decade of having run a business of my own, I was actively seeking something new. You might be thinking JAL stands for “Jim And Lisa”, as people have told us over the years. Well, I have a fun little fact for you! The truth is Jim wanted to honor our three children with the name of the business, so the letters JAL represent the first letter of each of their names.

There was so much to learn in the beginning. Jim adjusted well from installer to president while I was excited and nervous to jump into something that I essentially knew nothing about. Ten years doesn’t seem like that long ago but believe it or not, some of the paperwork was actual paper. Things needed to be filled out and mailed. Computer systems and software programs needed to be mastered. These were all self taught and as time went on, we became pros and were able to train employees. Together we learned the communication process with ADT and how to stay organized with customers, employees, accounting, and scheduling.

The early years were filled with residential security system installations, often with the addition of a video doorbell. Speed ahead to 2026 and our offerings have grown to include everything in modern smart home automation plus technology for commercial spaces. Utilizing ADT together with Google, we help home and business owners customize their spaces for safety and comfort. For this reason, we recently updated our name to JAL Advanced Security & Automation to better describe our business.

Over the years, more locations were added to include not just Pennsylvania, but also New Jersey, Delaware & Florida. We have employed many people, consisting of some who started off as strangers and came to be like family to college students who needed a summer job. The ability to provide people with work and a paycheck is truly fulfilling and has always been one of my favorite tasks related to the business. Early on, a retiree joined us to get out and work sometimes. Another person started out in Philly and moved to Florida and was able to continue with us for several years even after having moved south. We saw others get engaged to be married, graduate from college, buy their first house. A hairstylist joined us as a side hustle to earn extra income part time. There have also been parents who could flexibly work from home, reliable armed forces veterans and recent high school grads trying to learn some skills and find their way. We have been so fortunate that so many wonderful people have joined our team over the years.

JAL is proud of the work we’ve done to become an award-winning ADT Authorized Dealer, a ButterflyMX Certified Partner and an alarm.com Premier Partner. We will continue to learn and grow with new technology, always with our customers’ satisfaction and peace of mind being the top priority.

The plan is for a blog post each week. Stay tuned to hear all about what we’re up to!