Highlighting Eight Technologies from the 2019 Market Overview

The new trend – tech/services for older adults, not just tech.  When the 2009 Market Overview was completed a decade ago, there were gadgets galore, most introduced with maximum enthusiasm and a shoestring of cash.  Today, perhaps due to pending boomer bulge, innovators and their funders may be having a somewhat easier time, at least in some market categories – health, home care, transportation come to mind.  The other apparent trend is the enthusiasm of partners (health care, senior living, home care) to try out new tech-enabled services that target a problem or opportunity that may have existed a decade ago, but is truly apparent today. Finally, the pace of tech improvement is notable – lower cost and improved utility of on body (or in-room) sensors, predictive analytics, and device integration – with smartphones, health systems, and broader solution sets.  Here are eight of the 33 new offerings from the 2019 Market Overview (material from the vendor/news sites) that deserve a closer look – future posts will highlight others:

Starkey Livio. "This hearing aid can now identify when its user has suffered a fall and send secure a warning notification to as many as three preselected emergency contacts. After confirming their identity, the system’s location tracking allows the emergency contact to see on a map where the wearer has fallen. Additionally, users can manually trigger an emergency alert by tapping a button on the device itself, with an option to cancel the alert if needed using the paired app. Beyond the fall detection, the system’s updates also include a Google-powered virtual assistant. The offering can answer a few questions and  as well as guide the user though troubleshooting with the device itself." Learn more at Starkey.

Oticon Kaizn. "Kaizn collects and analyzes data about an individual's hearing aid use and listening environments to learn their behaviors and hearing preferences and provide real-time hearing aid recommendations and adjustments. For example, Kaizn will recognize when a hearing aid wearer enters a noisy environment, like a loud restaurant, and will contact the wearer, via a push notification, to ask whether they need "focus" or "comfort" in the scenario. Kaizn will then adjust the user's hearing aid settings to reflect that preference. Over time, Kaizn can automate adaptive changes based on the user's feedback/validation and adjust the user's hearing aid settings automatically when they enter similar noise environments." Learn more at Oticon.

ReemoHealth Remote Mobile Health Platform.  "Through the use of wearables and near real-time data and analytics, Reemo connects wearers and families, while helping caregivers and healthcare organizations improve patient experiences and outcomes. Live Concierge Help™ is initiated by pressing and holding the call screen, which is answered by trained professionals who assess the situation and can connect the user with help, caregivers, or emergency services if needed. From remote monitoring to identification of key risk indicators and wellness reporting, Reemo increases engagement and elevates the consumer-centric approach to improved health through proactive support and earlier intervention." Learn more at Reemo Health.

LocateMotion.  "LocateWatch is a durable, splash-resistant wearable that enables the wearer to keep a track of time, set activity alarms, measure steps, and use an SOS button to call a predetermined number if they find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings. It also features a GPS tracker and camera which helps the caregiver keep a track of their loved ones. Geo-fencing, two-way calling, up to three days standby battery life and a dedicated mobile application ensure that the wearer does not wander off. A 24/7 monitoring service similar to home monitoring is also available.  LocateTracker is GPS tracker which can be attached to almost anything. In addition to features like geo-fencing, alerts, and extended battery life (80 hours standby); LocateTracker also facilitates two-way communication. In case a loved one is confused or lost, the caregiver can calm him down and help guide him to safety." Learn more at LocateMotion.

KardiaBand. "The only EKG solution for Apple Watch® Series 1-3. FDA‑cleared, clinical grade wearable EKG. Replaces your Apple Watch band for an EKG anytime, anywhere. KardiaBand provides accurate and instant analysis for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) and normal sinus rhythm in an EKG. Simply place your thumb on the integrated KardiaBand sensor to take a medical-grade EKG in just 30 seconds. Features SmartRhythm monitoring which intelligently evaluates your heart rate and physical activity. When it sees something it doesn't expect, SmartRhythm sends you a notification to take an EKG." Learn more at AliveCor.

Medacube.  "The MedaCube can hold up to 16 different medications, with up to 90-day supply of each. You can set up the “As-Needed” feature for your patient if approved by his/her physician. You can set the amount of as needed medication per dispense. The MedaCube is able to dispense multiple dosing schedules throughout the day. The MedaCube is also a strongbox for medication. The unit should be locked at all times unless a caregiver is loading it. A caregiver PIN limits patient access and protects essential features like medication schedules and dose quantities. In case the MedaCube is tilted, dropped, or mishandled, the unit locks down and sends an alert to the caregiver." Learn more at Medacube.

SoundMind. "SoundMind is a web platform that allows assisted living facilities to easily manage groups of devices like Alexa to provide better care for their patients. Nurses can set reminders for medications, list family contacts, play music, and ultimately customize and enhance the consumer experience for these seniors. oice assistants help people navigate the web and access information in the cloud without the need for a handheld device. They are very easy for seniors to use after they are initially set up. Beyond what comes standard with voice assistants that consumers buy, facilities can personalize them with specific information, keeping seniors informed, engaged, and connected for a fulfilling lifestyle." Learn more at SoundMindInc.

JoinPapa - GrandKids On Demand. "Papa recruits college students, and bridges the generational gap of young adults and senior citizens through their platform. Papa is now in 9 cities and plans to offer its services throughout Florida by the end of the year. The platform is growing rapidly and many active senior members benefit from this Miami start up. Seniors who do not have a car or family member that can assist their needs at any given moment request a Papa Pal, also known as a Grandkid On-Demand. Currently expanding throughout Florida." Learn more at Joinpapa.

category tags: 

mHealth-Digital Health-Telehealth-Voice Health, hearing loss, wearables, smart watch, vehicle/transportation technology-services

• 

from Tips For Aging In Place https://www.ageinplacetech.com/blog/highlighting-eight-technologies-2019-market-overview

It’s time for cameras – nursing homes, assisted living, and home care

Where the baby (or elderly family member) may be.  The WSJ investigation of Care.com has only added a level of urgency about the risky business of finding and placing caregivers in homes. Consider the Care.com CEO’s egregious assertion that "Care.com is a marketplace platform, like Indeed or LinkedIn."  Really, finding someone to watch your baby or your aging father is analogous to finding a worker to fill a job opening in your IT department or seeking a manager to fill out your org chart? And having nasty problems with convicted criminals taking on caregiving roles, resulting in occurring in multiple states, but never aggregating those into a nationwide picture of a horror show, until research into incidents was done by a Stanford MBA student? Read that link, please.

What’s wrong with this picture of oversight? Fixing the Care.com background checking fiasco will take 'more than babysitting money.' No kidding. It will take vote-with-their feet feedback from the firm’s investors and especially the customers. It will take acknowledgement of the care worker shortage and how to address it. Next we should examine what a 'marketplace' actually is. Can it really be a repository in which the managers (not unlike what’s been going on with Facebook lately) have no idea what is going on inside until someone reports a major problem, but not before the news media has discovered it?  Imagine if supermarkets or department stores had no idea of the source of the items they brought onto shelves.  Content for an auction or a marketplace is all about representation and verification of authenticity. 

The Care.com disaster is a wakeup call – who watches the watchers?  It's time to remake the case for cameras in senior care. Only eight states have authorized families to install them in nursing homes. And in assisted living communities, rules are set within states – just this year, a Minnesota family has been fighting to be allowed to place a camera in the residence. This should be a national conversation – and it needs to apply to in-home care workers as well. When a disaster happens, as with the death of Hollywood Hills nursing home residents, there can be an attempt to prevent future disasters by introducing new mandates for generators.  Yet a year or more later, two-thirds of Florida's nursing homes have not complied (yet).

But generators are expensive – cameras are cheap.  The projected costs for generators in Florida, $121 million for nursing homes, $243 million for assisted living, are steep. But IP cameras for assisted living, home care, or skilled nursing homes?   At $38/camera for each of 30,000 assisted living units in the US – that’s just over $1 million for all the units, assuming there is even a single organization that could purchase them and no organization to lobby against it. But what if it was an item on the required list at move-in? What if placing a home care worker (or babysitter) with a family required the family to have a working camera in the home? Cameras are there to enable a family member to see what’s going on – but even more important, for a worker to know that the standard of care in that home includes the presence of a camera. Cameras don't guarantee better care -- but no camera is a guarantee that the quality of the care at any given time is unrecorded and therefore not known until it may be too late.

category tags: 

IoT and home monitoring, Home Care, tech-enabled home care, senior living

• 

from Tips For Aging In Place https://www.ageinplacetech.com/blog/it-s-time-cameras-nursing-homes-assisted-living-and-home-care

It’s time for cameras – nursing homes, home care, assisted living, and home care

Where the baby (or elderly family member) may be.  The WSJ investigation of Care.com has only added a level of urgency about the risky business of finding and placing caregivers in homes. Consider Care.com’s CEO’s egregious assertion that “Care.com is a marketplace platform, like Indeed or LinkedIn.”  Really, finding someone to watch your baby or your aging father is analogous to finding a worker to fill a job opening in your IT department or seeking a manager to fill out your org chart? And having problems with criminals taking on caregiving roles, occurring in multiple states, but never aggregating those into a nationwide picture of a horror show, until research into incidents was done by a Stanford MBA student?

What’s wrong with this picture of oversight? Fixing the Care.com background checking fiasco will take ‘more than babysitting money.’ No kidding. It will take vote-with-their feet feedback from the firm’s investors and customers. It will take acknowledgement of the care worker shortage and how to address it. Next we should examine what a ‘marketplace’ actually is. Can it really be a repository in which the managers (not unlike what’s been going on with Facebook lately) have no idea what is going on inside until someone reports a major problem, but not before the news media has discovered it?  Imagine if supermarkets or department stores had no idea of the source of the items they brought onto shelves.  Content for an auction or a marketplace is all about representation of authenticity. 

The Care.com disaster is a wakeup call – who watches the watchers?  It's time to remake the case for cameras in senior care. Only eight states have authorized families to install them in nursing homes. And in assisted living communities, rules are set within states – just this year, a Minnesota family has been fighting to be allowed to place a camera in the residence. This should be a national conversation – and it needs to apply to in-home care workers as well. When a disaster happens, as with the death of Hollywood Hills nursing home residents, there can be an attempt to prevent future disasters by introducing new mandates for generators.  A year or more later, two-thirds of nursing homes have not complied (yet).

But generators are expensive – cameras are cheap.  The projected costs for generators in Florida, $121 million for nursing homes, $243 million for assisted living, are steep. But IP cameras for assisted living, home care, or skilled nursing homes?   At $38/camera for each of 30,000 assisted living units in the US – that’s just over $1 million – for all the units, and that’s assuming there is even a single organization that could purchase them.  But what if it was an item on the required list at move-in. What if placing a home care worker (or babysitter) with a family required the family to have a working camera in the home? Cameras are there to enable a family member to see what’s going on – but even more important, for a worker to know that the standard of care in that home includes the presence of a camera. Cameras don't guarantee better care -- but no camera is a guarantee that the quality of the care at any given time is unrecorded and therefore not known until it may be too late.

category tags: 

IoT and home monitoring, Home Care, tech-enabled home care, senior living

• 

from Tips For Aging In Place https://www.ageinplacetech.com/blog/it-s-time-cameras-nursing-homes-home-care-assisted-living-and-home-care

Ideas from White House's Technology to Support Aging Adults

Technology and aging R&D – who knew about this task force?  Maybe you were also surprised to see this government report posted last week -- Emerging Technologies to Support an Aging Population.  Of course the aging of the baby boomers (oldest are age 73) is on the minds of lots of businesses and government groups, for various reasons.  Some see a market opportunity in services (home care, home health care, home remodeling).  Some see product sale growth of items (like DME equipment) for an aging population.  Some see housing opportunities or changes to make age-friendlier communities, and some see looming health costs associated with the 50 million individuals now aged 65+. It was a surprise, though, to see this White House report last week, and even more of a surprise to read what’s in it.

The report takes a broad view of enabling older adults to live independently.   The report, for the most part, was not a rehash of other recommendations – even when the sections sounded similar, they veered off into innovation concepts that are not currently available.  No doubt others will inspect this report for ideas about entrepreneurial opportunity.  Here are a selected few areas that are not generally discussed in forums about tech for aging – future blog posts will explore this material further -- here's hoping that prospective inventors, providers of existing solutions for older adults will read the whole report to find more suggestions.  

• Hygiene – including oral health.  Some talk about smart toothbrushes or shower nozzles – but not in the context of caregivers and older adults. For example, imagine for the 46% of women aged 75+ who live alone, a personalized shower, reminding caregivers about behavioral change or the presence of bacteria on frequently handled devices.  Imagine systems that support personalized dental regimen based on mouth biology – and imagine notification to others that hygiene problems were beginning – before the loss of teeth.

• Financial security and preventing financial exploitation. Understanding the relationship between existing measures of financial function with other function – computer use, driving, cell phone use, and mobility to predict decline in financial capacity – and before assets were lost.

• Hearing – improving assistance in all environments. Advances are already underway to improve the self-service capabilities for testing hearing, but not to simulate restaurant noise or demonstrate how their specific loss degrades clarity in those environments. And what about linking hearables to reminders of names via face recognition, with health alerts synced to fitness monitors – helping to prevent social isolation and health decline.

• In-home rehabilitation. Further explore the use of virtual reality and gaming for use by older adults to improve gait following a stroke. Use smart-home technologies to monitor for improvement, prediction of disability or prevention of functional decline – before an individual falls and is re-hospitalized

• User adoption.  Note that "continual learning and adjustment to technology services and updates is a barrier to using rapidly changing technology. New technology should be able to leverage existing platforms that older adults are already familiar with to ease the transition."  

[For those who receive this blog post in email, please look on the website Aging in Place Technology Watch for this and other useful information.]

 

category tags: 

IoT and home monitoring, Family caregivers, hearing loss, home health care

• 

from Tips For Aging In Place https://www.ageinplacetech.com/blog/ideas-white-houses-technology-support-aging-adults