Aging and Health Technology Watch

Monitor the environment. Sensor-based monitoring is not new -- QuietCare and GrandCare have pioneered home monitoring of seniors using room-based sensors for years. In both cases, sensors are placed in the room and alerts launched to a pre-determined number based on activity (or lack of activity) indicated by the sensors.

Seniors do their best to live and stay well. If you live in Florida and go to a concert at 4:00 pm on a Friday, it's not surprising to be surrounded by seniors in their 80's and beyond, dressed up and slowly climbing the steep stairs up to the balcony. These concertgoers likely live in their own homes, drive their own cars, and enjoy concerts and perhaps a nice meal in a restaurant afterward.

At first glance, this article was a human interest story about a free service for seniors in Columbus Ohio. There were only 4 enrollees in a program that provided automatic safety calls (reverse 911) at preset times. With no answer after 3 tries, the police were dispatched.

The SilversSummit at CES in January, 2009 was the first-ever track in this giant consumer product show that focused on technology for boomers and seniors. To one observer, there were as many vendors at the event wondering about market entry as active. Based on my surfing of boatloads of websites lately, to those in and considering entry – here are 10 steps to take:

I have been struck lately by disconnects between desire and reality -- what boomers and seniors want to happen and what may actually happen. In each one of these, planning is skipped in favor of dealing later with misery. 

This news item makes me very angry and should enrage you as well -- but you don't have to be a futurist to see how it could and should be prevented -- in assisted living facilities as well as nursing homes. So two teenage aides who were 'working' at a Minnesota nursing home -- ironically run by the 'Good Samaritans' -- have been charged this week with extreme abuse of multiple Alzheimer's residents over many months.

Today, most ALFs and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) have not invested broadly in home monitoring technology. But some new CCRCs are designed from the ground up. Some, like Lutheran Home Association of Minnesota, have invested in wireless broadband, providing an opportunity for  Minnesota-based Healthsense™ to implement its eNeighbor™ product line throughout as a means to facilitate aging in place.

Demos dazzle when done right. And a CES/Silvers Summit demo of HP's TouchSmart 'all-in-one' computer (available for the past year) demo'd as an appealing product for boomers and seniors -- starting at $1299.99 on HP's store. Although, the experience of owning one may still benefit from a Geek Squad-like visit for setting it up -- for those who get dizzy when faced with a box full of components.

It's been a long couple of days. So many vendors, so little brain capacity left. But let's get right down to the point. Silvers Summit is the first time CES has ever had a day-long track allocated to discussions and presentations about technology and aging.

Wow, does this sound like a good idea for seniors in nursing homes in Connecticut. Or maybe not for seniors.