You know the statistics and they are alarming. Doctors and nurses are burning out, especially in the ER. Turnover is highest in the lowest-paid care positions – home care is at a high point at 77% as of 2022. Pressure is growing in senior living to ‘keep people well’ in conjunction with a higher level of acuity of care needs. Demand and costs are up, and availability of workers is down. Add the baby boomer population growth – all will pass 65 in just 7 more years -- in conjunction with a shortage of workers able and willing to help them. Hospitals are closing, particularly in rural areas – boosting expectations about care delivery in the home. And in 2023, AI technology is emerging to manage and even improve care. Here are four observations from the just-completed research interviews on this topic:
Devices that offer visual or audio cues for older adults are an important developing market as care providers look to reduce incidences of falls.
One startup, De Oro Devices, is hoping to broaden its market reach for NexStride, a device that attaches to tools like canes or walkers and creates a green laser projection on the ground for users to follow.
The company officially announced a partnership with New York-based RiverSpring Living following a successful trial run of its device at RiverSpring’s campus in the Bronx.
Older adults and caregivers are served by a number of offerings and events. And CES 2024 is still more than 3 months away. Events are ahead like Aging 2.0 Optimize in September in Lousiville, LeadingAge’s Annual Meeting in November in Chicago, and the What’s Next Longevity Innovation Summit in December in Washington. Each of these will no doubt feature startups of services and technologies, many incorporating AI) in multiple areas. In the meantime, here are five recently announced innovations and services for the older adult marketplace worth checking out:
SkyPoint’s generative AI platform enables senior living operators and staff to “chat with their data” grounded in context.
Portland, OR – August 22, 2023 – View official press release
SkyPoint Cloud proudly launches the senior living industry’s first Enterprise AI SaaS product focused on enabling organizations to leverage generative AI to optimize efficiency and productivity. SkyPoint AI intends to elevate the standard of care provided in senior living facilities, enhance operational efficiency, and improve staff satisfaction by eliminating mundane repetitive tasks.
NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. —OneStep, an FDA-listed medical app that uses smartphone motion sensors to provide immediate, clinically-validated feedback on gait and mobility, today announced its expansion into older adult communities such as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and senior living communities (SLCs) throughout the United States.
Long ago 'aging in place' terminology emerged with a different meaning. Forgotten now, it was briefly in Wikipedia to define the benefit of a continuing care retirement community where you did not have to leave the community if you required higher levels of care. And the term wandered over briefly to assisted living. But it eventually stuck as remaining in your own home through thick and thin. And in 2013, it was promoted on the book circuit by former HUD director, Henry Cisneros about his 87-year-old mother – they were both insistent that she 'age in place.' Which she did, until she died after a fall, isolated in her huge house after all her neighbors had died or moved away.