Aging and Health Technology Watch

Can the news media generate new interest in an old tech category?  The Nancy Guthrie disappearance case is, at this point, an apparent tragedy. But hey, is it an opportunity to look at what-might-have-been-useful tech?  Count on the Wall Street Journal to seize the moment, offering ‘guidance’ on monitoring Mom and Dad.  For those WSJ readers with aging parents who were unaware of remote monitoring sensors and or location trackers, how reassuring to know that this tech exists!  And while on the subject, tech can be used to track children! Oh and by the way, tech is available to request a ride without using Uber or Lyft!

A 2011 report predicted a notable future change in technology called Design for All.   Why would that make more sense than the specialty tech of the period for older adults – flip phones, special tablets, and even special TV remotes, some still available today.  Those age-specific devices today are marketed online – and for those looking for tech for people with Alzheimer’s or mobility issues they can be found.  But the general consumer product market has radically changed by 2026 – today it is feasible to adjust features of a device to accommodate physical, hearing or vision limitations with products that are designed for all.  Software has become the enabler as: 

Fifteen years is a long time in the tech world.  In 2011, 30 executives across the tech industry were queried about how technology needed to change to accommodate older adults. Opinions in this AARP-sponsored report were obtained from Intel to HP to Google to Cisco to Microsoft to Philips, from Stanford to Georgia Tech to UCLA as well as multiple futurists and startups. The report is not on the AARP website any more, understandably because it is too old – but can be found here: Connected Living for Social Aging: Designing Technology for All. 

Recent research highlights AI opportunities for care-related organizations. The recent report AI and Older Adults – What’s Now and Next in 2026 highlights problems and potential for the uses of artificial intelligence in organizations that serve older adults. While caution is warranted and barriers are visible, senior living and home care firms will likely move forward in the near term on AI initiatives. Why? Because worker shortages, stretched staff and ultimately customer demand will mandate change. This includes AI agents to help improve efficiency, screen applicants more effectively, and free up more time to better serve clients. From the report, here are possibilities for both home care and senior living organizations.

The AARP survey of ‘Jobs to be Done’ by AI shows readiness for health-related AI.  Health-related opportunities were cited – medication tracking, personalized wellness guidance, and active living reminders. At the same time, the report asserts that adoption depends on trust, customization and integration into day-to-day life.  What stands between today’s AI offerings and that next stage of adoption, which will be dependent on our trust of the technology.

The hype still outpaces adoption. According to the Wall Street Journal in August, companies are slowing their rate of AI adoption amidst some stumbles among innovators. As in the 2023 report, there is still trepidation, and the Pew Research April 2025 study shows that experts are more optimistic than the general public about AI’s potential. Are older adults lagging today’s pace of adoption of AI?

For some, the jury should still be out.  Clearly the tech vendors, surrounded by media and investor enthusiasm, are proud of what they are (or almost, so, so close!) doing. The theory, of course, is that consumers are already using their tools to answer health questions, so why not formalize the offering, describing how initial usage (Boston Children’s Hospital, etc.) results are positive. Ah, but even OpenAI the company, is not so certain: When asked about ChatGPT’s reliability with health facts, a spokeswoman said its models had become more reliable and accurate in health scenarios compared with previous versions, but she also didn’t provide hard numbers showing hallucination rates when giving medical advice.

CES is overwhelming – and it would be impossible to see all of these in person. But looking through the best-of lists and the award winners in various categories (including the Accessibility Stage this year), these offerings caught my eye for the benefits they can offer older adults, including those with grandchildren.  Most are very new, and as always with CES, a number are not quite available. A link to the website is the best way to learn more – all information came from the firms’ sites.  

The Boomer Safety Bundle for the Approaching Wave of 80-year-olds. January 2026 is just around the corner. And so will begin the wave of 73 million baby boomers turning 80 over the next 20 years. Maybe they are all in great shape! Not according to a Johns Hopkins researcher: only 25% are ‘robust and active’. 'The rest are a mix of frail and vulnerable, slowed down by health issues.' And many in their 80s and 90s will be aging in place alone – projected by a Harvard study to exceed 10 million. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) just put out a request for tech ecosystem recommendations – clear understanding that the future for health tech for older adults will be required – and even (!) interoperable. The pace of making all of this happen clearly needs to accelerate. Read more.

Tech users today span all ages. Published at around the same time as the AARP Tech Trends Survey, Linkage Connect’s Technology Use Among Older Adults stands alone as a surveyor of tech adoption among the oldest.  In fact, 66% of their responses came from adults aged 75-89, the majority of whom are women, many living independently in senior living communities.  Similar to the AARP survey, 93% of responders own a smartphone, mostly an iPhone. When 66% of the responders to a survey, mostly online, some paper, are aged 75-89, it makes one pause and consider what this means in the world of technology marketing.