A 2018 blog post sets a stage for comparison with today. Perusing this 8-year-old screed, one might think that a comparison with 2026 tech for older adults would show vast improvement – both in the tech-enabled wellbeing of today’s oldest, as well as a dramatic improvement in the tech itself. But consider the observation by a Duke researcher: "Tech has the potential to help preserve independence…Ultimately we want nursing homes to disappear. We want people to live peacefully in their own home." Hmmm. Luckily that Wall Street Journal Supplement is no longer available and the Duke researcher cannot be embarrassed. Nursing homes did not disappear. As of last year, there were 15,000 certified nursing homes in the US, serving 1.2 million people, including Medicare-funded rehabilitation services, as well as Medicaid-funded care for older adults and people with disabilities.
How about those 2018 robots? Of several offerings mentioned in that blog post, what happened? Care.coach (founded in 2012 and is now self-identified as a Digital Health company) and Senior List-reviewed ElliQ (a tabletop interactive device to mitigate senior isolation, founded in 2016). The other company noted, Catalia Health’s Mabu is now Mabu Care Insights platform and is sold to pharma brands like Pfizer who are hoping to offer AI-enabled wellness coaching to patients. ElliQ has multiple limitations as a ‘companion’ for seniors living alone, despite its initial charm. The ‘dystopian’ term used in the Senior List write-up caught my eye. Compared to multiple other ways to interact, that seems accurate. ElliQ requires a 12-month commitment, plus a one-time fee of $249.99 and costs $59.99 per month – and cannot observe you exercising in the next room. Adult day services which could offer a chance to interact with people, for example, average $100/day nationwide – and many offer an exercise program.
Keeping in touch. In 2018, it was a novelty to launch a tech process that automatically starts up several times a day to check-in to see how (or what) they are doing. Today, that capability is well represented among many – whether it is automatically calling an individual and notifying of non-response, including the charmingly titled “I’m Alive’ for individuals with chronic conditions (really?). Will baby boomers, the oldest now 80, want them? Tolerate them? Or will it be perceived as yet another annoying tech notification?
There is something missing in all of this tech – perhaps encouragement to go out? Or even suggesting ways to do so? ElliQ could/should encourage calling the local senior transportation van for a pickup. I’m Alive I guess is reassuring that you haven’t fallen, but perhaps a follow-up question – would you like to talk with a family member/friend/service provider this afternoon/schedule a visit and find out how you really feel?
