Last week we caught up with CEO of Consumer Cellular, John Marick, who talked about its now-nationwide service offering -- no contract service intended for the low-usage cell phone user. The firm went from being a small Northwest cell phone service reseller in the Northwest to becoming a national provider. Key to their offering:
So there aren't enough home care aides to take care of us now, let alone when the boomers hit prime time age 85+. Such a great human interest story for the Washington Post Magazine, ya gotta love it. And I know how we all want to age in place, sitting alone in our own living rooms, with the home health care aide coming in to care for and check on us. And key to the plot -- our deep fear of nursing homes.
I admit it -- I'm in an airport. So this blog entry from CIO.com caught my eye -- and should catch the eye of those who are determined to add Twitter to their internet marketing mix. Who knew? It turns out that 60% of Twitter users fail to return to Twitter after a month of use. Some of the nominated factors:
It's been raining in Philadelphia. A lot, and somewhat metaphorically as well. Inside this convention of management of mostly for-profit Senior Living housing companies (and 300 exhibitors trying to sell to them), the keynote theme was about differentiation. Why it's so important, because filling the buildings of attending companies -- like Brookdale, Sunrise, Emeritus, Bell Senior Living, Country Meadows -- these days is tougher than ever.
As I try to make sense out of the aging in place technology market, new companies or companies new to me regularly surface, contacting me or being referred by others. These vendors will make their way into the July vendor update release of the Aging in Place Technology Market Overview. These are all launched (or in beta), but perhaps not well known in the marketplace as they could and should be.
In nearly every aspect of service delivery, service providers strive to attain certifications of agreed-upon minimum standards of knowledge and competence -- for example: of course there are technology certifications in technology categories (see Microsoft, Cisco).
After reading weekly about wandering individuals with dementia -- lost and then found, not necessarily alive, I think it's time for an update. Here is a bit more detail on a few of the new players engaged in technology that helps track people with Alzheimer's or other dementia. These products are device-plus- service offerings, may not yet be available in all geographies, and this information is from the vendors.
Surfing around the websites that help with defining and guiding those in search of independent living, assisted living, nursing home and the combination of these known as a CCRC (continuing care retirement communities), you can spend time on guidance sites like Gilbert Guide, RetirementHomes.com, the unfortunately-named
Vendors never want to miss a market, inadvertantly bypassing an audience that may love to buy their products -- if they only knew more about them. So why don't vendors with great potential in boomer and senior audiences -- and even some loving customers -- try harder to make this match clearer?
