WellAWARE Systems and Good Samaritans Launch Wellness Study

RICHMOND, VA, July 14, 2010 -The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, the nation’s largest not-for-profit provider of senior care and services, will study the effectiveness of using WellAWARE Systems monitoring technology in providing care to seniors living at home or in assisted living centers.

The LivingWell@Home Project, among the largest of its kind, will involve approximately 1,600 seniors in 40 communities across five states, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska.

"Our commitment is to implement new and innovative ways in which seniors can live well, and at the same time offer family members peace of mind knowing that their loved one is being cared for," said David J. Horazdovsky, president and chief executive officer for the Good Samaritan Society. "There is no other product out there that collects this level of quality information and trending. This noninvasive approach was our vision for interfacing with seniors where they live.”

“This technology is a game changer in the delivery of healthcare services in the senior living industry and we are excited to be a part of such an important project,” said Jeff Noce, president and chief executive officer for WellAWARE Systems. “We are proud to partner with the Good Samaritan Society in defining the future of aging and are confident this project will demonstrate the results necessary to seek reimbursement from federal Medicare and Medicaid programs and private insurers as a way to control health care costs and allow seniors to live independently longer.”

The WellAWARE Solution

The WellAWARE System has a unique ability to passively gain insight into sleep quality and other core wellness items to help caregivers more quickly identify changes in health related trends, which may be due to emergent health conditions, infections, prescription drug interactions, or other health conditions. By capturing these subtle changes early on, WellAWARE’s solution can allow for greater independence and decrease the number of hospitalizations by improving disease management and infection control, reducing falls and better managing other wellness related issues.

Importance of Sleep Quality

WellAWARE’s patented sleep quality sensor is the only non-wearable sensor of its kind. Research shows that 37 million older adults have sleep problems, yet only one in eight have been diagnosed (Senior Journal), and unfortunately 70 percent of individuals with sleep deprivation do not report difficulty sleeping (National Institute of Health). Furthermore, in a new study released in May 2010, 65 percent of the residents living in senior living facilities experience clinically significant sleep disturbances and sleep deprivation, which can lead to confusion, increased falls, depression, poor nutrition, and overall health decline (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society). Sleep deprivation can also complicate the treatment of a host of common, serious age-related medical conditions, from arthritis to diabetes, heart & lung disease and depression (Journal for Nurse Practitioners). With the ability to provide insight on sleep quality as opposed to just presence in bed, the WellAWARE solution identifies what is widely seen as the core element in identifying early changes in an individuals overall wellness.

About WellAWARE Systems

Built in collaboration with the senior living industry, WellAWARE™ Systems pro-actively identifies changes in vital wellness indicators and trends by utilizing innovative passive technology. This timely, user friendly and objective information provides caregivers with a directional guide to enhance the quality and efficiency of care, while significantly improving health related outcomes across the care continuum. For more information on WellAWARE Systems, please visit www.wellawaresystems.com.

About the Good Samaritan Society

The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society is the nation’s largest not-for-profit provider of rehabilitation/skilled care and senior housing/services. The Society, founded in 1922, owns and operates more than 240 long-term care centers and retirement centers. The Society’s mission is to share God’s love in word and deed, believing that “In Christ’s Love, Everyone Is Someone.”