9-2 Technology & Aging: The Value Proposition – Ken Kerr speaks

Every Thursday at 2p ET (1p CT), GrandCare Systems hosts an aging & technology industry call.

This Thursday, 9-2-10

TOPIC: Technology & Aging: The Value Proposition – Ken Kerr, President of Home Controls speaks

Learn about this quickly growing market and how existing technology providers can most effectively harness the growth potential in today’s market.

Join us: http://my.dimdim.com/grandcare
Optional Dial In listed on the webinar

8-19-10 Call sponsored by Home Controls.

Ken Kerr is a successful entrepreneur and small business owner for over 25 years. Since 1995 he has been closely involved in the home automation and networking industry, holding leadership positions on the industry trade association Board of Directors and earning numerous prestigious awards.

Ken is the President of Home Controls Inc, a national distribution company based in San Diego, and co-founder of the Residential Integrator School (RIS). As such, he has worked closely with hundreds of integrators throughout the country, as well as nearly two hundred of the industry’s most popular manufacturers. For the past 14 years Ken has advised many dealers in their quest for growth.

GrandCare Systems – High Tech Caregiving

http://www.seniorsnews.net/emailstory/STS/4470/8737

GrandCare Builds Emotional Elements Into High-Tech Caregiving
This was the easy part: Creating a system that monitors, communicates, updates, assists and notifies a homecare client’s status — wirelessly — and is operated by people without significant technological experience. The system can do everything from report blood pressure and indoor temperature to sending photographs and medication reminders to coordinating schedules with family members and printing out graphs for doctor visits.

The hard part is marketing it.

Laura Mitchell, the director of business relations of GrandCare Systems in West Bend, WI, tells Selling to Seniors that “as with any technology or any service, you really are marketing to two different demographics: you’ve got the boomers who are most likely making the [purchasing] decision and you’ve got the senior who might be paying for it. Really you have a ‘triple sale’ going on: selling to one demographic then the other and then get them together on how this is going to work.”

GrandCare uses a combination of remote environmental sensing, passive physiological sensing, artificial intelligence and networking technologies to provide caregivers the ability to remotely and passively monitor a client or loved one without compromising dignity or privacy. It’s an impressive use of modern technology, and its touch panel controls are designed to be used by those with little experience using a computer, or even by those with memory issues.

Caregivers log into the system via Internet from anywhere in the world and can see, for example, if the client has lost weight in the last few days or if they’ve been to bed lately. They can also send images and messages to the client via the television. The variations of monitoring are nearly endless.

A Coming ‘Tsunami’ in Home Care Technology

It sounds like the ultimate “smart house.”

“But we’ve taken it one step further and really focused on the mental and spiritual and familial activity in their well being,” says Mitchell. “Not only should they keep their minds active but we also think it’s important to stay in touch with family members wherever they are. Email, Facebook, Skype — we enable the seniors to use all this technology without having to know anything about it.”

The system is entirely customizable and can be scaled up or down, and prices range accordingly. Local dealers perform care assessment and installation, and Mitchell says costs are about $15 to $25 a day. The average cost of skilled nursing, she points out, is $200 a day, and 24-hour in-home care can get up to $600 a day.

Since the product’s launch at the end of 2006, GrandCare has promoted the system using “a lot of guerilla marketing,” Mitchell says. “A lot of social networking, a lot of trade shows and press releases, presentations at places we think adult children may be at. We don’t do a whole of paid advertising.”

Meanwhile, Mitchell networks with others in the field and is a founding board member of the Aging Technology Alliance, a consortium of home tech companies. For the last two years she has hosted a weekly aging and technology webinar featuring others from the industry.

“The idea is the aging tsunami will float all the boats, so let’s work together,” she says.

Info: Professional caregivers and private homes can contact GrandCare at https://www.grandcare.com/page/contact_us. Laura Mitchell addresses the NAHB’s Home Technology Alliance and CEDIA in a free Webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. EDT; see www1.gotomeeting.com/register/940457584 for registration information. The Aging Technology Alliance can be found at http://web.me.com/pradsliff/Aging_Technology_Alliance/Home.html. A list of upcoming Webinars hosted by Mitchell is at http://grandcare.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/upcoming-aging-tech-webinar-topics-mark-your-calendar.

http://www.seniorsnews.net/emailstory/STS/4470/8737

Selling to Seniors is an independent news service. For more information on our senior service products, go to www.CDPublications.com or call 301-588-6380 or email subscriptions@cdpublications.com. Subscription rates begin at $297per year. Sharp discounts are available for multi-year and multi-user subscriptions. Unauthorized reproduction and/or providing access to unauthorized users are violations of federal copyright law.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Tomorrow’s GrandCare Aging/Tech Topic

Every Thursday at 2p ET (1p CT), GrandCare Systems hosts an aging & technology industry call.

This Thursday, 8-26-10

TOPIC: Peter Radsliff, CEO of Presto speaks on Bridging the Digital Divide. How social media will change aging in place.

Join us: http://my.dimdim.com/grandcare
Optional Dial In listed on the webinar

8-19-10 Call sponsored by Presto!. Co-sponsored by Home Controls.

Peter is CEO of Presto Services Inc., the leading provider of computerless email solutions to the home health technology market. Previously, he led marketing and product development efforts at CE leaders Seagate and Monster Cable, developing hundreds of new connectivity, power and digital storage products. Peter is board chairman of an elder technologies industry group, teaches a graduate design course at San Francisco State University, and lives with his wife and three kids in California’s Silicon Valley.

GrandCare Connects Computer Reluctant Seniors

Senior Life Magazine Article

System keeps seniors connected, monitored with wireless sensors

GrandCare connects
computer reluctant seniors
By george white
There is a reluctance to join the computer
age among many seniors, leaving
family and friends feeling unconnected
as their loved ones age and struggle to
remain independent.
Aging responsibly, with the help of
new technology, is the goal of Grand-
Care Systems, which provides not only
a user-friendly computer access but also
a variety of wireless sensors to report
wellness and activity.
“Essentially our thoughts are that,
with all the technology we have, no
one should live without safety and we
have ways to keep them connected,
even if they live in a facility,’’ said
GrandCare director of Business
relations Laura Mitchell.
A simple touch screen menu allows
access to family videos and photos, as
well as email, and also offers activities
for fun and to remain mentally fit. Family
members can send communications
and reminders for appointments directly
to the touch screen that requires no
technical expertise.
Authorized family members and
caregivers can access reports from
wireless sensors including scales, thermometers,
blood pressure and blood
sugar monitors. There is even a motion
detector that can tell if medications have
been taken on time.
“Caregivers can log into the Website
and get this information and also set up
parameters to be notified if there shows
a problem,’’ Mitchell said.
Information can be sent by a
dedicated channel on television or to
computers via a secure link on the
Internet, she said.
“This is a dedicated system to keep
your loved ones independent and safe
through wireless sensors in the home
and it can be customized for the
individual,’’ she said.
The GrandCare system came on the
market in 2006.
For more information, visit the Web
site www.GrandCare.com

To view the full article click here

Laurie Orlov speaks on Caregiving Technology: What’s New

Every Thursday at 2p ET (1p CT), GrandCare Systems hosts an aging & technology industry call.

This Thursday, 8-19-10

TOPIC: Laurie Orlov, Aging in Place Technology Watch speaks on Caregiving Technology — What’s New?

Join us: http://my.dimdim.com/grandcare
Optional Dial In listed on the webinar

8-19-10 Call sponsored by Added Care Services. Co-sponsored by Celery & Home Controls.

Laurie M. Orlov, a tech industry veteran, writer, speaker and elder care advocate, is the founder of Aging in Place Technology Watch, a market research firm that provides thought leadership, analysis and guidance about technologies and related services that enable boomers and seniors to remain longer in their home of choice. In addition to her technology background and years as a technology industry analyst, Laurie served as a volunteer long-term care ombudsman and is certified in Geriatric Care Management from the University of Florida and the author of When Your Parents Need Elder Care.

NAHB’s Home Technology Alliance and CEDIA Host Free Webinar on Home Health Care Technology

National Association of Home Builders – hear Laura Mitchell of GrandCare speak!

“Home Health Technology: A $20 Billion Industry”
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (EDT)

NAHB’s Home Technology Alliance and CEDIA Host Free Webinar on Home Health Care Technology

Take part in this informative program and learn how to benefit from this growing home health care technology market opportunity by incorporating these trends into their service offerings.

According to Aging in Place Technology Watch’s Laurie Orlov, the aging and technology industry will reach $20 billion by 2020. People have a strong desire to remain independent and at home. This program, featuring Laura Mitchell, Business Relationship Specialist at GrandCare Systems, will provide insight about the aging and technology market, and the myriad products such as smart home, tele-health, brain fitness, and fall detection technologies. This program is open and free of charge to all NAHB and CEDIA members. Click here for registration information.

GrandCare Age/Tech Call TODAY: Home Care providers & Technology

EVERY THURSDAY at 2p EDT, the Aging/Technology Industry Virtually Convenes…

8-12-10 TOPIC:The Circle of Life
Mark Stowers, franchise owner of LaCrosse Comfort Keepers, discusses the circle of life & why home-based care providers and technology have synergy

Thursday Aug 12, 2010
TIME: 2pm EDT (11am PDT)
URL: http://my.dimdim.com/grandcare

This call is sponsored by Ho’okele Health Navigators: Enabling you to make informed decisions about your health
To sign up as a call sponsor: info@grandcare.com

Remember, the aging tsunami will float all boats! Together we can work together and build this brand new aging and technology category!

CEDIA Schedule Sept 23 – 26 Aging Technology Pavilion Educational Sessions

Schedule of Home Health Events sponsored by GrandCare Systems at CEDIA in Atlanta Sept 21 – 26

Tuesday Sept 21
9a – 5p GrandCare Systems Authorized Dealer Training
email info@grandcare.com to sign up
630 – 9p Meet the GrandCare Staff
“A Point of View, Hilton Atlanta
255 Courtland Street NE
Tel: 1+(404) 659-2000 ”
no RSVP needed

Wed Sept 22
10a – 1130 GrandCare Authorized Dealer Refresher Course
RSVP Needed: info@grandcare.com
7 – 9p AgeTek Alliance Meet & Greet
Location TBA – more info: agetek@me.com

Thurs Sept 23 (show floor opens 10 – 6p)
(Home Health Pavilion: Booth 4072)
1030 – 1130: Choosing which Tech is right for you Booth 4072
1145 – 1245: Simple Technology: BIG RESULTS Booth 4072
12:15 – 1:45: CLOSED LUNCHEON SESSION
2 – 3p: WEEKLY AGING & TECHNOLOGY CALL HOSTED BY GRANDCARE SYSTEMS -TOPIC: LIVE FROM CEDIA Booth 4072
3 – 330: Building a New Category – AgeTek Booth 4072
330 – 430: Vendor Mash-Up – ONE presentation showcases all the technologies in the home health pavilion
430 – 6p Senior Cyborgs – The Rise of the Machines Booth 4072

Fri Sept 24 (floor open 9a – 6p)
(Home Health Pavilion: Booth 4072)
10 – 11a Senior Socialization & Brain Fitness Booth 4072
1130 – 12p Profiting Together – AgeTek Booth 4072
1230 – 130 Vendor Mash-Up – ONE presentation showcases all the technologies in the home health pavilion
2p – 4p DIGITAL HOME HEALTH PANEL will cover the closely watched topic of home health care technology. Moderator Laura Mitchell of GrandCare Systems will lead a panel that includes experts from leading companies in the home health and senior care space. ROOM: B312

Sat Sept 25 (floor open 9a – 5p)
1030 – 1130: From the “Willfull Suspension of Disbelief” to the New Reality Booth 4072
1130 – 12: Profiting Together!! The Aging Technology Alliance Booth 4072
1p – 2p: Elderly Monitoring & Safety Booth 4072
2 – 3p Vendor Mash-Up – ONE presentation showcases all the technologies in the home health pavilion Booth 4072
4 – 530p: ROOM A313: When Grandpa Wants the Cadillac – GRANDCARE Mfger Training

Sunday Sept 26 (floor open 10a – 3p)
10a – 11a: Technology for the Aging: A Value Proposition Booth 4072
11a – 12p: Senior Cyborgs: The Rise of the Machines Booth 4072

CEDIA Expo Tech Sessions to Focus on HDMI, Home Health


http://www.cepro.com/article/cedia_expo_tech_sessions_to_focus_on_hdmi_home_health/
Four free technology discussions in Atlanta will cover HDMI, digital home health, gaming/3D, tablet PCs and communications protocols.

By CE Pro Editors
August 04, 2010
Four panel discussions presented by the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) at CEDIA Expo 2010 (Sept. 22-26 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta) will shed light on some of the most talked-about issues in the electronic systems industry.

Expert-led panels will focus on opportunities in and the future of:
HDMI
Digital home health
Entertainment
Communications
The panel discussions are offered by CEDIA’s Technology Council in conjunction with the new Future Technology Pavilion at CEDIA Expo 2010. The Future Technology Pavilion will showcase cutting-edge technologies that are expected to impact the electronic systems industry in the coming months and years. The panel discussions will give CEDIA EXPO attendees a more in-depth perspective on the technologies and trends represented in the pavilion.


Digital Home Health: What It Is and How It Affects Us All, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Fri., Sept. 24, will cover the closely watched topic of home health care technology. Moderator Laura Mitchell of GrandCare Systems will lead a panel that includes experts from leading companies in the home health and senior care space.

Utz Baldwin, CEDIA CEO, says, “The discussions will allow industry professionals to get a closer look at the most anticipated technologies and trends in home technology.”

Catching up – more new and notable tech offerings

Catching up – more new and notable tech offerings
Submitted by Laurie Orlov on Tue, 08/10/2010 – 13:50
It’s time for a quick August update of more new and notable tech offerings, from emerging vendors and new offerings from existing vendors – including beta testing. Please let me know about others you know about and not spotted via the Product Snapshots term on this site:

GrandCare Systems (grandcare.com): GrandCare Systems has just launched HomeBase as an entry point “communication, socialization, webcam touch panel for sharing pictures, video, email, calendaring – and some dealers have included a concierge service request. Sensors can be integrated at a later point.” Charles Hillman, CEO.