“Healing in Place” – Using Technology to Reduce the Risk of Hospital Readmissions

HEALING IN PLACE

Using Technology to Reduce the Risk of Hospital Readmissions

Author: Laura Mitchell, GrandCare Systems

Contributors: Johannah Hensler, GrandCare Systems

Charlie Hillman, GrandCare Systems

 Gaytha Traynor, GrandCare Systems

Download Paper HereHealing in Place

From Hospital to Home: The Grand Transition

One cannot seriously talk about healthcare reform, improving outcomes, or reducing cost without talking about the aging of America, given the large portion of healthcare costs that are incurred in the later stages of life.[i]  Healthcare already consumes a distressing 17% percentage of GDP, and with the “Boomers” entering their chronic condition years, the financial strain on our society is certain to become more acute, if not critical. As a society, we pay for many pounds of cure. GrandCare Systems is passionate about providing those ounces of prevention that allow patients to successfully transition from acute care to heal at home with a technology assist. Only by moving from the monitored life to the analyzed life to the influenced life, can we reverse the cost spiral of post-acute and chronic care.

This paper will take a look at the general causes of hospital readmissions, explore the GrandCare approach to successful transitions, and provide a plan for transition planners and home healthcare teams to prevent hospital readmissions and keep patients safer, happier and more connected, at home. It’s all about “Healing in Place.” TM

Betty’s Story

In 2008, Betty, was admitted to the hospital for an infection in her foot that had affected her kidneys.  After 5 days in the hospital undergoing tests and treatment, she was released and given many new rules, diet changes, strength training exercises, as well as a strict medication regimen prescribed by multiple healthcare providers.  Betty left the hospital confused and loaded with new responsibilities and lifestyle changes.  The pressure and stress of her new routine ultimately led her back into the same hospital bed just twenty days later.  This is not an unusual occurrence, and in Betty’s case, was most likely a completely preventable readmission.  Betty lacked a clear sense of direction, support and encouragement.  Betty was expected to change her entire life within days without essential resources or available technologies.

The Truth About Hospital Readmissions

In 2009, USA Today reported that 1 in 5 Medicare patients were readmitted to the hospital within just one month of discharge. Readmissions for a natural course of treatment, secondary conditions, or inevitable medical changes are sometimes unavoidable.  However, this article reported that in 2004, a shocking $17.4 billion of the $102.6 billion that Medicare paid to the hospitals went towards unplanned hospital readmission visits.[ii]  Medication non-adherence accounts for a large percentage of all of the factors involved in hospital readmissions. Fierce Healthcare reported noncompliance to cost up to $250 – $300 billion per year in ER and readmission visits.

It’s clear why this is a concern for any country, and it is of prime importance in the United States, with the looming number of aging baby boomers, half of whom have at least one chronic disease. Additional healthcare costs certainly accompany aging: USA Today reported that only 10% of hospital readmissions in 2009 were planned.  Sending the patient home with a lack of resources and support for independent recovery is a formula for readmission. Let’s take a look at some of the traditional causes of readmissions and ways that technology can play a key role in mitigation.

Six Common Reasons for Hospital Readmission

  1. Miscommunication between doctors, staff, patients, caregivers, families at discharge
  2. Unclear or inappropriate instructions from hospital discharge staff regarding diet, mobility, medication and general care
  3. Lack of social interaction and support once home: 30% of the 65+ population and 40% of those with chronic disease live alone[iv]
  4. Misunderstanding of “Red Flag” symptoms that signal likely return to the hospital
  5. Limited resources, lack of transportation and no accompanying advocate
  6. Lack of supervision at home and resulting noncompliance

Technology to the Rescue

To mitigate the turmoil of post-hospital transition, patients and their caregivers need to be equipped with education and resources to make good decisions.  Forward-thinking business leaders, care providers, technology innovators, and other change agents are using technology to assist patients, especially seniors and the disabled.  Remote patient monitoring (RPM) or tele-monitoring technologies and telehealth devices provide an unobtrusive method for reporting the patient’s vital signs including blood pressure and weight; biometric data including pulse oximetry and blood glucose levels; and subjective data including disease signs and symptoms, medication, and/or diet compliance.  With the safe haven created by in-home technologies, patients are able to feel safe while maintaining their independence.

A researcher for Mobi Health News, Technavio, a marketing opportunity company, states: “Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is minimizing hospital stays, resulting in a reduction of the cost of healthcare delivery.  RPM helps healthcare centers reduce costs and increase business opportunities for healthcare service providers, while integrating systems and providing necessary operational facilities.  As a result, the Patient Monitoring Systems market stands to gain.” [v]  

“Reducing Hospital Readmissions” written by Jenny Minott from Academy Health  reports that “Tele-monitoring high-risk patients alone has decreased readmissions by 15 percent.[vi]

Studies of significance by the Veterans Health Administration have reported even larger reductions in hospital utilization through the use of in-home remote monitoring technologies.  The VHA reports that it “delivers healthcare services that serve 5.6 million unique veteran patients annually. A total of 7.6 million veterans are enrolled to receive VHA care.  The number of veteran patients aged 85 years or more that VHA treats is set to triple by 2011 compared to 2000.  As the U.S. population ages, people are living longer, staying healthier, and choosing to live independently at home.[vii]

 

GrandCare Systems is a stand-out leader in digital remote monitoring  & tele-health technology, and one of the companies that will make up the projected 2014 $9.3 billion dollar industry of remote monitoring.[viii]  GrandCare technology can provide practical and continuous support, along with care coordination and caregiving tools to help avoid many hospital readmissions.  GrandCare technology enables individuals to be independent, safe, healthy and socially connected at home.

Laurie Orlov, Consultant and Principal at Aging in Place Technology Watch says, “GrandCare is a pioneer and leading visionary in the business of using technology to help older adults stay in their own homes. With both telehealth capabilities and communications capability, it enables seniors to connect to families, peers, and caregivers — as well as be monitored on their safety and well-being in their home. It should be considered by families and senior housing organizations that want to help seniors age in place.”

Charles Brumder, Board Member at Milwaukee Medical Mission, Greater Milwaukee Area, states, “I can recommend the GrandCare system. I use it to monitor my own glucose, BP, Weight and Pulseox on a daily basis. Rather than rush to a doctor if I see an issue I simply call his or her nurse and describe my symptom. Usually we can solve the problem over the phone, adjust medications as necessary etc. This saves significant time and money.”

A closer look at the GrandCare System:

The GrandCare system starts with the GC-HomeBase, a friendly touchscreen computer, typically in the kitchen of a resident who requires post-acute care at home, often following a hospital visit.

The GC-HomeBase looks like a digital picture frame showing a slide show of pictures, communications, and a full range of personalized content, posted remotely by a family or professional caregiver, using the Internet.  If the resident touches the screen, a menu appears for accessing additional, optional features.

The GC-HomeBase maintains constant contact with GC-Manage, a cloud based enterprise solution, to handle alerts, share information, backup data, administer software updates, and perform congregate analytics.

Meanwhile, the GC-HomeBase collects information 24/7 from a customized set of wireless activity and wellness devices.  The stored data is accessible through GC-Manage by authorized caregivers across the Internet.

With the patient firmly at the center, the GC-HomeBase integrates four components: 1) Wellness, 2) Smart Home, 3) Activity Monitoring, and 4) Social Connectivity.

1)  Wellness: The HomeBase accepts physiological readings from wireless telehealth devices such as a weight scale, blood pressure cuff, thermometer, glucometer, and oximeter.  An EKG device is in alpha test and scheduled for release in 2012.

Each of these devices can produce charts or graphs and can support simple rule sets to alert caregivers of abnormal readings. The data can be accessed by medical professionals and other caregivers or transferred to proprietary electronic health records.

As Health Information Exchanges are created, GC-HomeBase will offer complete interoperability.  The wellness component also includes medication compliance by interfacing with the RXtender pill dispenser or more simply with reminders and helpful medication information.

Patients typically participate enthusiastically in their overall wellness through the self-assessment module on the GC-HomeBase touchscreen.  As a result, authorized caregivers have access to personalized data that helps describe mental state and chronic conditions in addition to overall wellness. The patient is also allowed and encouraged to view the same data to better understand their own physical and mental state.  Videos may be added to the GC-HomeBase to provide telehealth device instructions, health maintenance tips, and medication compliance assistance – enabling progression from the measured life to the analyzed life to the influencing patients’ wellness choices.

2)      The Smart Home: The GC-HomeBase can control and monitor lighting, thermostats, and cooking appliances. The system will detect someone getting up at night and can light the way to the bathroom to mitigate falls.

3)      Activity Monitoring:  The GC-HomeBase can collect data from motion, temperature, door, chair, caller-id, pill-box and bed sensors. The GC-HomeBase can send a text to selected caregivers if the resident doesn’t get up in the morning or if the outside door opens during the night.  The GC-HomeBase can also catalog phone calls to send an alert when it detects an unknown number, possibly predicting a telephone scam.

4)      Social Connectivity:  The large, clear GC-HomeBase touchscreen includes a simple GC-VideoChat option, displayed reminders, pictures, games, and brain exercises – all easy to use with no expertise or training required.  Caregivers can send messages and write letters to the resident, who can just touch the <reply> button to see an onscreen keyboard and send the response automatically to the caregiver’s email account.  Social connectivity is the glue that makes the system meaningful and useful.

Testimonials from GrandCare clients:

Carol in Florida: “They told us in 2005 that mom needed to go to Assisted Living because of her medical condition. Now that I have GrandCare, I manage it and she’s STILL at home 6 years later!” 

Ms. Smith in California: “How useful GrandCare has been to us as an extra safety net for Dad. For a stubborn old fella who doesn’t want a nurse, this system is the least intrusive and lets the family have some peace of mind.”

GC Client in New York: “My sister was at the hospital with mom yesterday due to a blood pressure issue.  They wanted a history of readings.  I logged on to GrandCare, generated a blood pressure report, and emailed it to my sister’s phone.  Mom was back home the same day.  If we didn’t have that history they probably would have wanted to keep her so they could monitor her for a period of time.  When she’s in the hospital it turns our lives upside down.  It’s HUGE to minimize that as much as possible. Thank you!”

Let’s take another look at the Six Common Reasons for Hospital Readmission and uncover the GrandCare approach to successful transitions and get a handle on reducing the 90% of preventable hospital readmissions.

The GrandCare Approach to Successful Transitions

1)  Communication:

GrandCare addresses the miscommunication issue between doctors, staff, patients, caregivers, families and physicians by becoming a virtual coordination hub for all.  Authorized caregivers and health providers simply sign into the security enabled GC-Manage at GrandCare.com from any Internet-connected computer.  From there, caregivers can describe patient needs, changes, and updates. The latest wellness and healing information will display on the GC-HomeBase in the patient’s residence.  Health providers can share relevant informational and health videos, health websites, online patient communities, doctor instructions, lifestyle changes and written note communications.  The patient/resident needs no computer skills, and a <reply> button pops up an on-screen keyboard to allow questions, comments, and responses.  The caregivers can use GC-Manage to record GC-CareNotes, making it possible to coordinate care among all caregivers involved in the patient’s caregiving network.  These notes can be added from the online GC-Manage portal or directly from the GC-HomeBase touchscreen in the patient’s home.  GC-CareNotes are stored securely on GC-Manage where they are summarized and emailed to a customizable list of caregivers.  The GC-VideoChat feature enables easy, interactive video chat visits between family and patient or doctor and patient.  GC-VideoChat sessions are fun and critically important for assessment, all at the same time.

2)  Doctor to Patient Instructions:

Poorly written or unclear instructions can turn into meaningful and crystal clear directions using the GC-HomeBase.  Using the Internet, authorized caregivers and health providers can remotely add recovery instructions, educational videos (diabetes, heart disease, exercise, etc.), danger signs, and encouraging tips – right on the patient’s GC-HomeBase touchscreen.  Caregivers can set the GC-HomeBase to automatically remind the patient of medication times and dosages, meal times, and upcoming appointments.  Patients can be reminded of desired lifestyle changes and encouraged to fill out self-assessment forms right on the touchscreen.  Results can be sent automatically to designated caregivers.

3)  Socialization and Support:

GrandCare Systems relieves social isolation and encourages an entire care network to virtually come together and provide a support network.  Authorized caregivers and healthcare staff can remotely send messages, encouragement, reminders, check-ins, instructional videos, pictures and fun communications directly to the simple, user-friendly, interactive GC-HomeBase touchscreen.  The built-in camera on the touchscreen facilitates ONE TOUCH GC-VideoChat sessions for the patient to talk directly to pre-approved family and other caregivers.  GC-HomeBase socialization features include stock photos, streaming music, trivia, word definitions, brain games, card games, and more.  Family members are encouraged to engage socially by adding pictures, electronic letters, YouTube videos, favorite music, calendar appointments and reminders. In an age of unprecedented 24/7 connectivity, GrandCare connects all generations, brings fun and entertainment, and enables people of all ages and capabilities to take part in the vast virtual world of information and social connection.

4)  Identify “Red Flag” Health Symptoms:

With the GC-HomeBase, patients will be empowered to know which “red flag” symptoms to watch for and what to do if they arise. Health providers and caregivers can clearly define and note “red flag” symptoms to the patient on the touchscreen with concise messaging, pictures, online patient communities, informational websites and supporting videos. If a potential symptom or question arises, the patient can choose to send a question or concern email right from the GC-HomeBase touchscreen or even launch a GC-VideoChat session with a healthcare professional or designated caregiver.   Caregivers and health providers can help the patient avoid the symptoms that generate “red flags” by monitoring the customized self-assessment forms and the patient’s blood pressure, blood sugar, pulse/oxygen, weight, medication access, and activity/sleeping patterns.

5)  Resources & Coordination:

GrandCare can supplement the limited resources normally available to patients recently dismissed from the hospital.  The GC-HomeBase is the bridge to providing remote and long distance support as well as educational resources to inform the patient about health conditions and lifestyle changes.  Long distance family caregivers can play a pivotal role by participating in the patient’s care and well-being, by supporting the doctor’s message, and by providing encouragement.  Care providers can arm a patient by using GC-Manage online to add relevant websites (remotely programmable right into the GrandCare touchscreen), helpful videos, chronic disease management tips, exercise videos, instructions, guidance and more. GC-Manage capabilities include the ability for the caregivers to remotely program specific website services (for example: prescription refills, cab services, meal ordering, etc.) available for the patient directly through the touchscreen. Multiple caregivers and care providers hold each other accountable to ensure a patient is receiving proper care, instructions and is continuing to remain healthy.  Should the patient need anything, a family or care provider is just one touch away.

6)  Supervision and Compliance:

The GC-HomeBase is the supervision that will mitigate medication non-compliance and promote a healthier lifestyle. Monitoring is critical to ensuring that a patient is reminded and accountable to take the right medications at the right time.  Care providers can choose to be notified by phone, email or text if a patient should fail to take medications at a specified time. The RXTender encourages a patient to take the correct medication by dispensing the correct dosage and showcasing a picture on the touchscreen of the medication, along with indications, contraindications, and any administered instructions.  Members of the care network can monitor the vitals and activity levels to ensure that medications are achieving the desired effect.  GrandCare enables earlier intervention, as well as boosting staff, patient, physician and family awareness, ultimately leading to a healthier patient and reducing chances for an unplanned hospital readmission.

The GrandCare Transition: 9 steps to ensure Success

1)  As patients are “transitioned” from the hospital to home, a Care Manager will assign the patient to a “GrandCare Transition Partner.”[ix]

2)  This Partner will be a direct link to the patient, the family, and healthcare professionals and use GrandCare to share, monitor and assess patient information.  The Partner’s role will be to ensure a patient is sufficiently supported with the GC-HomeBase, facilitate patient questions, coordinate among family caregivers using GC-CareNotes, and monitor resolution of sensor alerts.

3)      The “GrandCare Transition Partner” will collect and coordinate the various healthcare provider recommendations and red flag symptoms to determine which GrandCare Sensors to employ in the patient’s home.  For example, a CHF patient may need to monitor blood pressure & weight in addition to the touchscreen resources and support.  A diabetes patient may need to monitor blood sugar levels, while another patient may require medication access monitoring along with sleeping pattern assessments.

4)  The GrandCare Transition Partner can easily add or select doctor provided resources and personalized directions through GC-Manage, providing a display on the patient’s GC-HomeBase touchscreen.  Examples are: relevant informational/educational videos; doctor directions; lifestyle tips and instructions; online patient communities; medication compliance reminder rules; and cognitive assists.

5)  Through GC-Manage, the GrandCare Transition Partner will select the alert notifications relevant to the patient, e.g. if medications are not accessed, send a text message to Caregiver B, or if a patient fails to measure blood glucose levels, send an email to Caregiver A.

6)  Family Caregivers will have instructions to access GC-Manage to stay current with healthcare communications and the patient, using the GC-HomeBase touchscreen.

7)  One of GrandCare’s 300 authorized installation experts in the US and Canada can be scheduled to quickly and successfully place the GC-HomeBase and integrate the wireless activity and wellness devices and sensors. Wellness sensors and touchscreen alone do not require professional installation.

8 )  The GrandCare System will be used for the period of time recommended by the healthcare provider to successfully ensure a patient is safe, healthy and transitioned to home life.

9)  After the patient has been successfully transitioned to home, the GrandCare System can be purchased by the patient for permanent use; or it can easily be removed, remotely wiped of all stored data and transitioned to the next discharged patient.

GrandCare Systems maximizes healthcare resources and provides increased, flexible opportunities for consumers to self-manage their hospital discharges, creating successful and happy transitions.

Sources:

[i] 75% of Americans die in a hospital; last year Medicare paid $50 billion for patients during their last 2 months of life from CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/19/60minutes/main5711689.html

[ii] Information cited from the article “One in Five Medicare Patients Readmitted within month” from USATODAY.com  http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-04-02-hospital-medicare_N.htm

[iii] Study shows that 40% of seniors do not comply with doctors’ orders. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Publications/In-the-Literature/2007/Feb/Physician-Patient-Communication-About-Prescription-Medication-Nonadherence–A-50-State-Study-of-Amer.aspx

[iv] http://www.aoa.gov/aoaroot/aging_statistics/Profile/2010/docs/2010profile.pdf

[v] Mobi Health News Report: Patient Monitoring worth $9.3 billion in 2014 http://mobihealthnews.com/10969/report-patient-monitoring-worth-9-3-billion-in-2014/

[ix] A Care Manager or “GrandCare Transition Partner” can be a geriatric care manager, visiting nurses association, social worker, home health care agency, hospital discharge planner, companion services provider or family caregiver.

 

Additional Facts, Telehealth Studies

 The national Average Hospital Readmissions is listed at 29% Source: Fazzi & Associates

“Patients who don’t take their prescribed medication cost the U.S. healthcare system anywhere from $250 billion and $300 billion a year in ER visits and inpatient hospitalization, leading some hospitals to explore medication adherence as a way to prevent costly readmissions.” Source: Fierce Healthcare

Age In Place Technology Watch Market Analysis: http://www.ageinplacetech.com/comment/reply/590

 2008 University of Texas & AT&T Medical: The Telehealth Promise: http://telehealth.utmb.edu/presentations/The%20Telehealth%20Promise-Better%20Health%20Care%20and%20Cost%20Savings%20for%20the%2021st%20Century.pdf

 Projections for the telehealth market: http://mobihealthnews.com/13333/report-telehealth-market-6b-by-2020/

 Telehealth investment opportunities: http://mobihealthnews.com/13270/healthtech-capital-invests-200k-in-pharmasecure/

Online Resources

http://ageinplacetech.com – Industry Analyst Laurie Orlov

http://www.aarp.com – AARP

http://grandcare.wordpress.com – GrandCare Aging/Tech Industry Blog

http://www.aahsa.org – American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

http://www.agetek.org – Aging Technology Industry Alliance

http://www.silverssummit.com – Silvers Summit

http://www.telecareaware.com – TeleCare Aware

http://www.leadingage.org/cast.aspx – Leading Age CAST (Center for Aging Services Technologies)

http://dealerwww.grandcare.com – GrandCare chat forums, downloads, literature, webinar recordings

https://www.grandcare.com/page/features/how_it_works – How GrandCare Works

https://www.grandcare.com/page/buzz/testimonials – GrandCare Testimonials

https://www.grandcare.com/presskit/ – GrandCare Online Media kit

http://www.youtube.com/gcsys – GrandCare YouTube Channel

http://www.grandcare.wordpress.com – GrandCare Blog

 

Download the paper here:

Healing in Place

 

12/01/11 Webinar “Health Care: Payment & Delivery System Reforms”

Date: Thursday, December 1st, 2011
Time: 2pm ET (1pm CT / 12p MT / 11am PT)

Download/Playback

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will mark a paradigm shift in the way health care is delivered in this country and how providers will be compensated.

In this webinar, you will learn about:

  • Impacts to home health and long term care providers with respect to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
  • Other new initiatives, demonstrations and pilot programs that are designed to shift payment for services from volume to value-based criteria.
  • The heavy emphasis on clinical integration across the continuum of patient care settings.

Our Speaker: Dan Santos, Williams Mullen

Dan Santos is a regulatory and corporate attorney at the law firm Williams Mullen, and is a member of the Firm’s Long Term Care Industry Service Group and its Health Care Practice Group.  Mr. Santos has extensive experience representing health care clients on a multi- state basis and at the federal level. He regularly counsels health care providers in transactional and regulatory matters, including hospitals, health systems, skilled nursing facilities, behavioral health companies, physician groups, rehabilitation clinics, and home health agencies, among others. He frequently interacts with federal and state health regulators on his clients’ behalf regarding compliance issues, such as investigations,enforcement actions and reimbursement issues.

Our Sponsor: Williams Mullen

Williams Mullen is a full service legal and governmental affairs firm of over 300 attorneys and professionals with offices in Washington D.C., Virginia and North Carolina.

 
 
Image Credits: http://www.instbusapp.org/education/webinars/creating_incremental_expense_budget_under_stark.html

mHealth Aging/Tech Meet-up

What: Meet & Greet

Where: The Public House – National Harbor

When: Monday, December 5th 2011 @ 8:00pm (ET)

More information/RSVP click here.

Hi all – Come meet us out for an informal no-host Meet & Greet at The Public House in National Harbor. We have a reservation at 8pm and will stay until …. late

All are welcome, it’s just a place for all of us to join, network and have a good time.  This is a cash bar event – unless someone wants to sponsor 😉

Invite your friends, but please make sure to RSVP on EventBrite so that I can continue to update the reservation.  Share the word on your social networks!  If you have any questions, shoot an email to info@grandcare.com

See you in DC 🙂

Laura Mitchell

VP Marketing, GrandCare Systems

www.grandcare.com

To find out more about the Public House: http://www.yelp.com/biz/public-house-national-harbor

image: urbanspoon.com

Tips and Resources for Long-distance Caregivers

Tuesday, November 22nd: www.pressofatlanticcity.com

By:  Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior: What kinds of help are available to long-distance caregivers? My mother has gotten very forgetful in her old age and has fallen a few times over the past year, but is determined to stay living in her own house. How can I help her from 700 miles away? – Worried Daughter

Dear Worried: In today’s mobile society, caring for an elderly parent from afar has become increasingly common. In fact, the National Institute of Health estimates there are around 7 million Americans who are long-distance caregivers today. Here are some tips and resources that can help you.

Weigh your options

When it comes to monitoring and caring of an aging parent who lives far away, you have a couple options. You can hire a professional to oversee your parent. Or you can coordinate the care yourself by assembling a network of neighbors, friends, medical specialist, drivers, housekeepers and other helpers.

In either case, you may want to start by having your mom get a geriatric assessment. This is a professional evaluation to identify her needs and a suggested plan to manage her care. To find a professional who does this, contact your mom’s doctor or visit the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers website at caremanager.org.

Once you get an assessment you’ll need to decide how to proceed. If you decide to hire a geriatric care manager he or she can set up and manage all aspects of care, and monitor your mom’s ongoing needs. And if her health deteriorates they can determine if assisted living or a nursing home is the best option and find a suitable facility. Care managers charge hourly rates for these services ranging between $75 and $150 per hour, and it’s not covered by Medicare.

Do it yourself

If, however, you don’t want or can’t afford to use a care manager, here are some things you can do yourself to help you manage her care.

•Assemble a care team: Put together a network of people (nearby friends or family, neighbors, clergy, mail carrier, etc.) who can check in on your mom regularly. And be sure they have your contact information so they can call you if need be.

•Find local resources: Most communities offer a range of free or subsidized services that provide seniors with basic needs such as home delivered meals, transportation, senior companion services and more. To find out what’s available, contact the Area Agency on Aging in your mom’s community. Call 800-677-1116 for contact information.

•Get a handle on finances: If your mom needs help with her financial chores, arrange for direct deposit of her Social Security and other pension checks (see godirect.org), and set up automatic payments for her utilities and other routine bills. Or, consider hiring a professional daily money manager (they charge between $25 and $100 per hour) who can do it for her. See aadmm.com or call 877-326-5991 to locate one.

•Use technology: For about $1 per day, rent your mom a personal emergency response system. This is a small pendent-style “SOS” button she wears that would allow her to call for help if she fell. These are available through companies such as lifelinesys.com and lifealert.com. Or, check out home monitoring systems at grandcare.comor closebynetwork.com.

•Hire home help: Depending on her needs, you may need to hire a home-care provider who can help with homemaking chores, personal care or medical issues. Costs vary from around $12 to $30 per hour. To find home-care assistance, call your mom’s doctor’s office, the discharge planner at her local hospital or seemedicare.gov/hhcompare.

•Seek financial assistance: Visit benefitscheckup.org to look for programs that may help your mom pay for drugs, health care, utilities and other expenses.

Savvy tip: Call the National Institute on Aging at 800-222-2225 and order their free booklet “So Far Away: Twenty Questions for Long-Distance Caregivers.”

Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC “Today” show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org

Join us for Tomorrow’s Webinar

Preparing for Future Technology- Enabled Care Models

Date: Thursday, November 17th, 2011
Time: 2pm EDT (1pm CDT / 12p MDT / 11am PDT)
Location: http://grandcaresystems.webex.com
Dial In: 1-408-600-3600   Pin: 666 610 551#

This presentation will outline innovative technology-enabled care models and describe key enabling technologies that CAST encountered in its recent Scenario Planning effort.

1. See how the field of aging services is rapidly evolving under health reform pressures, among other things.

2. Learn about emerging long-term and post-acute care models that CAST encountered in its Scenario Planning exercise.

3. Learn about key enabling technologies for the emerging future models.

Our Sponsor: Presto Services

Presto is a combination of the Presto Printing Mailbox and Presto Mail service. It allows you to use the convenience of email to communicate with loved ones who don’t use a computer or the Internet.
Presto Services is offering an exciting cross-promotion for AgeTek members: participating companies may receive ≈200,000 free ad impressions to promote their products to caregivers and family members.

11/17/11 Webinar “Preparing for Future Technology- Enabled Care Models”

Watch/Download Here

Health care reform is rapidly accelerating changes in aging services that were already underway driven by consumer demands, capital and payment mechanisms, workforce, technology, quality, transparency and accountability. These changes are driving innovation and the emergence of a number of new care/ business models.

This presentation will outline innovative technology-enabled care models and describe key enabling technologies that CAST encountered in its recent Scenario Planning effort.

1. See how the field of aging services is rapidly evolving under health reform pressures, among other things.

2. Learn about emerging long-term and post-acute care models that CAST encountered in its Scenario Planning exercise.

3. Learn about key enabling technologies for the emerging future models.

Our Presenter: Paul Burnstein, Associate Director, Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST)

Paul Burnstein joined the LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) as Associate Director in 2011. Prior to CAST, Paul was the executive director of Sinai Family Home Services, a start-up, non- profit, in-home care agency in Portland, OR.
Paul helps execute CAST’s agenda in leading and expanding a national network of technology companies, providers and research institutions focused on technology solutions for an aging society. He coordinates state-level technology initiatives that aim to identify barriers and opportunities to facilitate the use of technology in an aging society, in partnership with LeadingAge State Affiliates.

Our Sponsor: Presto Services

Presto is a combination of the Presto Printing Mailbox and Presto Mail service. It allows you to use the convenience of email to communicate with loved ones who don’t use a computer or the Internet.
Presto Services is offering an exciting cross-promotion for AgeTek members: participating companies may receive ≈200,000 free ad impressions to promote their products to caregivers and family members.

Date: Thursday, November 17th, 2011
Time: 2pm EDT (1pm CDT / 12p MDT / 11am PDT)
Location: http://grandcaresystems.webex.com
Dial In: 1-408-600-3600   Pin: 666 610 551#

Independence through Assistive Technology Cybermation Delivers the GrandCare System

Just thought we’d share a press story that was written about one of our dealers in Minnesota, Cybermation!

The tele-health industry is garnering a great deal of attention these days.  There is more than one reason this is occurring.  The baseline is that the senior and disabled population is rapidly growing, and hence, the expense to care for this demographic is also rapidly growing.  To further magnify this, the nation’s economic situation creates additional, overwhelming difficulties to provide the necessary services with limited financial resources.

One solution is the GrandCare system, configured and developed by Cybermation in Waite Park, MN.  Not only does GrandCare benefit our aging and disabled population, but it provides a system to remain independent in the home of their choice.

Products targeting remote health services have been in use for years.  Health care organizations and hospitals have implemented consumer electronic devices that are FDA compliant and provide a specific function, e.g., blood pressure, weight, glucose levels, etc.  Tremendous cost savings and better care have been two primary results.  More recently, products that help track activities of daily living (ADL) have also improved people’s lives and health by providing data that addresses the living patterns and tasks that must successfully be performed for someone to continue to live independently in their home.

Various electronic devices, from simple machines for emailing, personal computers, and more recently iPads and similar devices have all provided the opportunity for someone to have remote communication with family members, friends and caregivers in various ways, such as email, pictures, faxes, text messages, even video conferencing from free services such as Skype.

Products have and will continue to evolve that embrace the social, clinical and ADL aspects of maintaining, even improving the health of a person that wishes to remain in their home.  No product has more completely and holistically embraced all aspects of these facets of tele-health than the HomeBase system from GrandCare system.

Available since 2006, GrandCare Systems is a pioneer in the aging, disabled and technology digital home health industry.  The system integrates various remote monitoring technologies to provide an array of wellness and activity information, easily accessible by health care professionals and family members via the Internet.

GrandCare allows remote caregivers and health care professionals access to detailed information on the resident’s general activity levels, activities of daily living, home environment, health data, medication adherence, and more.  GrandCare notices sudden changes in behavior, drastic activity level changes, noncompliance, and other critical issues, which can be programmed to notify the correct caregiver via text, email or phone call.  GrandCare can also send care coordination notes, caregiving reports to designated caregivers and can even prompt a resident with a helpful reminder or cognitive assist.

GrandCare’s Smart home features can provide residents a variety of simple enhancements to daily living, including safe path lighting for late night bathroom trips, temperature moderation and secure call screening.

To the resident, the GrandCare system is a friendly, interactive connection to family, one touch video chat, a digital picture frame, access to services, games and videos. It is intuitive and easy to use with large, simple touch-screen buttons.  The GrandCare system can also use switche method of operation.  GrandCare is a helpful, resourceful, social connection and pure enjoyment!

All of these features and more are available for less cost than one month in assisted living – certainly a relevant consideration in today’s economic times.  Quantitative benefits of this magnitude are certainly going to catch the eye of any party facing the extraordinary costs associated with caring for the elderly.

However, it’s Cybermation’s sincere belief that these quantitative benefits are trumped by the wealth of qualitative benefits.  Indeed, social workers and clinical workers alike have a common belief that the simple devices that deliver either a clinical, social, or environmental benefit deliver net-positive value both quantitatively and qualitatively. GrandCare by Cybermation, however, provides a far more holistic, encompassing approach that successfully creates a relationship by a tailored blend of services to both the individual as well as the caregivers.

Caregiving in this day and age is both a big business as well as a very demanding responsibility in the diverse, dynamic, fast-paced environment where the family unit can be widely dispersed.  History shows that technology has been the predominant catalyst for change and benefit, and considering  the plethora of advanced technologies available to be developed and applied, there’s little wonder that GrandCare is at the forefront.

The final link in the process is to bring the proven product to the individual and their loved one.  GrandCare made a deliberate decision years ago that in order to effectively determine the individual needs, install the system properly, and to provide adequate support on an on-going basis, required a committed, consistent relationship with the entire family.  Hence, a decentralized sales and distribution process was implemented with a high degree of success.  Selected system integrators throughout the country have a very active relationship with GrandCare’s West Bend, WI office.  GrandCare also developed a remote support system for their dealers that allows easy hardware and software support.  The net result is an informed, active sales and support channel that provides the GrandCare user and caregivers with the personalized experience a system of this nature requires.

For more information on Cybermation and the GrandCare system, visit their website at www.cybermationinc.com or call (320) 255.7027, email  sales@cybermationinc.com

EquipAlife has installed demonstration units of GrandCare in each of their seven offices located through the state.  These devices can be either be used at the office or can be taken home for a 30-day “test drive” to experience how GrandCare can be  a tremendous asset in the health and wellness of the individual as well as assist people in the caregiver process.
Contact EquipALife at 763.479.8239, toll free at 1.866.535.8239 or email info@atmn.org and set up a time to have a “GrandCare Experience”.

Will Home Health Care Get Pricier? Smart Money Magazine Article

I wanted to post the following article on the rising cost of Home Health Care.  To me, it’s kind of shocking how little technology comes up when discussing these looming problems, which are so easily enabled and supported by technology.  Unfortunately, cost of care will just increase as the supply decreases. With the exponential aging boom, the rising cost of healthcare, and lack of caregivers and brick and mortar to support our aging population, we have to start supplementing hands-on care with technology tools. There are plenty technologies available to support caregivers, health professionals, family members and most importantly, to enable the seniors themselves to better care for themselves. GrandCare Systems is just one of the digital home health technologies on the market that provides a technology tool to the care providers. It can help to increase the level and efficiency of care, without having to have a “physical presence” at all times.

Think about how these technologies could be utilized – – family could make sure a loved one was eating, taking medication and provide cognitive assists & reminders. The loved one would be encouraged and supported to better care for his/her needs and chronic conditions. Health providers can monitor vitals and overall wellness patterns from afar. Family & Doctors could video chat with the Loved One right on the touchscreen. Family members can go online to view sensor data, set up alert parameters and add personalized content (pics, messages, reminders, calendar, videos, music) to the Loved One’s touchscreen. Caregivers can choose to receive automated email/phone/text alerts if anything in the home seems amiss (e.g. stove left on, got up during the night and didn’t return to bed, noncompliance, etc). Technologies like GrandCare can be a big time and money saver and can spread one caregiver farther…in essence turning them into a super caregiver… I am hoping that technology really helps to fill this critical void and bridges the family, loved one and professional care providers into a cohesive, connected virtual network.  Do we really have a choice? If we do not utilize available and affordable enabling technology tools (and I meant tools because these absolutely do NOT replace the caregiver, but instead enhance the caregiver and the entire care network), then we will most certainly bankrupt this country, our children and grandchildren…

Anyways – just thought I’d share this interesting article from Smart Money Magazine…

 

Will Home Health Care Get Pricier?

Nov 01, 2011  blogs.smartmoney.com
By Catey Hill

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced yesterday that its payments to home health care agencies would decrease by more than 2% in 2012. The question for consumers who use home health care services is this: Will these decreased payments to agencies force consumers to pay more out-of-pocket costs for home health services?

Probably not right away, experts say. “Seniors may not feel the effects immediately through Medicare cost sharing, but the reduction might result in greater out-of-pocket costs for non-covered services as agencies increase other fees to make up for the loss in income,” says  Mary Johnson, a policy analyst at The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan seniors rights group.

If someone is  eligible for Medicare-covered home health care services, they  probably won’t immediately feel the impact of these reductions in payments, since they currently have no Medicare co-pays or cost sharing responsibilities for those services (as long as they have original Medicare and get services from a Medicare-certified home health agency), she says.  However, anyone who gets coverage through Medicare Advantage  should contact their plan to figure out the  co-pays.

That said, “there’s a considerable amount of home health care services, often the bulk of care, that Medicare does not cover,” she says. “Fees for those services might be impacted as agencies shift the cost to patients.” Examples include 24-hour-a-day care, homemaker services like cleaning and laundry, personal care provide by home health aides like bathing and dressing and assistance to the bathroom, she says. Often these non-covered services are “the single biggest cost of home care for any senior dependent on those services and their families,” she adds.

Seniors wanting to find home healthcare services or to learn more, should click here. For more information about how Medicare pays for home health care, see thePublication Medicare and Home Health Care.

Local Event: “New Memory Technology” – Jackson, WI

New Memory Technology:
A Dialogue with GrandCare Systems

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011 6pm

This event has been moved to January. Check back soon for more details!

How can I prevent memory loss? Is there technology that will keep me safe in my own home? Can my family send me pictures, messages, videos if I dont have an computer?

Jacksons Crossings, Lakeshore Building
N168 W22026 Main Street, Jackson, WI 53037

FREE Respite Care Available, Please call for Reservations – 262-677-8864

Learn more about Jackson Crossings Retirement Community by visiting  jacksoncrossings.com

Exhibiting at the AgeTech California Technology Conference

On November 15, 2011 the California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) and Aging Services of California (ASC), will host California’s premier provider technology event – the Annual AgeTech California Conference & Technology Expo at the Hilton Hotel in Pasadena, California.

Visit GrandCare at Booth 250

More information available at cahsah.org

Floor Layout

See you in Pasadena!