LivHOME CareMonitor™ Powered by GrandCare Begins Nationwide Rollout

Professional Care Managers Can Monitor Seniors via the Web, Maintaining Both Independence and Safety Offers Cost-Saving Alternative to Home Care 

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–When Howard, a 90-year-old living in Walnut Creek, Calif., needs his blood pressure or oxygen level checked, the data are transmitted directly from monitors on his arm and finger and immediately made available to his geriatric Care Manager. His body weight is also sent from a Bluetooth-enabled scale.

Because Howard has congestive heart failure and lung disease, the ability to monitor this data is crucial. Yet, it is executed with ease in the comfort of his own home.

And when he wants to view new photos of family and friends or even listen to his favorite jazz, all Howard has to do is touch a button on the same, simple device that connects him with his Care Manager.

Howard is one of the first seniors in the nation to use LivHOME CareMonitor™, a web-based, touch-screen service powered by GrandCare Systems that lets Howard’s professional Care Manager, Francesca Wood, monitor his health and safety remotely.

“With LivHOME CareMonitor™, I know that Francesca is aware of my health and vital signs at any time of the day, while I retain my independence and privacy. It also lets me stay connected with my family and friends at the touch of a button,” Howard said.

LivHOME CareMonitor™ (www.livhomecaremonitor.com), a remote care service first announced in March, is beginning to roll out nationwide where LivHOME services are offered. It is currently available in Los Angeles, Walnut Creek and Riverside, Calif., and will continue to be rolled out to additional markets in late 2012 and early 2013. LivHOME CareMonitor™ is provided by LivHOME, Inc., one of the nation’s largest providers of professionally led at-home care for seniors.

Seniors access the LivHOME CareMonitor™ service through an easy-to-use, web-based, touch-screen interface developed by GrandCare Systems. LivHOME Care Managers can monitor their clients using the web-based service and are alerted immediately if any problems arise. The system can track medication schedules, movements around the house and biometric readings such as blood pressure, glucose, blood oxygen and body weight.

“LivHOME CareMonitor™ represents an entirely new approach to caregiving, enabling us to monitor the health and safety of our clients – but without the intrusiveness or cost of hands-on care. This provides greater independence and privacy, while significantly reducing the cost of care. It also extends our caregiving services to a whole new demographic of seniors, those who would benefit from some assistance to remain independent in their home but don’t require a full-time caregiver,” said Mike Nicholson, LivHOME’s Chief Executive Officer.

“In 1999, LivHOME was one of the first companies to place caregiver supervision under a professional Care Manager’s responsibility. In 2012, LivHOME is a pioneer once more – placing remote home care technology oversight under a Care Manager’s responsibility,” Nicholson continued.

Features of the LivHOME CareMonitor™ service include:

  • Professional Care Manager assessment
  • Installation and setup of system
  • Touch-screen computer
  • Personal emergency response system
  • 24/7 alert monitoring and Care Manager availability
  • Medication, appointment and social reminders
  • Skype connectivity, photos, messages, music
  • Motion and pressure sensors, door monitors
  • Biometric measurements including weight, glucose, blood pressure, blood oxygen monitors

LivHOME CareMonitor™, powered by GrandCare Systems’ award-winning technology, is available in multiple configurations depending upon the needs of the individual senior.

To find out more about LivHOME CareMonitor™, please contact Mickey Goldkorn
at mgoldkorn@livhome.com or visit the LivHOME CareMonitor™ website
at www.livhomecaremonitor.com.

About LivHOME

LivHOME is one of the nation’s largest providers of professionally led at-home care for seniors. The company is dedicated to finding solutions that enable older adults to remain in their homes as long as possible. Based in Los Angeles, LivHOME delivers high quality at-home care throughout California as well as Arlington, Va., Atlanta, Austin, Tx., Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Silver Spring, Md. and The Woodlands, Tx.

Contacts

For LivHOME
Sharon Bially, 508-655-2676
sharon@farrellkramer.com

GrandCare spotlighted at Z-WAVE Fall Conference

GrandCare’s Laura Mitchell recently returned from the Z-Wave Fall conference after keynoting on Digital Health and the GrandCare System (how z-wave plays a critical role).  Z-Wave has really taken an active role in engaging in the digital health industry and GrandCare is excited to be spotlighted as a Z-Wave Featured Company on the Z-Wave Alliance Website.

“At the forefront of the Connected Aging space, GrandCare’s System connects via the Internet and communicates with wireless Z-Wave sensors throughout the residence. At our Fall Summit, VP of Business Development Laura Mitchell will deliver a presentation on the GrandCare system and how Z-Wave provides empowered independent aging.”    Visit the Z-Wave Alliance website here

Lindsey from Residential Magazine attended Mitchell’s presentation and had this to say:

By Lindsey Adler November 2,2012

… This year’s event highlighted three key note speakers, including Laura Mitchell, VP of Business Development at GrandCare.  GrandCare’s “aging in place” technology has benefited from situations where senior citizens are transitioned from hospital emergency rooms to outpatient centers and eventually their own homes. GrandCare’s value add is software, Mitchell explained, meaning they work with existing protocol devices to develop unique health solutions with any range of hardware. “The key to this industry is partnerships,” she said. For CEDIA dealers, this means developing working relationships with long term care providers, outpatient centers, and other healthcare facilities.

…

To read the full article, click here. 

Z-Wave Alliance Featured Company: GrandCare Systems

Demographics throughout the world point squarely to an aging population.  In the US alone, 77 million Baby Boomers have begun turning senior, and 44 million of these individuals are already acting as caregivers to elderly parents and loved ones. Many nations in Europe and Asia are even older per capita.  We are in the midst of a senior population bulge that will last for the next 20-30 years.

Accessible monitoring, control and alert solutions powered by Z-Wave provide invaluable assistance to the wellness and convenience of these Boomer seniors — as well as the elderly loved ones for whom they are caregivers. These connected aging solutions are, and will continue to be, a vital demand for this enormous emerging market.

CEA Announces GrandCare Systems as Innovation Entrepreneur Awards Winner

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct 16, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)(R) today announced the winners of the first annual Innovation Entrepreneur Awards, sponsored by its new flagship publication, It Is Innovation (i(3)) and CEA’s Small Business Council. The Innovation Entrepreneur Awards honor excellence in business and recognize visionaries leading companies with revenues under $30 million.

“We had a standout group of finalists for the inaugural year of the Innovation Entrepreneur Awards,” said Gary Shapiro, CEA’s president and CEO.

Charlie Hillman, CEO GrandCare Systems, accepts the CEA Innovation Entrepreneur Award at the 2012 CEA Industry Forum.

“Congratulations to ecoATM and GrandCare, winners of the 2012 Small Business Awards; and Sandy Gross, winner of the 2012 Small Business Executive Award. Each of the winners epitomizes the entrepreneurial drive and spirit of innovation that powers our industry and the American economy.” To select the inaugural class for the Innovation Entrepreneur Awards, a panel of media and industry professionals met at CE Week to judge the nominations. From the group of seven finalists selected by the judges, one executive and two small businesses were announced today at CEA’s Industry Forum as the winners.

“Innovative companies like GrandCare are moving our economy forward. It’s a great example of how the consumer electronics industry is allowing seniors and people with disabilities to use technology to enhance their lives and allow caregivers to have access to their loved ones anytime.”

-CEA CEO & President, Gary Shapiro

The 2012 winners are:

  • Small Business of the Year: ecoATM – Originally called reMobile, ecoATM was founded in 2008 by Tom Tullie as an automated eCycling Station for eWaste recycling. Its automated kiosk buys back used cell phones, MP3 players, iPods, iPads and game media and provides cash or an in-store credit. The company incentivizes consumers to participate in reselling and recycling to cut down on CE eWaste.
  • Small Business of the Year: GrandCare Systems – This innovative company integrates daily activities, telehealth monitoring, social networking, medication management and cognitive assists into a user-friendly touch-based system for seniors. Charlie Hillman, founder and CEO, originally created the system to help his great-aunt live independently. The system connects to the Internet allowing caregivers to communicate with their loved ones.
  • Small Business Executive of the Year: Sandy Gross – Gross is co-founder of Polk Audio, Definitive Technology and his latest business, GoldenEar Technology. At Polk he was in charge of marketing and product concepts. In 1988, Gross left for a stint in Hollywood, then founded Definitive Technology in 1990. The company designed high-end models of center channels and surround sound speakers. He retired as president in 2009, and started his third loudspeaker company, GoldenEar Technology, in 2010. Gross is often called upon by other entrepreneurs, in the early stages of developing their companies, for advice.

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Knute Nelson Home Care opens in Little Falls

Recently opened in Little Falls, Minnesota, Knute Nelson Home Care offers skilled nursing services, home health care and various types of therapies for its clients. This non-profit organization focuses on providing services ranging from personal care like cooking and cleaning, to mental health assessments and ensuring a safe environment for the clients. One of the key features of the Knute Nelson Home Care is the utilization of advanced technology.

The most innovative of Knute Nelson’s technology is GrandCare which ties the technologies available, plus more, into one package.

“It includes a computer touch screen which has the medication reminders, Lifeline or PERS right there,” said Diede. “It will help manage our clients weight and blood pressure. It will show exercises for physical therapy, with a real therapist doing the movements right along with the client. Another feature is allowing family members to upload photos of the family to their loved one along with showing videos of a grandchild’s sporting event or recital in real time. There are also Skype capabilities.”

The full article can be found at mcrecord.com

JOIN CEDIA WEBINAR “Technologies and Opportunities that can Keep Your Bottom Line off Life Support”

Join us LIVE October 18th 1-2 pm ET

Home Health Care: Technologies and Opportunities that can Keep Your Bottom Line off of Life Support

Featuring Jeff Makowka (AARP) and Laura Mitchell (GrandCare Systems)

Space is limited, click here to register now. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. 

If you haven’t noticed, home health care is for real. It’s almost impossible to make a daily commute without seeing a vehicle sporting some type of graphic advertising “in home care.” According to Aging in Place Technology Watch, the Aging/Technology industry is projected to be greater than $20 billion by 2020. As the current population for the United States continues to age, many consumers are demanding a brand new model of health care; they want it brought to them.

This one hour webinar will break down the market, explore available technology solutions, such as Crisis Management, Activity & Smart Home monitoring, Digital Health, Medication Management, Brain Fitness and Socialization technologies and the expertise required to become involved. Join GrandCare’s Laura Mitchell and AARP’s Jeff Makowka as they pin point the integrator’s role in this landscape and tips for redefining your business model.

At the end of this session participants should be able to:

  • Outline the impact the aging population is having on health care in the home.
  • Describe the different technologies currently being leveraged to enable elderly consumers to stay in their homes longer.
  • Explain the financial opportunities presented by this emerging industry.
  • List critical items to consider when integrating home health offerings into an existing integration business.

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GrandCare, 2012 CEA Innovation Entrepreneur Award, Small Business of the Year Finalist

We have been nominated by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA, the organization that hosts CES) for the Innovation Entrepreneur Award, Small Business of the Year. CEA flew to our offices and did a fantastic video interview with Charlie Hillman, founder of GrandCare Systems. He explains how our technology assists seniors to age within the comforts of their own home, stay connected to their friends and loved ones and ” to have something to look forward to live for.” Take a look at the short video below.

From these four  finalists,  two small businesses will be announced as this year’s winners at the 2012 CEA Industry Forum, October, 14 -17 in San Francisco.  The 2012 finalists for the Innovation Entrepreneur Small Business of the Year Award include:

·         Audio Video Interiors – Middleburg Heights, OH
·         EcoATM – San Diego, CA
·         GrandCare – West Bend, WI
·         iBiquity – Columbia, MD

GrandCare’s Laura Mitchell chosen as CEA Mark of Excellence Judge

GrandCare’s Vice President of Business Development, Laura Mitchell, has been selected as a CEA Mark of Excellence Judge!

The Mark of Excellence System Integrator Awards Program recognizes the best in custom integration and installed technology. There are 14 categories in which custom installers can submit projects for.  The judging begins in early October and the winners are announced at the Mark of Excellence Systems Integrator Awards Reception in January 2013 during the International CES in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The MOEs [Mark of Excellence Awards] mean more than any other industry association award and they represent the best the electronics and installation professional industry has to offer.” – Robert Archer, EH publisher

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CEA Announces Finalists for Inaugural Innovation Entrepreneur Awards

Our very own GrandCare founder and CEO, Charlie Hillman, has been nominated as one of the finalists in the CEA Innovation Entrepreneur Awards.

“We are excited to announce the finalists for the Innovation Entrepreneur Award which honors small business visionaries. Watch this short video to learn more about this standout group. Check back every Monday and Wednesday until Industry Forum to see a new video highlighting each finalist.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nxvzj6UD_E&w=460&h=259]

Be sure to keep an eye out for Charlie’s video on the CEA Facebook Page

We would like to give our congratulations to all of the nominees!

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CEDIA 2012 EXPO – See the latest GrandCare has to offer in the Future Technology Pavilion

CEDIA EXPO LogoDon’t miss the leading tradeshow in the residential electronic systems industry.

Sept. 5th – 8th Indianapolis, IN

For more information or to register please visit http://www.cedia.net/expo

Future Technology Pavilion

The Future Technology Pavilion will feature technology solutions that will be integrated to create the next generation of the smart home, set to arrive in the next few years. Explore this year’s pavilion to feel, touch, and experience the intuitive home of 2016. With four main areas representing health, work, eat and play, this year’s pavilion is designed to show the functionality of the intuitive home as it interacts and reacts to the homeowner’s needs.

Our very own GrandCare System is just one of the many great technologies which will featured in the pavilion.

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AARP Health Innovation@50+ LivePitch

Friday, September 21 at the New Orleans Convention Center.

Health Innovation@50+ is the premier showcase featuring the most exciting companies in the “50 and over” health technology and innovation sector. The pitch event offers the venture capital and angel investor community as well as the media, the opportunity to connect with outstanding startups in the field of health technology and innovation. http://Health50.org

Health Innovation@50+ takes place at the annual 2012 Life@50+ AARP National Event & Expo in New Orleans, which is attended by 20,000+ members and guests from across the U.S. and the globe. This is the best opportunity of the year for entepeneurs and investors to capitalize on the world’s largest and fastest-growing consumer market.

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