Events - GrandCare Systems

Supported Life 2026: Strengthening Supports in an Evolving Environment

October 2, 2026

The 40th Annual Supported Life Conference is returning this fall, bringing together self-advocates, family members, service providers, and professionals to explore inclusive solutions and innovations in the developmental disabilities field. Hosted by the Supported Life Institute, this landmark 40th-anniversary event takes place on October 8–9, 2026, at the Wyndham Sacramento Hotel in Sacramento, California.

This year’s theme, “Strengthening Supports in an Evolving Environment,” focuses on practical strategies, community integration, and technology-driven solutions that empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to live fully in their communities.

Visit GrandCare Systems in the Exhibit Hall

Be sure to stop by the GrandCare Systems booth in the Exhibit Hall!

Whether you’re looking to enhance independent living or streamline care management, GrandCare Systems provides powerful, user-friendly technology designed specifically to support individuals and care teams. Drop by to see live demos, ask questions, and discover how Remote Supports can transform your person-centered care.

GrandCare Systems is a comprehensive Remote Supports, telehealth, and assistive technology platform. It is designed to empower individuals living with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) to live independently while keeping care teams and family members connected.

The system blends an intuitive, user-facing touchscreen with smart home sensors and telehealth devices to provide proactive, compassionate support.

Features of the GrandCare Touchscreen

The interactive touchscreen serves as the primary hub inside the user’s residence, offering ADL prompts, socialization, with simple navigation:

ADL Reminders: Delivers visual and auditory prompts for Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as taking medication, keeping calendar appointments, performing household tasks, and routine daily check-ins.

HIPAA-Compliant Video Calling: Allows direct, one-touch video chats with family members, remote support staff, and healthcare providers.

Social Engagement: Features entertainment options such as brain games, trivia, jokes, classic audiobooks, live streaming radio, news, weather, and photo sharing.

Customizable Interface: Designed for individuals with little to no prior technology experience. The screen can be tailored to the individual’s preferences, displaying only the modules they need.

Interactive Surveys: Enables care teams to push daily check-in questions or surveys directly to the screen to monitor mood, wellness, or daily preferences.

Caregiving & Remote Monitoring Tools

GrandCare provides care teams, agencies, and families with a suite of background monitoring and administrative tools:

Wireless Activity & Motion Sensors: Sensors monitor home activity (e.g., movement in the kitchen, bathroom, or getting out of bed) and door openings.

Telehealth & Health Device Integration: Syncs with Bluetooth health monitors such as blood pressure cuffs, glucometers, pulse oximeters, and weight scales.

Customizable Rules & Automated Alerts: Caregivers can establish “if-then” logic rules. For example, “IF motion is not detected in the kitchen by 10:00 AM, THEN send a text alert to the care team” or “IF blood pressure exceeds 130/80, THEN alert the clinical staff.”

Caregiver Portal: Provides a central dashboard for care providers to revi

ew activity logs, vitals, schedule reminders, send photos, or initiate video calls.

Why Choose to Implement Remote Supports?

Staff Efficiency

Remote Supports allow staff to oversee multiple individuals remotely rather than providing continuous on-site monitoring. Direct staff interventions can be reserved for times when assistance is genuinely needed.

In provider case studies, GrandCare helped increase caregiver-to-individual support ratios significantly—in one Ohio study, expanding ratios from 1:6 up to 1:21.

Real-time alert notifications allow support personnel to address potential issues before they lead to emergency room visits or hospitalizations.

Independence for Individuals with Disabilities: Moving from Monitoring to Coaching

Individuals gain confidence managing their daily routines, such as medication and household chores, using touchscreen prompts rather than relying on constant, in-person staff supervision. Remote Supports enables individuals to control their environment, engage with family and friends independently, and easily reach out for support whenever they choose.

Cost Savings

Remote Supports decrease the need for overnight or round-the-clock in-person staff, significantly reducing operational expenses and labor costs for residential care organizations.

Don’t Miss These Key Sessions at the Supported Life 2026 Conference

With a lineup of insightful workshops across both days, make sure to add these two sessions to your schedule.

Session 1B: Beyond Crisis Monitoring: Remote Supports for Independent Living

Thursday, October 8 | 10:20 AM – 11:25 AM
Robert Torgusen (AngelSense); Laura Mitchell (GrandCare Systems)

Many clients want greater independence, connection and privacy without constant in-person supervision. Agencies continue to navigate workforce shortages and have more referrals than they can serve. This session will explore how a hybrid model of direct care paired with person-centered technologies can empower agencies to serve more clients, while individuals can build skills and live more independently without sacrificing safety.

Attendees will learn how proactive technologies, discrete sensors, and wearables can shift support models from constant oversight to meaningful coaching and responsive care only when support is truly needed. And the best part: more clients can be served while everyone saves money!

Session 6A: People First, Technology Forward: Innovation Supports for Staffing Crises

Friday, October 9 | 3:05 PM – 4:15 PM
Laura Mitchell (GrandCare Systems); John Decker (Alta California Region Center); Don Shirley (SafeinHome); Krystall Rollins and Julian Elliott (California Department of Developmental Services)

Across California and throughout the country, I/DD provider organizations are facing unprecedented staffing shortages while individuals are still not receiving all of the services they need. DSPs carry enormous responsibility, increasing caseloads, and often lack the tools and resources needed to provide proactive, person-centered support.

This session will describe how innovative activity and health monitoring technologies power remote supports to address staffing needs, while simultaneously improving client independence. This 24/7 real-time support and care coordination are positively transforming support models without sacrificing safety. Attendees will hear practical strategies, real-world implementation examples and reimbursement opportunities in California.

We look forward to connecting with you in Sacramento this October!

Remote Supports, Real Independence: Meet GrandCare and Vista Care at DSPN 2026

September 24, 2026

Remote Supports should do more than monitor for problems. They should help people build skills, make choices, gain confidence, and live more independently.

That’s the conversation we’re bringing to the 2026 DSPN Annual Conference in Oshkosh. Join disability service providers, advocates, and industry leaders from across Wisconsin for two days of practical ideas, innovative solutions, and honest conversations about the future of support services.

DSPN 2026 at a Glance

Dates: September 30–October 1, 2026
Location: Oshkosh Marriott Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center
Conference Information: Visit the DSPN conference website

Don’t Miss Our Session

Beyond Traditional Monitoring: Why Person-Directed Remote Supports Are the Future of Care

Wednesday, September 30, 2026
1:00 p.m.
Henrietta

Speakers:

Hans Cabrera, Director of Operations, GrandCare Systems
Brittany Rewolinski, Technology Support Manager, Vista Care

Monitoring and safety matter—but they shouldn’t be the whole story.

True person-directed Remote Supports focus on the individual’s goals, choices, routines, and potential. The right combination of technology, in-person care, and remote coaching can help people develop new skills, take a more active role in their support, and experience greater independence without sacrificing safety.

During this session, Vista Care and GrandCare will share how providers can build a successful hybrid support model that expands staff capacity while improving the lives of the people they serve.

We’ll explore how interactive touchscreen technology can help individuals manage daily routines, make choices, build skills, self-coach, and communicate when they need support. We’ll also discuss how remote support professionals can move beyond simply reacting to alerts and become coaches, partners, and champions of individual success.

Because the goal isn’t just to keep someone safe. It’s to help them live a life filled with greater independence, confidence, purpose, and choice.

What You’ll Learn

What Remote Supports are and how they work
What to look for when choosing a technology platform
How to staff and operate an effective Remote Supports program
How to blend remote and in-person support successfully
Where funding and reimbursement may be available
How to measure improvements in staff capacity, cost savings, independence, and personal growth

Visit GrandCare in the Exhibit Hall

Want to see person-directed Remote Supports in action? Stop by the GrandCare booth for a hands-on demonstration.

You’ll be able to:

See GrandCare in action: Explore how the touchscreen, smart-home technology, and optional sensors work together.
Talk through your goals: Tell us what your organization is trying to accomplish, and we’ll help you think through possible solutions.
Learn from real providers: Hear how organizations in Wisconsin and across the country are using technology to address workforce challenges, expand capacity, and support greater independence.
Ask the practical questions: Let’s talk about implementation, staffing, funding, reimbursement, and what it really takes to launch a successful program.

We’re looking forward to connecting with providers who believe technology should do more than respond to a crisis—it should help people build the lives they want.

See you in Oshkosh!

Find GrandCare at the 2026 RCPA Annual Conference in Hershey, PA

Sunshine, Good Vibes & Smarter Supports: Ride the GrandCare Wave at RCPA Annual Conference in Hershey, PA!

September 10, 2026

The Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association (RCPA) Annual Conference is right around the corner! Gathering health and human services leaders, care providers, and innovators, the event takes place at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

This year’s theme, “Power in Purpose, Promoting Possibilities,” reflects the ongoing transformation in care delivery across Pennsylvania. Between thought-provoking sessions and networking with colleagues, it promises to be an inspiring week.

🏖️ Life’s a Beach at RCPA — Come Get Beachy with GrandCare!

Beach time!! ☀️🌊 GrandCare Systems is bringing some serious Beachy Keane vibes to the RCPA Conference, and we want you to stop by Booth 32 in the Connections Hall! Grab some fun-in-the-sun beach giveaways, soak up the good vibes, and discover how GrandCare is helping providers make a splash with person-directed Remote Supports. 🏄‍♀️

Staffing shortages, waitlists and growing demand can make service delivery feel like you’re constantly swimming upstream. GrandCare helps change the tide. Our technology combines personalized reminders, video support, smart home sensors, activity monitoring, medication prompts and more to help individuals live more independently—while enabling organizations to use their valuable staff where and when they’re needed most.

So come hang ten with Team GrandCare, snag some beach swag, and learn how Remote Supports can help your organization ride the wave toward greater independence, smarter staffing and more flexible support.

Life’s a beach. Remote Supports can make it a little easier. 🏖️😎

Be sure to drop by our booth in the Connections Hall to meet our team, see live demonstrations of our remote support solutions, and discuss how we can partner to enhance care delivery for the individuals you serve.

Connections Hall Schedule

Wednesday, September 30: 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm (Opening Reception)

Thursday, October 1: 7:30 am – 1:45 pm

Breakfast in Connections Hall: 7:30 am – 9:00 am

Luncheon & Prize Giveaways: 12:00 pm – 1:45 pm

Featured Workshop: “Beyond Remote Monitoring: The Future of Person-Centered Remote Supports”

Don’t miss the session “Beyond Remote Monitoring: The Future of Person-Centered Remote Supports.” Remote Supports must go beyond blinking sensors and crisis-management monitoring. When done right, they expand independence and address staffing issues. True “person-centered” remote supports places the individual firmly at the center of care with assistive technologies and remote supports as a supplemental resource and coach.

Attendees will hear real-world examples from GrandCare Systems and Mainstay on how smart, scalable, person-driven technologies are improving autonomy, quality of care, and outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

W56 | Beyond Remote Monitoring: The Future of Person-Centered Remote Supports

Speakers: Laura Mitchell, CEO, GrandCare Systems; Heather Lewis, Associate Director of Technology, Mainstay; & Renda Cypher – Quality, Compliance and Operations Director, CLASS (Community Living and Support Services, Inc.)

October 1: 1:45 PM – 3:15 PM

3 More Sweet Things to Do in Hershey, PA

While you’re in the “Sweetest Place on Earth” for the conference, here are some fun local attractions:

Hershey’s Chocolate World: Take a free chocolate-making tour ride, create your own custom candy bar, and sample world-famous treats just minutes from the lodge.
Hersheypark: Experience world-class roller coasters, family rides, and beautiful fall scenery across the theme park grounds.
Hershey Gardens & Butterfly Atrium: Stroll through 23 acres of botanical gardens overlooking the town and step inside the tropical indoor Butterfly Atrium, featuring hundreds of free-flying butterflies.

See You in Chocolatetown!

Whether you’re attending to earn continuing education credits, network with industry colleagues, or discover cutting-edge assistive tools, the RCPA Conference is the place to be.

Grab a chocolate bar, bring your questions, and come say hello to the GrandCare Systems team in the Connections Hall. We can’t wait to meet you in Hershey, Pennsylvania September 29 – October 2, 2026!

How Providers Are Expanding Independence with Remote Supports: GrandCare to Exhibit at OPEN MINDS in the Big Easy

June 3, 2026

Disability support agencies across the country are experiencing a staffing shortage with no end in sight. Meanwhile, not everyone who needs services is receiving them. GrandCare is proven to help agencies serve more people without adding more staff. Many states are already reimbursing for remote support services and the GrandCare equipment required to deliver these services.

Experience GrandCare in the Exhibit Hall

Visit the GrandCare exhibit booth at the 2026 OPEN MINDS Strategy & Innovation Conference to meet CEO Laura Mitchell and VP of Sales Joseph Donnelly and experience firsthand how remote support technology is transforming service delivery for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs, and aging populations.

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

Explore GrandCare’s touchscreen-based remote support platform
Discover how activity sensors, health monitoring devices, and optional cameras can help identify when additional support is needed
See how the staff dashboard can be used to communicate and provide remote supports to clients
Learn how automated prompts, reminders, and instructional videos promote client independence
See how two-way video, messaging, and support requests keep individuals connected
Discuss reimbursement opportunities and remote support service models emerging across the country

When: Tuesday June 9, 4:30pm – 6:00pm CT Grand Opening – Exhibit Hall
Where: Hilton New Orleans Riverside Booth 11

Exhibit hall open Tuesday evening, all day Wednesday and Thursday until 2pm

Enter to Win a Complimentary 90-Day GrandCare Trial

As a special conference giveaway, one lucky booth attendee will win a complimentary 90-day trial of a GrandCare Touchscreen and ADL Sensor Package.

The trial includes:

GrandCare touchscreen technology
Activity of Daily Living (ADL) sensor package
Access to the GrandCare platform and staff portal
The opportunity to experience firsthand how remote supports can improve service delivery and independence

Stop by the GrandCare booth during the exhibit hall hours to enter.

Request Private Consultation

If you or anyone from your agency is planning to attend Open Minds in New Orleans this June, please visit the GrandCare booth for a hands-on experience of our technology.

Can’t attend but want to learn more about remote supports? Schedule a consultation with GrandCare. We’d love to show you our platform, devices, staff portal, and answer your questions.

Smart Vision: A Roadmap to Remote Supports with One Vision

April 28, 2026

Agencies that support adults with disabilities are currently dealing with significant problems. These crucial organizations are struggling with a lack of staff, a shortage of affordable housing, new regulations, and shifting preferences about how and where people with disabilities and their families want to receive services.

One Vision, a non-profit dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities, is modernizing its approach with a new smart vision service model. This initiative is being implemented to address current challenges in service provision.

This innovative approach isn’t just about keeping up, it’s about leading the way and advancing independence and inclusion by leveraging technology and revolutionizing the way care and support is provided.

Benefits of the Smart Vision Model

The benefits of the smart living model include:

Serve more people without more staff
Ensures safety and security
Improves independence, autonomy, and community inclusion
Increase staff efficiency with active rather than passive support

Passive Support vs. Smart Living Care Model

One Vision’s smart living model transforms how support professionals assist individuals by tailoring support to their specific needs. They have transitioned from what they call “passive support”—where staff are often present in the home simply in case an incident occurs—to personalized technology. This technology includes sensors, smart devices, and interactive GrandCare touchscreens, which are all linked to a 24/7 remote support center.

The GrandCare Touchscreen

The GrandCare touchscreen is a device that can be placed on a flat surface or mounted to the wall in any room. The touchscreen provides ADL reminders, calendars, and two-way HIPAA-compliant communication. Each device is customizable to the individual, not just with their daily tasks or appointments, but also to their interests with photos and videos of the things they love most.

Activity sensors, cameras, and health devices can be paired with the touchscreens, allowing remote staff to access information through a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Staff can determine alert severity levels and be notified when something is amiss.

Free Smart Vision Webinar May 19

Are you interested in learning about smart living and remote supports? Learn from One Vision, GrandCare’s partner, who has proven success with their smart vision model. In this 1-hour webinar you will learn:

Remote support vs. remote monitoring
Individualized care models & enabling technology examples
Prompting independence & inclusion
Organizational outcomes
Individual outcomes & quality of life
Implementation roadmap
And much more

Smart Vision: A Roadmap to Remote Supports with One Vision
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
1:00PM CT / 2:00PM ET
Register: Contact us

About One Vision

One Vision’s mission is to stand with and support people with disabilities to pursue their best life. One Vision is leading the industry in Iowa and across the midwest by leveraging cutting-edge technology, revolutionizing the way they provide care and support.

WATCH: What is One Vision’s Smart Living Service Model?

WATCH: How Smart Living by One Vision Transforms Disability Services

Partner with Person-Centered Remote Support Technology Provider, GrandCare Systems

Are you a disability support provider looking to partner with an organization with 20+ years of proven experience in assistive technology and remote supports? Contact us today for a 60 minute consultation. For over two decades, GrandCare has led the way in remote monitoring and connected care for individuals with disabilities and older adults. At GrandCare, we work with our partners to leverage sensor and touchscreen-based assistive technology solutions to promote client independence and support hybrid traditional and internal remote support models.

We're Exhibiting! CCLN Annual Leadership Conference 2026. Booth 10. GrandCare.

GrandCare to Showcase Remote Support Solutions at the 2026 CCLN Annual Leadership Conference

April 21, 2026

The CCLN Leadership Conference 2026, “This is not a drill: React-Respond-Recover (repeat)”, will be held from Wednesday, May 6th, to Friday, May 8th, 2026, at the Paradise Point Island Resort & Spa. The conference will focus on practical strategies for crisis management, emphasizing immediate reaction, structured response, and sustained recovery. GrandCare’s VP of Sales, Joe Donnelly, and Laura Mitchell, CEO, will represent GrandCare at booth 10.

GrandCare Systems’ Reimbursement Success in California

GrandCare Systems is pleased to announce a significant milestone in its commitment to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in California. The utilization of GrandCare Systems’ remote support and technology platform is now eligible for reimbursement within the state of California through the Alta California Regional Center.

This crucial access to funding is provided under service code 051. This designation allows individuals and families served by Alta Regional Center to leverage GrandCare’s comprehensive suite of connected technology solutions, which are designed to enhance independence, promote safety, and improve the overall quality of life for users in their homes.

This reimbursement mechanism simplifies the process for regional center service coordinators to integrate GrandCare technology into an individual’s person-centered plan (PCP) as a vital support service. This advancement reflects growing recognition of the value and efficacy of telehealth and remote monitoring solutions in the evolving landscape of long-term care and disability services.

How GrandCare provides remote support solutions

The GrandCare solution can help individuals to be more independent and self supporting. Staff and family can use GrandCare to remotely check-in and provide supports in a more efficient way. GrandCare touchscreens are placed in strategic rooms such as the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen to provide direct access to care, two-way video or audio chat, task/med prompts and step-by-step videos such as brushing teeth or washing dishes. Optional activity, camera and health monitoring sensors can be placed to alert a remote caregiver if and when additional support is needed.

See us at CCLN Annual Leadership Conference – Booth 10

CCLN Exhibit Hall Schedule
Thursday, May 7, 8:00-4:15
Friday, May 8, 7:00-4:00

If you’re attending, don’t forget to download the Whova app! We have handouts, photos, videos and more for you to peruse. Use #CCLN2026 on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Can’t attend but want to learn more about remote supports? Schedule a consultation with GrandCare. We’d love to show you our platform, devices, caregiver portal, and answer your questions.

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The Next Wave is not just a theme—it’s a call to action at 2026 NASP Conference

March 25, 2026

GrandCare Systems is thrilled to announce our participation in the Nebraska Association of Service Providers (NASP) Annual Conference again this year. We are eagerly anticipating joining industry leaders, innovators, and professionals at this premier event. The conference will take place in Lincoln, Nebraska on Tuesday, March 31, and Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

Nebraska NE 1915(c) Family Support Waiver

With the recent game-changing approval of GrandCare Systems under the NE 1915(c) Family Support Waiver, Nebraska agencies now have a streamlined, powerful way to tackle staffing gaps head-on while dramatically boosting participant independence.

Networking at the Cheers & Connections Social Hour March 31

This conference provides an invaluable opportunity for the GrandCare team to showcase our latest remote monitoring and telehealth solutions. We look forward to engaging in insightful discussions, networking with attendees, and demonstrating how our technology can support improved outcomes and operational efficiency.

Stop by our booth for a chance to win a FREE three-month trial and learn how we enable independence and help optimize support services.

And when you visit us, pick up two complimentary tickets to the Cheers & Connections Social Hour on March 31!

Don’t Just Stay Afloat, But Thrive

The HCBS landscape is evolving at lightning speed—through policy shifts, technological breakthroughs, relentless workforce challenges, and surging advocacy. The Nebraska Association of Service Providers (NASP) Annual Conference is the must-attend event, designed to arm attendees with the crucial insights, cutting-edge tools, and strategic partnerships needed to not just stay afloat, but to thrive.

GrandCare Is Going to Cal-TASH 2026!

February 25, 2026

We’re excited to be exhibiting at Cal-TASH 2026 in Sacramento, where this year’s theme — Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers — perfectly reflects our mission.

GrandCare provides person-centered remote supports that empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve greater independence at home.

Our platform includes in-home touchscreens with customizable supports such as:

Automated ADL prompts
Medication reminders
Motion and door sensor notifications
Health device integration
Secure two-way video for remote support professionals

But what truly sets GrandCare apart is engagement. From personalized videos and photos to games, trivia, and interest-based content (yes — whether it’s rodeos, Star Wars, or classic cars), we believe technology people enjoy using leads to stronger adoption and better outcomes.

Be sure to check out the Housing Security session hosted by Alta California Regional Center during Breakout Session 4 on Friday.

Participants in this breakout session will learn how one California Regional Center works to promote housing security for individuals with developmental disabilities in their community. Attendees will hear how the regional center supports affordable housing development in multifamily apartment complexes. They will learn about Housing Access Services and the types of home finding and tenancy support services that are offered. Finally, participants will learn about the State of California’s Assistive Technology Pilot and the ways it can promote choice and safety for those choosing to live independently.

If you’re attending Cal-TASH, we’d love to connect and show you how remote supports can build real bridges to independence.

Booth Hours
Friday, February 27 | 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday, February 28 | 8:00 am – 4:00pm

Cal-TASH 2026

February 27-28, 2026
Embassy Suites Riverfront
100 Capitol Mall
Sacramento CA 95814

Follow #caltash2026 on social media.

Can’t attend but want to learn more about remote supports? Schedule a free consultation with GrandCare.

GrandCare Brings Remote Supports to Life at Rhode Island’s ATCNE Conference

November 11, 2025

If you’re attending the Assistive Technology Conference of New England (ATCNE) on November 20th, get ready for an inspiring day! From 10a – 3:45p, you’ll have the chance to explore the latest in assistive technology and meet some incredible innovators who are making a real difference in the transformation of care services.

We at GrandCare are excited to be part of the action! Stop by our booth to experience how our remote supports and person-centered enabling technology empower independence and connection.

Our GrandCare System is a simple, touchscreen-based hub that does so much more than you might expect. It helps people stay on top of daily routines with reminders, video check-ins, and telehealth tools. Care teams can monitor vitals, receive motion alerts, and even share video modeling for everyday tasks—all from an easy-to-use caregiver dashboard that works on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Come see GrandCare in action! Our team will be there to demo the technology, answer your questions about remote supports and funding, and of course, hand out some fun giveaways.

And don’t miss the educational breakout sessions happening throughout the day. We’re especially excited that GrandCare’s own Scott Feldstein will be sharing his insights during the midday sessions—you won’t want to miss it!

Tech-Enabled Caregiving with Remote Supports: The How, the Why and the ROI

November 20, 11:15am – 12:30pm

About This Session

Although it is often associated with the military, the term “force multiplier” simply means something that allows a small group of people to do something that would ordinarily take a larger number of people to do. Smart home, sensors and touchscreen-based technologies can be YOUR force multiplier, allowing your organization to support more people without hiring more staff. AND your clients will enjoy a more self-directed, independent lifestyle.

This session will help your agency understand why it’s best for you to provide your OWN remote supports instead of outsourcing to a third party and how it can save your organization money while improving client care and independence.

About the Assistive Technology Conference of New England (ATCNE)

Since 1988, Rhode Island’s annual conference on assistive technology has offered state-of-the-art workshops, information, and exhibits highlighting technologies that change and enhance the lives of people with disabilities of all ages. Attended each year by hundreds of individuals, family members, and professionals from New England and beyond, the conference focuses on uses of technology in education, communication, employment, recreation, home, and independent living. Learn more at the TechACCESS of Rhode Island website.

GrandCare CEO Chosen for Industry Expert Panel on Technology in IDD at Starling

October 29, 2025

GrandCare CEO, Laura Mitchell, will be joining several top experts in the disability technology industry for a panel on using technology in I/DD services at this year’s Starling Conference in Branson, Missouri.

Industry Expert Panel: Using Technology in IDD Services

November 18, 2025
2:20-3:00pm

Starling Conference
Hilton Branson Convention Center
200 E Main St
Branson, MO 65616

State of the Industry

According to the CDC, 61 million people in the US live with disabilities. In 2024, over half a million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities were on their state’s waiting list to receive services, with nowhere to go. An astounding 90% of agencies that employ DSPs nationwide report “moderate” or “severe” staffing shortages, and as a result, 69 percent experience difficulty meeting established quality standards (as set at the agency level, because there is no federal set of quality measures to date). In 2023, the average turnover ratio for DSPs was 40 percent, with 87 percent of DSPs staying on the job for fewer than 36 months.

With such high demand and a staffing shortage, is there a solution? It appears there is, and the solution is remote supports via technology. Besides serving more people with less staff, assistive technology and remote supports are improving the lives of those living with disabilities.

In fact, there is research to back this up. A study from Xavier University’s Department of Occupational Therapy showed that remote patient monitoring & telehealth technologies including the flagship platform, GrandCare Systems, increased client independence, reduced in-person caregiving hours, and cut the staffing costs dramatically.

One of the metrics used in the study was success in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). These include tasks such as: bathing, dressing, and eating, but also financial management, shopping and meal preparation. The technologies “allowed for residents to perform more of their ADLs and IADLs successfully, with less supervision.” Not only that, but technology-assisted care brought “increases in participants’ self-ratings of performance and satisfaction.”

Advantages of Technology Supports

GrandCare is a large intuitive and personalized touchscreen that provides residence-wide assists, tasks, and schedules. GrandCare also enables easy access to remote support with one touch video calls. It integrates with a wide range of remote activity monitoring sensors and telehealth devices that can alert designated caregivers if support is needed. It’s great for single occupant residences and for homes with multiple supported people. Providing support through GrandCare can enable greater independence for those already in community supported living, and it can often graduate individuals to a new level of independence.

The advantage of remote supports include:

Do MORE with FEWER resources
Achieve independence
Save money
Improve efficiency
Better health outcomes
Improved happiness
Better connection

About Starling Conference 2025

This professional development opportunity is designed for executives, managers, and emerging leaders from community providers who are eager to connect with others to learn new concepts, share ideas, and work together to strengthen services for Missourians with disabilities.

Want to Learn More?

Not able to attend the conference but would like to know more about technology for I/DD services? Schedule a consultation with us.