GrandCare Discussed on Senior Care Corner Online Radio!

Note from GrandCare: Thanks Barry & Cathy and for including GrandCare Systems in your radio program! This is a great idea and I enjoyed listening to your thoughts!  GrandCare is customizable and fully expandable. We go from a more economic and basic model, to fully-featured, luxury models. Pricing starts low and increases (depending on the model chosen: interactive vs. non-interactive and the sensors deployed).  GrandCare is a complete communication, cognition and monitoring technology – designed to keep individuals safe, healthy, happy and independent at home. Using a series of wireless activity (door, temp, motion, bed, etc.) and telewellness (bp, weight, pulseox, glucose) sensors, a care-partner can automatically be notified if anything is amiss. Family can can connect by two way video chat AND send pictures, messages, emails, videos and other communications to an easy-to-use touch monitor in the loved one’s home. Loved ones need ZERO technical experience to fully enjoy the GrandCare System!  THANKS AGAIN and I am spreading the word on your radio program :)

<a href = “http://seniorcarecorner.com/scc-4-senior-home-technology-1#comment-541“>SCC #4: Senior Home Technology 1 </a>

senior digital home

In this episode we discuss technology that can help improve the lives of seniors in their homes and the peace of mind of seniors’ families.  We highlight some companies targeting the needs of seniors and point out where the consumer electronics industry misses opportunities with the senior marketplace.

Home technology is making a difference in the lives of most people and seniors are no different.  Technology can not only improve the life of seniors but enable them to safely and comfortably live in their homes long than before, even if they are living alone.  Senior Care Corner is following technology for seniors closely and this is our first podcast report.

The largest showcase for home technologies is the annual Consumer Electronics Show from the Consumer Electronics Association.  Our visit to the most recent showed the industry has a ways to go in targeting the needs of seniors with their products.  At the same time, there are a number of companies with technology products targeted to specific needs of seniors and their families… To read more: http://seniorcarecorner.com/scc-4-senior-home-technology-1#comment-541

They discuss GrandCare Systems, a few other in-home health technologies (Presto, Sonamba, Telikin) and the Connected Living for Social Aging: Designing Technology for All (an AARP report)

Extraordinary Grands

Charlie & Gaytha Hillman: Grand Entrepreneurs

A solution for Great Aunt Clara became a thriving business

Charlie and Gaytha Hillman with their seven grandchildren

By Richard J. Anthony, Sr.

Charlie and Gaytha Hillman’s latest success story began with a nearly tragic furnace fire in the home of Charlie’s great aunt Clara back in 1993. Although she had sensed something was wrong, 89-year-old Clara, typical of older adults who live alone and protect their independence, “didn’t want to bother anyone.”

After rescuing his aunt and being shaken by her close call, Charlie put his MIT training and engineering inquisitiveness to work to come up with a solution. He outfitted Clara’s home with the nascent GrandCare product consisting of basic sensors and even a device to automatically turn on The Lawrence Welk Show, her favorite TV program. Although the technology was primitive by today’s standards. Clara was now safe, happy and  continue living independently at home for the rest of her life.

And Charlie began to imagine the possibilities.

Having sucessfully started technology businesses since the 1980s, the Hillmans returned after some years to the idea of innovating that early version of their monitoring system. Their innovations were so good and so timely that they were invited to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. In llate 2006 Charlie and Gaytha offically launched GrandCare Systems™ LLC for use in private homes and community care settings. Their mission? To provide high-end technology products and services to improve the lives of the aging and those who care for them.

Read more

Investor: Health tech is next big opportunity

By Don Ross, Managing Director & Founder, HealthTech Capital

Early-stage investors in traditional healthcare companies are certainly having a tough time these days. Many biotech, diagnostic and medical device firms have simply become too risky, as the current uncertain FDA regulatory environment increases cost and time to exit. In fact, venture funding for these companies fell during the fourth quarter of 2010 to the lowest level since 2003, and the number of deals dropped further in the first quarter of 2011, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

This overhanging “exit challenge” is leading many angel investors and venture capitalists to seek new types of investments – companies with lower capital requirements and faster exits. Nowhere was this quest more evident than at the 2011 Angel Capital Association Summit, a premier angel investor event, held last month in Boston.

During the event, I participated on the “Future of Life Science Investing” panel, where the discussion quickly left traditional life sciences and zeroed in on what is emerging as the next big investment opportunity arena: healthtech.

Don Ross is managing director and founder of HealthTech Capital, an angel investing group that funds and mentors early-stage companies in the emerging healthtech domain.

Healthtech companies use mobile, cloud, and other information technologies to increase healthcare delivery efficiencies and deliver consumer-centric applications. Unlike traditional “health IT,” healthtech companies target applications everywhere along spectrum of health and wellness—from in-hospital workflow to in-home monitoring to consumer wellness applications.

Healthtech markets are propelled by technical advancements, an aging population, and government regulations and subsidies to drive adoption of electronic medical records. And, although the FDA is turning its attention to healthtech, most companies in this sector are expected to face comparatively low regulatory requirements.

How big is the healthtech opportunity? Data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) show that the U.S. spent $2.5 trillion on health care in 2009. Of this, 84 percent was spent on healthcare delivery, which includes costs associated with clinicians and insurance companies. In contrast, only 16 percent was spent on therapeutics, including medical devices and drugs. Although venture investors traditionally have put their money into therapeutics rather than delivery, the balance is shifting.

In fact, healthtech was a “star” topic at the recent J.P. Morgan Annual Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, where panelists included Eric Schmidt, Google’s then-CEO, and other technologists not typically associated with health care. Further evidence of the shift in investor attention towards healthtech is the recent establishment of HealthTech Capital, the first angel investing group to focus exclusively on this space. Barely a year old, the group’s membership already is larger than many long-established angel groups and includes individual investors, VCs, corporate venture arms, and healthcare providers.

Healthtech is a complex domain, with several factors that can make or break a company. Existing contracts and relationships may have locked up a market segment. Standards of proof are much higher than in the tech world. Lack of reimbursement can kill a company. A sale often must address a multi-part customer with separate value propositions for the patient, doctor, hospital, and insurance company. Improving patient care alone is insufficient. One physician put his requirements for new technologies to me succinctly: “Will I get paid, and will I get sued?”

Read more

Aging Technology Alliance Launches AgeTek.org

New website and blog supports members of home health technology companies and consumers seeking aging-in-place and senior-friendly products

“There is a consumer need for education about products and services for the aging, and how to qualify and access them; this is why we created the AgeTek.org site and blog as a hub to make all of these possible.”

The Aging Technology Alliance (AgeTek), the aging-focused consortium of home heath technology companies launches today its website, http://www.AgeTek.org, to support members and serve consumers seeking technology products and services which are senior-friendly and that will aid in aging-in-place.

The U.S. digital health market is expected to reach $5.7 billion by 20151. AgeTek recently formed out of the common goal of companies leading the development of new products and services for aging-in-place, to make it easier for family caregivers who need and want these solutions to find them. The newly-launched website, http://www.agetek.org, features a senior product finder search function to help caregivers find unique solutions to the challenges of helping family more safely and comfortably age in their own home, or for those who are interested in senior-friendly products for a loved one, especially during the Mother’s Day gift-giving season (http://www.agetek.org/mothersday).

Items in the product finder are segmented into categories: communications and engagement; health and wellness; safety and security; learning and contributions, and aging-in-place and caregiving.

Also launched simultaneously is the AgeTek blog (http://www.agetek.wordpress.com) written by a growing roster of contributing authors, including several AgeTek board members. The blog content turns a spotlight on the various aging-related issues being met by the digital health market, and the innovation in that space.

“With 13% of the U.S. population age 65 and older – a number projected to jump to 20% by 2030 – and the 85 and older cohort being our population’s fastest-growing age segment, there is a consumer need for education about products and services for the aging, and how to qualify and access them; this is why we created the AgeTek.org site and blog as a hub to make all of these possible,” said Peter Radsliff, CEO, Presto Services and chairman of the board, Aging Technology Alliance. “For members, the site supports the awareness, benefits and value of products and services of our aging society. We intend to evolve into the world’s leading aging-focused technology consortium; a mandate of no other organization.”

Read more

LA Home Care Makes An Impact on the Lives of Area Residents With Technology (GRANDCARE SYSTEMS)

View the article in full from Benton County, MN News

LA Home Care, a home care provider, located in Sauk Rapids, is making an impact on area residents through use of The GrandCare System, a combination of Smart Home Technologies, Activities of Daily Living monitoring, Internet communications and Tele-Wellness, which supports an entire network of caregivers providing greater security and less social isolation.

Last fall, after partnering with Cybermation, Inc located in Waite Park, LA Home Care www.mylahomecare.com received $16,000 in funding from the Living Connected in Benton County Steering Committeewww.bentoncountyconnected.org to help make this technology available to area residents.

“Technology has been such a growing force in our health care system. Now is the time to make the technology affordable, easy to understand and easy to use for all of us,” said Leslie Ann, owner of LA Home Care. “The GrandCare System, I believe, has done just that.”

This technology, which is currently in five homes, serves three main purposes:

  1. Assists seniors to stay in their homes longer. Client’s are more productive and able to remain connected to community and family through favorite websites set up by the client and caregiver as well as SKYPE, a scrolling alert/message system, brain bending exercises and more.
  2. Enables caregivers to assess a client’s abilities and helps monitor activities of daily living to keep them safe. They are able to accommodate a client’s needs and coordinate with doctors. This technology provides a number of wellness devices to fill the need of many different health issues including a blood pressure device, a weight scale, and a pill dispenser which all use a wireless bluetooth device to record results in the computer and route them directly to a nurse or other care provider.
  3. Gives family members peace of mind. Family members and caregivers are able to remotely upload pictures and send messages in real time, post daily reminders, create calendar appointments and events for the client. Family members are able to monitor their loved ones health concerns and stay in touch with caregivers.

LA Home Care cites Dorothy O. as an example of someone who is benefiting from this technology and who has been able to stay in her home longer. Without this technology Dorothy O. would likely be in an assisted living facility. “We have used Skype to see her newest great-grandchild in Hawaii,” says Leslie Ann. “She has some medical issues that have greatly improved while using the GrandCare system. She likes the fact that if she is in need of a nurse she only has to push a button and I would receive a message saying she needed help. Of course for emergencies she continues to have the Lifeline pendant. I can monitor all movement in the apartment and that can be reassuring to family members who are only hearing part of the issue over the phone. Family members can also log into Dorothy’s computer and see the same information that I do. This makes a well rounded caring atmosphere.”

For more information about LA Home Care, Leslie Ann or this technology visitwww.mylahomecare.com or call 320-828-0802.

Living Connected in Benton County www.bentoncountyconnected.org is a project partner in the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities Initiative (MIRC). MIRC is a coalition of 19 statewide partners and 11 demonstration communities funded in large part through an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant. The work of the coalition focuses on bringing the full promise of broadband technologies to rural Minnesota communities, businesses and people. Blandin Foundation serves as the project administrator. More about MIRC is available at www.blandinfoundation.org.

Read the article <a href = “http://www.co.benton.mn.us/News_Item.php?NewsID=59“> HERE </a>

CEDIA Recognizes Home Health Technology (and showcases GrandCare) as the Next HUGE opp for DEALERS!!!!

http://www.cediacrosspoint.com/content/emerging-trends-2q-update-video

VERY well done CEDIA video that showcases new opportunities for dealers.  Home Health Technology is one of the recommended avenues for dealers to explore. In the video, CEDIA shows two pictures of the GrandCare System in use 😉

Fantastic! Well Done Cedia team!  Home Health is a great opportunity for this industry!  The Aging Technology Alliance: AgeTek (www.agetek.org) is perfect for new dealers that are signing up for this industry.

ALSO – – We are hosting a free webinar event tomorrow (Thursday April 7th, 2p EDT) called “10 steps to Home Health Technology”. It will be a webinar open to anyone and everyone. 2pm Eastern Time. We will meet here: http://grandcaresystems.webex.com
Two of your AgeTek Board Members will be speaking on this session: AgeTek Chairman – Peter Radsliff and AgeTek Director – Laura Mitchell.If you cannot attend, but would like to receive tomorrow’s recording, just shoot an email to info(at)grandcare.com
Moderator: Laura Mitchell, GrandCare SystemsPanelists:Peter Radsliff, Presto &amp; AgeTek ChairTom Morgan, Worthington DistributionBob Levy, Electronic Creations

GrandCare Interviewed by Rave Publications at EHX 2011

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DB-NGBRJsQ]

GrandCare’s VP of Marketing, Laura Mitchell, is interviewed by Rave Publications at EHX 2011.

Another Interview at EHX with VP Marketing, Laura Mitchell: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqw89ArzbGw]

GrandCare Slated to exhibit at EHX – The CEPRO EVENT

GrandCare Systems, one of the leaders in the Aging/Technology Industry, will be exhibiting and presenting several panels at this year’s EHX: The CEPRO EVENT in Orlando. Available since 2006, GrandCare is a “Smart” Activity & Tele-Wellness Monitoring & Interactive Touch System designed to keep seniors independent. Caregivers virtually access information & send pictures, messages, etc to the senior’s interactive TouchScreen. 2-Way Web Chat available. Located in the New Opportunities/Home Health Tech Pavilion: Booth(s): 629L, GrandCare’s Booth Will Feature: The GrandCare Interactive HomeBase, GrandCare Interactive Trillium & GrandCare Como Model.

What: GrandCare Exhibiting at EHX
When: March 17-19th, 2011
Where: Orlando Convention Center
BOOTH 629L

More info:

Schedule At A Glance:

Wednesday March 16th 8p No-Host Bar AgeTek Meet&Greet. Peabody Hotel Main Lobby Bar. Questions? Email info@agetek.org

Thursday March 17th *SHOW FLOOR OPEN 10a – 6pm
New Opportunities Stage
CE005: How to Get Your Foot in the Door with Home Health Tech Thursday 11:00 AM-2:00 PM EST
Moderator: Laura Mitchell, VP Marketing, GrandCare Systems
Panelists:
Tom Morgan, Worthington Distribution
Peter Radsliff, Presto

CE018: When Grandpa Wants the Cadillac: GrandCare Systems Thursday 1:00pm-2:00pm EST
New Opportunities Stage
Host: Laura Mitchell, VP Marketing, GrandCare Systems
Panelists:
Jill Kerr, Home Controls
Tom Morgan, Worthington Distribution

GrandCare Informational Session Thursday 4:00pm-4:30pm EST
CE PRO Stage

Friday March 18th Show Floor Open 9am – 5p EST
CE010: Home Health Technology Solutions for Custom Integrators Friday 12:00PM -1:00P EST
New Opportunities Stage
Moderator:
Peter Radsliff, Chairman of AgeTek & CEO Presto
Panelists:
Laura Mitchell, VP Marketing, GrandCare Systems
Ken Kerr, President, Home Controls
LogicMark

Saturday March 19th Show Floor Open 10am – 3p

Geek News Central Interviews GrandCare Founder, Charlie Hillman

Geek News Central
Grandcare: Keeping the Senior Citizen Independent
POSTED BY KL TECH MUSE AT 10:04 PM ON FEBRUARY 13, 2011

Andy McCasky and Esbjorn Larsen spoke to Charles Hillman, PE of Grandcare. Grandcare goal is to help seniors stay in their home, while allowing the caregiver to have peace of mind. The system consists of a central unit similar to a TiVo box that connects to any size TV or monitor. Then a series of motion sensors can placed around the house that measure motions.

There is also a wellness system that can measure blood pressure, weight and other health measurements. The monitor has a series of buttons, that can be set by and changed by the caregiver. The buttons can be big as needed and give a tactile feed back to the senior citizen. On the buttons are pictures to indicate who or what the senior will connect to. Push a button and the senior citizen is connected with a family member through Skype or a video plays that the caregiver has chosen for the senior citizen, the possibilities are endless.

The Grandcare system is set up to prevent malware and virus, and unwanted communication to the senior citizen. It is simple to use and no computer knowledge is necessary by the senior citizen. Grandcare has distributors and dealers that install the system.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDR News. and Esbjorn Larsen of MrNetCast.com.

Watch the video Here

NOTE – – The Current Activity & Wellness Sensors Available from GrandCare Systems are here
Tele-Wellness Sensors Currently Available for Retail: Blood Pressure, Weight Scale, Medication Dispenser. (Glucometer & Pulse Oximeter available pending FDA Approval)

Thanks,

Digital health market pegged to reach $5.7B by 2015

Another article on the quickly growing market and mentions the Aging Technology Alliance as an important player in this industry!!!!

February 8, 2011 — 11:50am ET | By Sara Jackson – Contributing Editor

Subscribe: http://www.fiercemobilehealthcare.com/signup?sourceform=Viral-Tynt-FierceMobileHealthcare-FierceMobileHealthcareMobile healthcare will be the primary driver behind massive growth in the digital health market over the next five years, according to analysis by research firm Parks Associates.
The company’s latest report, “Delivering Quality Care to the Digital Home: 2010 Update,” puts the digital health market at $1.7 billion in 2010, and projects that to skyrocket to $5.7 billion by 2015–a whopping 27 percent increase.

The growth will come in three primary segments of the mobile market: chronic-care monitoring; systems to allow seniors to age in place (medications management, etc.); and wellness and fitness apps and programs, according to Parks officials.

“Adoption of chronic-care monitoring will grow slowly, and medication management and senior fall-detection programs will expand at above-average rates,” Parks’ research team director Harry Wang said, according to a news release. “The real engines of growth in this industry will be mobile care solutions and tracking applications.”

Parks’ research points to the recent explosion of fitness apps, as well as the 2010 entry of Philips into the “healthy living” segment of the market with its new “DirectLife” service for fitness and wellness management. Another indicator of market potential: A new alliance formed last month at CES 2011 around this growing sector. Called The Aging Technology Alliance (AgeTek), it’s made up of vendors that provide technology products and services to allow seniors to stay in their homes as they age.

The fly in the ointment: Wrangling over the healthcare reform law could significantly slow digital health’s growth, by chilling investment into businesses developing the new technologies, Wang warns. “To move forward, this industry needs smart entrepreneurs and visionary industry leaders and a regulatory and reimbursement system amenable to innovative, effective and cost-saving technology advances,” he says.

Read more: Digital health market pegged to reach $5.7B by 2015 – FierceMobileHealthcare http://www.fiercemobilehealthcare.com/story/digital-health-market-pegged-reach-57b-2015/2011-02-08#comment-914#ixzz1DORiAcKL

Comments
By Laura Mitchell – GrandCare Systems | Posted 2:25pm | February 8, 2011
Thanks for the write-up. I am a director on the Aging Technology Alliance Board and we celebrated our one year anniversary at this last CES show in Las Vegas. We are slowly growing and gaining interest from new members, including big players like AARP (who recently joined our alliance). Our alliance was designed in the spirit of co-ompetition. In other words, the aging tsunami is coming and will float all boats! Why not work together to build up this brand new category of digital home health.
Please take a moment and check out our website: www.agetek.org
On a similar note, I personally host a weekly industry-wide aging/technology webinar. This webinar is open to anyone and everyone in the aging and technology industry and features different speakers every week on various relevant topics. All are welcome to join us. We meet every Thursday at 1pm Central Time (11am PST). For more information, go here: http://wp.me/pyOLA-1t
Thanks again!
Laura Mitchell, GrandCare Systems
Aging Technology Alliance Board Director

Read more: Digital health market pegged to reach $5.7B by 2015 – FierceMobileHealthcare http://www.fiercemobilehealthcare.com/story/digital-health-market-pegged-reach-57b-2015/2011-02-08#comment-914#ixzz1DOSBMFLc
Subscribe: http://www.fiercemobilehealthcare.com/signup?sourceform=Viral-Tynt-FierceMobileHealthcare-FierceMobileHealthcare