GrandCare featured in MobiHealthNews “Point of Care” article from CES 2014

GrandCare’s VP of Business Development, Laura Mitchell was a panelist on the “Point-of-Care Everywhere” track at the Digital Health Summit during last week’s CES in Las Vegas.

Dr. Joseph Kvedar, director of the Center for Connected Health at Partners HealthCare moderated the discussion on trends in mobile health technology and the process of moving healthcare out of more traditional clinical settings to patients on the move and in their homes. Additional panelists included Walter De Brouwer of Scanadu Inc., Nersi Nazari of Vital Connect, and Yasmine Winkler of UnitedHealthcare.

CES: Mobile health has a lot of power, but it’s raw and new

[…] It’s an uphill battle for sure to sell certain healthcare organizations on new technology. Laura Mitchell, VP of business development at GrandCare Systems, maker of communication and monitoring systems for independent living, said that some long-term-care providers see the West Bend, Wis.-based company as a competitor rather than a useful service.

“We’re sort of the baby monitor but we’re not the mom,” said Mitchell. It is GrandCare’s job to deliver useful, actionable information—with as little “noise” as possible—to caregivers. The caregiver needs to be able to act on the information GrandCare delivers, but the vendor needs to eliminate “noise” in data.

Information should be in the form of “constant reminders,” integrated into the lives of patients and their caregivers, Mitchell said.

This sounds simple, but it so far has not been. Kvedar said that Wellocracy, a social community for health that the Center for Connected Health spun out and launched at CES last year, still searching for its audience.

However, he is optimistic, given the changes going on in healthcare and the merging of institutional and consumer technologies. Despite the rocky rollout of HealthCare.gov, Kvedar said that health insurance exchanges are a “powerful force for engaging consumers.” Kvedar acknowledged that these exchanges are about connecting people to insurance coverage, not managing health conditions, but he said that they at least start people thinking, perhaps for the first time, about being consumers in the healthcare segment.

New payment models that reward outcomes rather than value also are driving growth in nontraditional care settings, plus, as Kvedar illustrated with the smartphone “addiction” example, consumers – all of whom are potential patients – are already so familiar with so many technologies on display at the massive CES show this week.

Read the full article at by Neil Versel at http://mobihealthnews.com/28673/ces-mobile-health-has-a-lot-of-power-but-its-raw-and-new/

GrandCare featured on Caring.com

The Digital Caregiver

Being “Wired” Never Felt So Reassuring

By Melanie Haiken, Caring.com senior editor

One of the most obvious ways advances in digital technology are changing caregiving is in the use of smartphones. And Caring.com user data shows that half of all caregivers own an iPhone and use it for research and connectivity.

Caregivers aren’t just posting pictures of their dogs and kids, though — they’re using the Web, smartphone apps, and other digital services to help them with the often overwhelming tasks of caregiving. And they need that help — in a recent study, a whopping 88 percent of boomer caregivers reported that caregiving had turned out to be much harder than they expected. In a study titled Retirement Care Planning: The Middle-Income Boomer Perspective, 57 percent of the approximately 500 boomers surveyed said caregiving took more emotional strength and 52 percent said it took more time than they’d expected. Caregiving, they said, was also costing them more financially and causing more stress on their health and relationships than they’d anticipated.

Monitoring remotely is getting easier than ever.

Change has also come to the more established area of home monitoring. “New sensor technologies and great design are bringing new capabilities and sensibilities to the markets of home monitoring and Personal Emergency Response devices,” says Fike. GrandCare, a longterm player in the field, now takes advantage of digital innovations to provide a sophisticated interactive interface in addition to more traditional features such as activity monitoring, alerts, and mediation management. Caregivers and their loved ones can use GrandCare’s multimedia communication interface to share photos, chat via video, and even play games in addition to more traditional home care monitoring.

Read the full article at http://www.caring.com/articles/the-digital-caregiver

West Bend Daily News Reports: GrandCare taps software exec as new CEO

GrandCare taps software exec as CEO

By DAN MUCKELBAUER

Daily News Staff

Dan MaynardThe appointment of veteran software executive Daniel Maynard as CEO of health monitoring pioneer GrandCare is seen as enabling the West Bend company to continue to grow, said its founder, former CEO Charlie Hillman, who will become its chief technology officer and “vision leader.”

Maynard will be able to focus on sales distribution channels and pricing, critical to market growth, Hillman said Wednesday after the official announcement. Maynard was president of Brookfield-based Connecture Inc., which guides consumers in insurance options, and made the transition to GrandCare the past few months, Hillman said.

“I had been searching for a proven, innovative technology solution with a large growth potential in the healthcare IT industry,” Maynard said in a statement. “GrandCare is already a well-respected and credible industry leader. I look forward to joining this great team and taking GrandCare to the next level.”

“He saw such potential in GrandCare. We’re happy,” said Hillman, who will focus more on product development. “I’m a pretty good startup guy and we needed someone to take this to a new level.”

The 8-year-old downtown West Bend company with 20 employees markets Internet-based systems that monitor elderly in their homes and connects with relatives or other caregivers. It began after Hillman’s experiences with his great-aunt in her late 80s who lived next door to him.

GrandCare Founder, Charlie Hillman

GrandCare Founder, Charlie Hillman

“We’ve grown a lot the past couple of years and I think we can grow much faster, and there’s no indication that GrandCare will move outside of West Bend,” said Hillman, noting expansion locations near the company’s 327 N. Main St. site, including the former Ziegler Co.

“Why would we move to a more expensive place?” Hillman said. “We like it here. We like the work ethic of the place.”

Economic Development Washington County announced a $200,000 loan to GrandCare in July, enabling it to execute foreign and domestic contracts, EDWC Executive Director Christian Tschescholk said.

The West Bend-grown company is expected to be a major player globally, notably in the United Kingdom, Tschescholk said. Having top talent like Maynard helps move the company forward and bring high-tech jobs to West Bend, he said.

GrandCare featured in LeadingAge’s Telehealth Case Studies and Selection Tool Resources

LeadingAge’s Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) recently released 2 new resources designed to help long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) organizations identify and select telehealth products:

These 2 resources released complete CAST’s new telehealth portfolio, which also includes:

“Telehealth is an important enabler of innovative future-ready business models,” said Larry Minnix, president and CEO of LeadingAge. “The case studies and the online selection tool will be invaluable to providers who are considering embarking on telehealth to reduce hospital readmissions or other health reform related initiatives.

CAST is planning to update this portfolio in 2014 and is currently seeking additional vendors to participate in next year’s edition of the Selection Matrix, online Selection Tool, and case studies.

About the LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies:

The LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) (http://www.LeadingAge.org/CAST) is focused on accelerating the development, evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies that will transform the aging experience. As an international coalition of more than 400 technology companies, aging-services organizations, businesses, research universities and government representatives, CAST works under the auspices of LeadingAge, an association of 6,000 not-for-profit organizations dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging.

Contact: Emily Wilson, ewilson@leadingage.org, 202-508-9492

Awards For Senior Living Products Show That The Aging Population Is Big Business

With millions of baby boomers hurtling head long into their golden years and resources for seniors limited, the business of caring for the elderly is about to boom as much as all those babies did. Keeping older Americans healthy and able to live independently will be more important than ever. SeniorHomes.com has created the Best Senior Living Award to recognize the companies creating the best products for the coming wave of older people.

HomeBaseThe 2013 winner is GrandCare Systems, a company dedicated to using the latest computer technology to help seniors live independently for as long as possible. Their simple touchscreen system helps these people stay in touch with their doctors, nurses, and family. The system also helps them keep track of taking their medicines, checking their weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar.

Everything is at the individual’s finger tips — literally. Just a touch on the computer screen starts the process. Easy-to-read menu items leads into several areas. It is so simple to use that previous computer experience is not required. It is designed to help make sure that the older adult is taking care of their health, staying connected with the outside world, and staying on top of their appointments and commitments.

http://inventorspot.com/articles/awards_senior_living_products_show_aging_population_big_business

Laura Mitchell on BBS Radio – Reaching For The Gold

“The GrandCare System helps connect elders with the world in ways designed to maximize their independence while also ensuring their safety. This technology not only tracks when they take their medication and other important health statistics. It also allows elders to send e-mails and other important correspondences without the technology frustrating or intimidating them.

Laura Mitchell serves as VP of business development for this company. She has spoken throughout the country about how digital home health can mitigate hospital admissions and otherwise have positive outcomes for elders and their family.”

Reaching For The Gold with Harriet Tramer

Reaching For The Gold airs every other week
BBS Radio Station 1 – Tuesdays
2:00 – 2:55 PM (PST)
5:00 – 5:55 PM (EST)

Harriet Tramer is publishing journalist and a college instructor. Harriet finds that these two careers have much in common as they both demand honing communication skills every day. Over the years, however, her understanding of precisely what is meant by “communication skills” has changed exponentially. At first, she taught classes in the most traditional sense, standing in front of students. And she wrote for print media. But now she instructs her students almost exclusively online and her writing is published in print and over the web. Times have changed but the need to speak to your audience by being concise, yet intriguing, remains the same.

—– Contact Harriet Tramer —–
Email: harriet.tramer@tri-C.edu
Website: http: www.justwannatalk.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/JustWannaTalk1

Michael Neuvirth Reviews GrandCare Systems

Home Care Services And Monitoring At The Touch Of A Finger

Michael Neuvirth give GrandCare Systems a Four and a half Star Review
http://caregiverreviews.com

This Review covers a product and technology that has been helping Caregivers since 2005. It is specifically designed to let your loved ones enjoy a high quality of life – while living in their own homes.

Visit Caregiver Reviews online at caregiverreviews.com

Easy To Use, Feature Rich Home Care System

GrandCare Systems combines digital health, biometric readings,  daily living sensing, medication management, smart home automation, video chat and virtual touch-based communications into a comprehensive home care monitoring system.

Caregivers can virtually engage with a loved one, regardless of geographic location.The simple to use, touch-based platform lets your loved one look at family photos, get, read and send “email”, watch videos and conduct video chats, listen to their favorite songs, play games – and more.

Created By Caregivers For Caregivers

Pricing

I spoke with the very nice people at Grandcare. We discussed pricing and they told me that each customer has his/her own specific needs and should end up with a system that suits those particular, specific needs. Grandcare told me that the best way for the customer to get started with Grandcare and learn about the particular pricing is to contact Grandcare directly via a very short questionnaire. You can access the questionnaire here.

Grandcare told me that their goal is for each customer to get the perfect system that suits their need and the questionnaire is the first step in the process. After you submit the questionnaire, Grandcare will contact you directly.

After speaking with Grandcare, it was clear to me that they will not push you to buy more than you need. There is no obligation to buy and they are really good at answering your questions.

I am honored to have included GrandCare in the very first dedicated review site for Caregivers – Caregiver Reviews

Initially, we are only reviewing sites that we know really help Caregivers and improve their quality of life and the quality of life of their loved ones.

Caregivers are extremely busy and we will not waste their time telling
them what not to read – rather we are focusing only on sites like GrandCare – that truly help Caregivers everyday…

Sincerely,

Michael Neuvirth
Founder
Caregiver Reviews
www.caregiverreviews.com

Grandcare’s system gives Caregivers peace of mind – plus the entertainment and socialization features are great for your loved ones. So, just for this – I highly recommend that you check it out further.

The Next Step Please visit Grandcare’s website, submit the questionnaire and learn more about Grandcare yourself.

Take a look at Michael’s full review of the GrandCare System.

City of West Bend chooses GrandCare as the Growing Local Business of the Month

GrandCare Systems has been announced as the City of West Bend’s Growing Local Business of the month for March 2013.

City-of-West-Bend---Color-editableRU1flatjpg

 

The Department of Development implemented the Growing Local Business program to recognize businesses that are important to the community.  GrandCare Systems has a large international reach and is doing really advanced things.  GrandCare Systems really impressed one of the Dept of Development members who then nominated GrandCare for Business of the Month.

“The technology GrandCare Systems employs enables individuals needing assistance to remain safe, healthy, and happy in their home.  The business’ cutting-edge technology, growing international reach and list of awards are extraordinary.  I am sure great things are to come from this small business.”

– Kraig K. Sadownikow, Mayor, West Bend WI

The Department of Development implemented the Growing Local Business program to recognize businesses that are important to the community.

GrandCare Systems will be featured in a shadowbox at the West Bend City Hall for the month of March to showcase GrandCare’s award.

GrandCare – A “must have” for We Care Adult Day Care

We_care_LogoWe Care Adult Care, Inc, is an adult day care whose purpose is to Provide Care, Promote Excellence, Preserve Independence to all seniors who attend our program. Rated #1 Senior Day Care in Monmouth County.

We Care uses two GrandCare Systems® in their facility.  The first system, a GC-Trillium, is utilized in the community room displayed on 2 T.V. sets donated by Harper Technology Group. These T.Vs show the centers events and a variety a images from the GrandCares slideshow and caregiver Facebook profiles . GrandCare’s music programs, powered by CoroHealth, provides music throughout facility through a distributed speaker system. Group picture sharing and family email activities are scheduled to be added to the center’s services within a few months.

The second system, a GC-HomeBase,  is in the nurses office and will be used for multiple residents with telehealth devices and for the nurse to share info with doctors helping the centers patients stay healthy, safer and independent longer!!!!

GrandCare Systems and We Care Adult Day Care Featured in “The County Woman”

The We Care Adult Day Care, Inc. located in Red Bank New Jersey, features the GrandCare System to help fulfill their mission “to maintain and preserve each member’s life by implementing services that will enhance and enable them to be the best they can be.” We Care was founded in 2000 by Tracey Wolfman and provides services for families who are looking after their aging loved ones. We Care incorporates the GrandCare System to help preserve the independence of their seniors.

Tracey Wolfman (left) and Debbie with their GrandCare System in the center's common room.

Tracey Wolfman (left) and Debbie with their GrandCare System

“The greatest benefit of this “must have” system is in its ease of use to maintain independent living at home through coordinated care and supervision. This multifaceted system has endless benefits that are truly appreciated with continued use.“

The full article can be found here, on page 37.

Tracey L. Wolfman a resident of Middletown for the last 40 years who always had a passion for senior citizens launched “We Care Adult Day Care” in 2000, Tracy is a registered Nurse with a Master’s in Nursing Administration from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. She has spent the last 26 years working with the elderly population specializing in Alzheimer’s disease.

Saga & GrandCare Featured on ITV

How technology is building a new old age

by Darren Burn: ITV News Producer

With 21 million people in the UK over the age of 50 – and with these figures expected to go up over the coming years – the need for care both at home and in hospital is increasing. Of more than 10,000 over 50s surveyed, 93% said they would much prefer to be cared for in their own home if the need were to arise.

Saga has just announced its partnership with US company GrandCare which make units specifically designed to enable the elderly to live in their own home longer.

The computers include sensors which detect if there has been no movement in a home for a defined period of time and will then alert a loved one or carer. The system can also recognize if the person has not taken their medication as well as take blood pressure and pulse readings, all the while updating families and health professionals.

The GrandCare System – which has been in use in the US since 2006 – uses a simple touch-screen interface which also allows video calling and games designed to keep the mind active. Saga has told ITV News that it hopes to release the first unit early this year.

Read the full article at: http://www.itv.com/news/2013-01-09/how-technology-is-building-a-new-old-age/