Tag Archive for: aging and technology

GrandCare Presents HIPAA Compliance Training, Sept 7th Indianapolis

CEDIA HIPAA Training Seminar:
When: Wednesday Sept 7, 2011  8am – 5p
Where: Indianapolis – Hotel to be announced
GrandCare Presents: 8 HOURS OF HIPAA Compliance Training
OPEN TO THE AGING/TECH INDUSTRY
Cost: $995 (includes 8 hours of training, training packet, refreshments, lunch and 2 drink tickets)
Discounts available to GrandCare Dealers& AgeTek Members
Refreshments & Lunch included in this day long session.

– WHAT is HIPAA?

– WHO needs to become HIPAA Compliant?

– WHY Become HIPAA Compliant?

– WHAT it takes to become HIPAA Compliant?

Led by GrandCare’s HIPAA Compliance Officer, Kristin Bayer.

Coffee Hour/Networking 8 – 9am

9a – 5p Training

530p – 8p GrandCare Mixer

Attendees receive 2 drink coupons for the GC Mixer (immediately following)

SIGN-UP BEFORE July 4th 2011 and receive a 20% discount

Limited Seating! Contact 262-338-6147 or info@grandcare.com

If you don’t get HIPAA compliance training through us, PLEASE get HIPAA training somewhere!!! 🙂

Two Brand New GrandCare Tours!

On May 11th and 16th Laura Mitchell of GrandCare systems hosted two brand new tours of GrandCare Systems both are recorded and available to view and download.

The first one is a step-by-step introduction showing us exactly what the GrandCare System is, a bit of GrandCare’s history and how it can be used to keep our loved one happy, safe and at home. She gives us an inside look at not only the touch screen, but also the caregivers side, GC Manage.

The second tour expands on the first and shows us how GrandCare can be used successfully in group living facilities as well as in private homes. Laura shows us the benefits of using GrandCare in these facilities along with some of the more advanced features which can take the system from a personalized touch screen to a fully featured and secure kiosk for multiple residents.

From the ATM like touch screen, to navigating the advanced features of the kiosk’s group set up; if you’ve been curious about GrandCare for personal use, a loved one, a possible business opportunity or even as an additional tool to use in an established group facility, now is your chance to get your sneak peak.

See these videos on Veoh

– GrandCare Systems™: Private Home Demo

– GrandCare Systems™: Multi-Resident Demo

Download/View directly from WebEx

Private Home Demo

Multi-Resident Demo

RECORDED TOUR of the GrandCare System!!!!

Did you miss today’s GrandCare Tour???  Below is some information that we went over during the TOUR!!!

Good news!  We have recorded it for your viewing!!!!!!! View and/or download HERE!

5-11-11 GrandCare TOUR Bus STOPS:

1. Meet the founder Charlie Hillman

2. West Bend, WI — Exploring the history of GrandCare

3. GrandCare Corp Showroom – Saw the various models and sensor types

4. Met Henry – a 72 year old male.

-Lives alone at Home

-Has the Interactive GrandCare System

– SKYPES with his grandkids

– Plays Solitaire on GrandCare

– Watches YouTube Videos, Checks Weather Reports, Looks at Photo Albums

– Manages his own wellness by taking his weight, blood pressure and glucose readings. System automatically tracks them.

– Does not have a personal computer and does not want one

5. Met Jane (Henry’s 50 year old daughter)

– Lives 8 miles from Henry

– Manages his vitals and looks at his glucose readings

– Receives Alerts at work

– Uploads all of her pics to Facebook (Automatically go to her dad’s system as well)

– SKYPES with her dad

6. Tour of the Virtual ONLINE Caregiver Interface

– Adding Communications to the GrandCare Screen or TouchScreen

– Looking at Graphs

– Setting up Rules/Parameters

7. Question/Answers

What is GrandCare and How do I use it?

GrandCare Systems Special Event!

Tomorrow, Wed May 11th

3p ET/ 2p CT / 1p MT / 12p PT

 Join us http://grandcaresystems.webex.com

  • Learn about how GrandCare started in 2005

  • Informative overview of the System Components

  • See a LIVE Demo of the Online User Interface

  • Participatate in an interactive Question/Answer Session

See our full E-invitation HERE

Why you should attend the Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit

The Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit & Business Plan Competition is for entrepreneurs & venture capitalists who serve the baby boomer market. June 15/2011

This year, GrandCare’s VP of Marketing (Laura Mitchell) will be attending as a judge for the event.

This is another of Mary Furlong’s events and NOT TO BE MISSED!  Just finished attending the “What’s Next Boomer Summit” last week in San Francisco!  It was not only incredibly well organized, but fantastic speakers, panels and great networking!  Sponsored by AARP, United Health Group, Continuum Crew, Southwest Airlines, First Street, Caring.com and First Republic Bank.

TOP TEN REASONS TO ATTEND

Meet the venture capitalists and corporate venture capitalists who can fund your boomer/senior caregiving venture

  1. Learn how to accelerate sales in your boomer/senior caregiving venture
  2. Discover how to meet the caregiver customer online and through workforce channels
  3. Learn how to reach the boomer, senior and caregiver through print, online media and partnerships
  4. Discover the latest research about the 78 million-strong boomer market
  5. Meet the angels who fund early-stage ventures
  6. Gain the latest insights how corporations are using cause related marketing to serve the needs of boomers, seniors and caregivers
  7. Find out how to accelerate your AARP partnership; discover their latest market research
  8. Secure the funding base of your nonprofit organization by developing partnerships that work
  9. Network, network, network!

hosted by 

Register to attend: http://scuboomerventure.eventbrite.com/

THE 2011 SILICON VALLEY BOOMER VENTURE SUMMIT

June 14-15, 2011
Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA

AT THE 2011 SILICON VALLEY BOOMER VENTURE SUMMIT…

Network with the leading venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, researchers, analysts and marketers addressing the needs of the 50+ demographic as well as key members of the media who report on aging, health, finance, technology and care giving.
Hear about the latest trends in the field of aging from key strategic partners in the non-profit sector.
Discover the latest in mobile and digital advertising trends; the newest distribution channels in the start-up world; and the tips and tricks that will help you grow your business.

Nursing Home Alternative

A great piece from The Acorn News, written by Steve Holt

Adults with elderly parents who are frail can help them continue living at home, even if their mental or physical health is deteriorating.

It’s important for baby boomers to know about things like this. We may have a mom or a dad who is aging quickly, or we’re starting to think about our own vulnerabilities.

Also, there’s a chance we’ve visited an assisted-care facility. Even the nicer ones make us feel uncomfortable.

Too often we think of them as places where people go to die. Most of us would love to keep our parents in their own homes for as long as possible.

A new system, available at Evolution Independent Living in Agoura Hills, enables parents and caregivers to communicate with and monitor the health and activities of their older family members.

When a parent with declining health cannot care for themselves completely and an adult relative cannot help them full-time, we generally must choose from two options: 1. Place them in an assisted-living facility. 2. Hire full- or part-time caregivers.

Evolution Independent Living offers a third choice.

Jim Alexander, CEO of Evolution Independent Living, told me that a nursing home can cost between $6,000 and $20,000 per month, depending on the environment, amenities and services. Professional caregivers are also expensive, and the cost varies depending on their expertise and the number of hours they work.

HIGH-TECH—Above, Leon Frank with Evolution Independent Living shows how the GrandCare System transmits blood pressure rates.

An Evolution Independent Living

System ranges from $3,000 to $6,000, which includes installation and programming.

The final cost is determined by the system that’s needed and the size of the person’s home. Systems can also be leased for $150 to $400 per month for two to four years.

Alexander describes Evolution Independent Living as the “Grand- Care” system. It allows aging seniors to stay in their own home, instead of being forced to move into a new environment.

The centerpiece of the system is a 15-inch touch panel. It’s easily operated and is more user-friendly than a computer or a smartphone. The senior simply touches the screen to select topics such as email, news or entertainment. T h e touch panel can be equipped with a built in camera to accommodate two way Skype capability, so parents or caretakers can communicate via video.

Family members and caregivers can use computers, iPads or smartphones to access the system.

Children and grandchildren can send videos and digital images.

Small sensors keep track of all activity inside the home. If it’s Mom you’re looking after, you can tell when she went to bed, got up, her medicine or visited the bathroom.

If she has high blood pressure, the system can record it, and a graph will show her blood pressure for several months. The same information is available to a parent or caregiver on their remote device.

Mom wears a pendant around her neck. If she falls, she presses a button that sends an audible alarm through the system to designated caregivers or loved ones who are immediately alerted.

The alarm and message also appear on smartphones and computers.

If Mom is incontinent, a sensor in her bed can signal that she’s had “an accident,” so a caregiver can respond immediately.

A sensor at the door will tell when Mom leaves home and returns.

If Mom gets dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, she’ll need assisted living or full-time caregivers, but if her quality of life can be extended by staying at home for as long as possible, it’s worth considering.

Jim Alexander, CEO of Evolution Independent Living, demonstrates the brain exercise feature. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

The Evolution Independent Living System is on display in a simulated apartment. Call (818) 879-0240 to see it at Evolution Audio & Video, 5341 Derry Ave., Suite S, in Agoura Hills, east of Kanan Road, off Canwood Street, in the northwest corner of the complex.

Steve Holt, former Acorn editor who retired last September, can reached at stevencholt@gmail.com.

See the article here at  The Acorn.com

Informal NO-HOST AgeTek meet up planned April 27th, San Francisco before ASA!!!! ALL ARE WELCOME!

JOIN US!  All are welcome!  AgeTek Members and non members welcome!

No host Meet & Greet PRE-ASA Conference

Wednesday April 27th, 2011 7pm

Where: Johnny Foleys – http://www.johnnyfoleys.com

243 O’Farrell Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.954.0777

Why: To get together, network, learn more about the Aging Technology Alliance and have a good time.

NO RSVP needed!  Just stop in!

Hope to see you there!!!!

Laura Mitchell, VP Marketing, GrandCare Systems (AgeTek Board Director)

Laura Mitchell speaks at ASA on April 28th: The New Look of Technology for Older Persons

Going to ASA? M Listen as Laura Mitchell, Dr. Gene Aronin and Joel Shapira discuss the future of aging. Using technology to “age in place”

Thursday April 28, 2011: 1:00 PM  – 2:00 PM

TH495
Workshop
Hilton San Francisco Union Square hotel
Room: Yosemite A (Ballroom Level)
CEU Credits: 1

Description

Revolutionary new technology and its applications have changed the way older persons are cared for as they age at home, enabling them to remain independent and live more fulfilling lives, providing higher quality of care, assisting caretakers, facilitating the communication, and equalizing availability of quality care to all persons.

Objectives

1. Participants will recognize the social and health benefits of technological devices for the care and monitoring of elderly and their effects on enabling individuals to remain home as they age. Participants will be able to specify care scenarios in which technological devices could be used and select devices that would be applied.

2. Participants will identify resources for locating technology and give examples of technological devices and their sources, and innovations in new technology; state the benefits in bridging the digital gap to enable diversity in the availability of technology.

3. Participants will identify federal legislation and mandates influencing care of elderly such as remaining at home as much as possible, and coordination of caretakers and medical personal in sharing of information and roles and the practical effects upon the use of technology for care.

Housing, Accessibility and Technology

Technology, Technology and Health

Target Audience

Emerging Professional less than 5 years or Student
Established Professional 10 or more years in profession
Professional 5 to 9 years

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>

Thursday April 21st GrandCare Webinar – Dealing with Dementia

ATTENTION: These Webinars NOW MEET TWICE A MONTH!  The 1st & 3rd Thurs each month (Same time, same place).

We invite you to join in GrandCare’s Aging & Technology Industry Webinars.

All are welcome to join us! 1st & 3rd Thurs each month

Date:  Thursday, April 21 2011
Time:  2pm EDT (1pm CDT / 12p MDT / 11am PDT)
If you don’t have access to a computer and you would like to call in, please call
#1-408-600-3600        access code: 664 424 313
If you have any problems on webex, please call us at 262-338-6147
NOTE: If you are new to using Webex and you have questions, please contact us at info@grandcare.com. Some of the initial kinks have been fixed, so please try again. You may opt to ONLY dial in (number listed above)

Topic Description: Helping a Loved One Deal with Dementia

Dementia such as Alzheimer’s is scary, but let’s calm some fears. Seeing worrisome signs that point to a possible diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can be so frightening that many people avoid getting a diagnosis.  There is always hope, and we are getting much better at diagnosing and caring for elders with dementia, as well as the families and friends who love them.

Take-away Points:

1. We will learn why diagnosis and education are crucial to the well being of loved ones.

2. Educators are getting better at helping families and elders cope with dementia, so we’ll learn ways that families cope so their loved one can still live a happy, comfortable life.

3.  Even if the diagnosis is dementia, families are able to move forward to find the best possible ways to care for their loved one, as well as themselves.

Sponsored by “Love, Laughter and Mayhem” Author, Cindy Keith