Tag Archive for: Charlie Hillman

CEDIA Expo Tech Sessions to Focus on HDMI, Home Health


http://www.cepro.com/article/cedia_expo_tech_sessions_to_focus_on_hdmi_home_health/
Four free technology discussions in Atlanta will cover HDMI, digital home health, gaming/3D, tablet PCs and communications protocols.

By CE Pro Editors
August 04, 2010
Four panel discussions presented by the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) at CEDIA Expo 2010 (Sept. 22-26 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta) will shed light on some of the most talked-about issues in the electronic systems industry.

Expert-led panels will focus on opportunities in and the future of:
HDMI
Digital home health
Entertainment
Communications
The panel discussions are offered by CEDIA’s Technology Council in conjunction with the new Future Technology Pavilion at CEDIA Expo 2010. The Future Technology Pavilion will showcase cutting-edge technologies that are expected to impact the electronic systems industry in the coming months and years. The panel discussions will give CEDIA EXPO attendees a more in-depth perspective on the technologies and trends represented in the pavilion.

…
Digital Home Health: What It Is and How It Affects Us All, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Fri., Sept. 24, will cover the closely watched topic of home health care technology. Moderator Laura Mitchell of GrandCare Systems will lead a panel that includes experts from leading companies in the home health and senior care space.
…
Utz Baldwin, CEDIA CEO, says, “The discussions will allow industry professionals to get a closer look at the most anticipated technologies and trends in home technology.”

Catching up – more new and notable tech offerings

Catching up – more new and notable tech offerings
Submitted by Laurie Orlov on Tue, 08/10/2010 – 13:50
It’s time for a quick August update of more new and notable tech offerings, from emerging vendors and new offerings from existing vendors – including beta testing. Please let me know about others you know about and not spotted via the Product Snapshots term on this site:
…
GrandCare Systems (grandcare.com): GrandCare Systems has just launched HomeBase as an entry point “communication, socialization, webcam touch panel for sharing pictures, video, email, calendaring – and some dealers have included a concierge service request. Sensors can be integrated at a later point.” Charles Hillman, CEO.

3-18-10 AgeTech Topic: Senior Cyborg: THE RISE OF THE MACHINES!

3-18-10 SENIOR CYBORG: The Rise of the Machines. Charlie Hillman from GrandCare Systems speaks
When: Thursday, March 18th, 2010
2pm EST – 1pm CST – 12n MST – 11a PST

Where: http://my.dimdim.com/grandcare
DIAL IN IS OPTIONAL AND WILL BE LISTED ON THE WEBINAR

WHY: These aging and technology industry calls are open to the entire industry and meant to enhance awareness of this growing industry, educate each other and network!

Charlie Hillman has spent most of his career as an entrepreneur involved with disruptive technologies. His latest, GrandCare Systems, is designed to allow the aged to live longer at home with greater security and less social isolation. Using a combination of Smart Home technologies, ADL monitoring, Internet communications, and Tele-Wellness features, the system is intended to support an entire network of caregivers.

Ironically, the system uses cutting-edge technology to go back in time and empower families to remotely care for aging relatives. This innovative approach resulted in GrandCare being chosen as one of 30 organizations nationwide to participate in the once-a-decade, 2005 White House Conference on Aging Technology Pavilion.

Mr. Hillman is a professional engineer with a BS from MIT and a Masters in Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is a commissioner of CAST (Center for Aging Technologies) and a frequent speaker at national and international conferences.

Hope to see you there!

REMEMBER: the aging tsunami will float ALL boats!

GrandCare selected as Age in Place Tech Watch – vendor of the month

Aging in Place Technology Watch October Newsletter by Laurie Orlov: ageinplacetech.com

…Given the patient/people, our vendor of the month has got to be GrandCare Systems and Charlie Hillman (a co-panelist in Boston). GrandCare’s sensor-based monitoring system addresses the social, monitoring, caregiver, and health issues in a single system. This is a conceptual model that more vendors need to embrace. And if I can nominate a second one, it would be the very new FloH Club, launched help older people get help with technology like computers and networks…

Read the entire article here: http://www.ageinplacetech.com/newsletter/aging-place-technology-watch-october-newsletter

All the best wishes for a great November,
Laurie Orlov
www.ageinplacetech.com

Charlie Hillman Speaks on the “WISE HOME”

A transcript of Charlie’s speech from UCLA Conference on Technology and Aging – September 30th 2009

Beyond the Smart Home:
Aging in Place with a Wise Home
UCLA October 30, 2009
Aging is not for the faint of heart. As those among us with ever lightening or disappearing hair know, with age comes challenge. We become slower in both mind and body. We become weaker. We are more prone to physical ailments. Like I said, while it certainly beats the alternative, aging is not for wimps.

But for all the downsides of aging, almost every culture associates aging with greater wisdom, that ability to see the entire picture and make better decisions.
So as I thought about this topic, and more particularly why the market for technology for aging has not yet gone viral as many in this room, including me, had predicted, it dawned upon me that to really deliver on the promise of a happier, healthier, and safer age in place experience, our homes need to not only get smarter, they need to get wiser.

A smart home detects a fall and summons help.
A wise home embraces universal design and turns on a light to prevent that fall.

A smart home senses the onset of congestive heart failure and calls 911.
A wise home helps one manage their chronic condition.

A smart home detects wandering patterns associated with dementia.
A wise home encourages hydration, provides mental stimulation and social connectivity to delay the onset of dementia.

A smart home helps others to take care of you.
A wise home helps you take care of yourself.

And with hat tipped to my good friend, Laurie Orlov,
A smart home reduces one’s “burden” on society
A wise home allows everyone to be a productive member of society

Good Morning L&G, my name is Charlie Hillman. I’m from GrandCare Systems in West Bend, WI, and it’s a pleasure to be here today.

At GrandCare, we have a mantra – Age Responsibly.
No matter how prepared we think we are individually for our senior years, as a nation and indeed as world, we’re woefully unprepared. And it’s a crisis that is not obvious like a terrorist attack. It’s more like a stream of lava heading toward the village – slow, but just as devastating.
It’s a sad and embarrassing fact that without cultural change that embraces technology, my boomer generation runs the risk of bankrupting our children and grandchildren with our healthcare and long term care needs.
I am puzzled that in our healthcare debate, we focus so much on access for acute care, and who pays but very little on preventative measures.
Perhaps the best thing that President Obama could do for healthcare is to use his persuasive skills to define a new patriotism based tending to your own wellness. Altruism is at least as powerful an incentive as financial reward. Ask not what your country can do for you, put down that bacon cheeseburger and get on that treadmill. And for those who do not think that such social engineering can be effective, let’s consider the clean plate club, a great example of unintended consequences.
So I am bullish about the future.
We boomers have redefined culture in a variety of ways on our trip through the python, and I call on my generation to act once more. Now it is time to redefine aging: to make it better, more self sufficient, and above all cheaper.
Using technology for care is a no brainer. Machines are much cheaper than people.  Machines never take time off, they are totally nonjudgmental, we can easily create more, and they enable professional and familial caregivers to be efficient and effective, even from a distance.
But, let’s get back to that wisdom thing. Wisdom almost by definition entails a holistic view of things. And so it must be with technology. One trick pony gadgets will simply not suffice. The technology equivalent to a holistic approach is a systems approach, either a very fully featured system, or one with significant interoperability.

Five parts to a wise house wellness system:
1) Physiological sensing — easy, getting cheaper, simple vitals are understandable by most consumers, We see many examples out in the vendor displays. They must have user friendly displays, the ability to export, and some method for feedback. As an alpha site for GrandCare, I’ve taken my weight and blood pressure for the past three years. I am very attuned to what affects my blood pressure (cold medication and Chinese food).
I also have the system send me and my entire family congratulatory emails when I meet certain goals. I love getting those, my kids not so much.
2) Activity monitoring —  in deployments of GrandCare, we have seen many more medical problems inferred by activity vs vitals. Excessive bathroom visits point to a UTI, medication problems evidenced by altered sleep patterns, depression from lessened activity, dementia from late night door openings or wandering motion. At minimum, his information can corroborate vitals readings. While such monitoring is relatively easy and inexpensive, perhaps the biggest impediment has been a lack of standards. When we first started GC…
3) Social connectivity  We live in an age of unparalleled connectivity. There is no excuse for the loneliness and social isolation that has characterized aging in place, particularly after the loss of a spouse or the dispersal of families. We have the Internet, and now we deserve age appropriate interfaces for access, perhaps fewer and larger buttons on a touch screen monitor, or synthesized voice for the vision impaired. At the same time, home technologies must support the latest trends. You may not desire a Twitter cell phone, but your granddaughter will, and if you want to hear from her, you better have something that can handle texting (OMG LOL) and an interface to Facebook or MySpace.  Consider it your responsibility to maintain communications with your grandchildren.  Society throughout the ages has benefitted by adding a dose of senior wisdom to the energy and exuberance of youth.  We must stay in touch and it must be with the tools of the young. Plus it’s big fun.
4) Cognitive Assist  — Sensing wellness or activity can provide the remote familial caregiver with a certain peace of mind, but doesn’t really help much unless there is some sort of feedback to the senior. If a sensor tells us that a pill drawer was not opened at the right time, we can be pretty sure medication was not taken. The point is not to just know this. The point is to help the senior manage their own affairs. So certainly, after a hour drive a reminder to the TV. After another hour, give the senior a call with a reminder. Only after that should we get the caregiver involved. Once again, we need an age appropriate interface. As one ages, they tend to forget what they most recently learned. So, TV, phone. R2D2 pill dispenser will probably be unplugged. Malta.
5) Home control – These are traditional smart home functions: control lights/temperature. This speaks less to chronic condition than to accidents. One of the leading drivers to assisted living is falls. So, as long as we are putting a smart system in, why not turn on a light at night when someone gets out of the bed. Mitigate falls, cognitive assist. It’s easy and effective and its green.
Thank you

– A transcript of Charlie Hillman’s speech at the UCLA conference last Friday September 30th.

Recap of Connected Health Symposium by Donna Cusano

http://www.telecareaware.com/index.php/connected-health-symposium-thu22-2009.html
Thurs 22 October: Afternoon and Final

The final full breakout I attended was also with Laurie Orlov (aka Agent 99) here very firmly in her space – Get (Your House) Smart: Aging in Place, at Home, Aided by Technology. Joined by Charles Hillman of GrandCare Systems, Joe Coughlin, PhD of MIT AgeLab, Tom Ryden of North End Technologies and moderated by Marc Holland of System Research Services, this panel had much to say in their 50 minutes and could have easily filled an additional engaging 15.

This area is where much real-world tech is happening, but adoption has a long way to go.

The ‘smart house’ for Dr. Coughlin is the nexus of innovation, hardware, software and health information. It is not about devices but lifestyle and services, not about making up for health ‘loss’ but ‘gain’. The current business model is now oriented to what Medicare will reimburse (not much) and nothing is right in terms of the technology. Right now it is all about a home for those who are obviously old and frail – the paradox is that if you design a home for them, no one will buy it, including the old and frail.

Mr. Hillman approached the smart house as (Gregory) House – we’ve become masters of acute care, but not very good at assisting independent living and aging ‘responsibly’. Systems should be designed holistically and include 1) physiologic sensing (vital signs), 2) activity monitoring, 3) social connectedness and 4) home controls that light rooms at night, turn on outside lights, etc. The service he developed, GrandCare, has incorporated all four.

The smart home in Ms. Orlov’s view uses technology to more tightly connect the senior to others and to be safe, through communications and engagement, home safety and security, health and wellness and continuous learning and participation in social networks. Older people ARE interested in technology – broadband is being adopted by them in increasing numbers. But it has to be acceptable to the senior and can’t be imposed by family.

Mr. Ryden added robotics to the smart home, especially the development of small robots that can aid in everyday activities (versus the Japanese model of robopets for socialization).

Mr. Hillman pointed out that ADL (activities of daily living) monitoring is growing; currently it is largely a private pay service as LTC insurance and Medicare do not pay for it at present. LTC insurance should be paying for monitoring and other smart home assistive services, as they do for home care.

Homes, especially in this tired market, need something extra to sell and older homes need to upgrade; as Mr. Ryden put it, the ideal for technology would be ‘available at Best Buy’ and reimbursable. But the potential disrupters – home builders and remodelers–seem to avoid the older market except for ‘senior communities.’ Ms. Orlov described attempting to work with builders in her state, Florida, to create a ‘smart home’ demo incorporating universal design and technology in one of those plentiful unsold homes, and amazingly has not succeeded as of yet. (Keep trying, Laurie!)

NORCs – naturally occurring retirement communities – often need upgrading. And alternatives such as ‘intentional communities’ must be explored for the rising single population, especially those in the suburbs and exurbs. If they would realize it, the real disrupters and the new model may be via home builders, retailers and (Dr. Coughlin) utility companies. (In the US utilities are increasing selling ‘value added’ in products and services.)

Current technology is NOT fun, interactive or particularly desired to consumers. If it were, it could be a lot more appealing and useful. So where are the game designers? In fact, as Ms. Orlov pointed out, the terminology – aging – is terrifying; large companies are avoiding it in their messaging and we don’t have good terminology to replace it. Her final note: ‘patients’ are really people, and we should be referring to them that way.

A tip of the hat to Laurie Orlov’s Aging In Place Technology blog and her POV on the Symposium

Upcoming Aging/Tech Webinar Topics – Mark your Calendar!!

NEW!!!!!! Starting April 1st, 2011 – we will be meeting only twice a month for these webinars.  We will meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month!!!

Where: http://grandcaresystems.webex.com Note: If this is your first time using Webex, please note you may have to install an updated version of Java and an Active X PlugIn. We advise logging into the webinar early your first time to ensure ample time to configure your audio and get a feel for the new service. Thank you!  If you are not already on our mailing list – sign up here

When: the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 2pm Eastern Time / 1pm Central / 12n Mountain / 11a Pacific

There is a dial-in number for those who cannot join the webinar (emailed to the participants before the webinar). To sign up for our Aging/Tech Webinar Mailings, email us (info @ grandcare.com)

All are welcome to join us! Calls created & hosted by GrandCare Systems (since 2008).  Sponsored by various industry participants

These calls are possible because of our industry sponsors! Sponsor a webinar for only $50 and get your info and logo sent out to over 1500 mailing participants and receive 3-5 minutes on the webinar to promote your product/services. To sponsor: sign up here

Scheduled Topics (to get on the schedule, contact info(at)grandcare.com)

4-21-11 TOPIC: Cindy Keith, Certified Dementia Practitioner from www.mindinmemorycare.com and author of “Love, Laughter, & Mayhem –

Caregiver Survival Manual For Living With a Person With Dementia” speaks.

5-5-11 Pricing Your Technology Solution: The MILLION Dollar Question. Panelists, Laurie Orlov, Charlie Hillman discuss what you should and shouldn’t do when pricing your technology to customers.

5-19-11 Beating Gravity: Avoiding Falls with Elders: Dr. Rein Tideiksaar speaks.

6-2-11 TOPIC OPEN

6-16-11 TOPIC OPEN

7-7-11 John Boden from Elder Issues speaks

7-21-11 TOPIC OPEN

ABOUT YOUR HOST:   Laura Mitchell, VP of Marketing for GrandCare Systems, started these calls in April of 2008 to educate dealers, network with other vendors,  promote awareness & share good information.  GrandCare is a communication, cognition, socialization and remote wellness/Activity of Daily Living monitoring system that helps individuals remain  independent, healthy, happy, mentally sharp & connected to family- no matter where they choose to live.  Age Responsibly with GrandCare Systems. www.grandcare.com  To become a GrandCare Dealer, contact us dealers(at)grandcare.com

Previous Topics

2011

1-6-11 TOPIC: LIVE FROM

1-13-11 TOPIC: Arthur R. Kupperman from My Senior Portal speaks

1-20-11 TOPIC: Jane Regan speaks on Aging Gracefully: Designing Baths with style and safety for your future.

1-27-11 TOPIC: Stacey Pierce from The Oaks speaks

2-3-11 TOPIC: Lori Bitter from Continuum Crew speaks Targeting the NEW Mature Customer

2-10-11 TOPIC: Jerry Biese from Genworth Life Insurance Company speaks

2-17-11 TOPIC: Industry Roundtable (first time on WebEx)

2-24-11 TOPIC: From a Pharmacist’s Perspective: Understanding and Improving Medication Adherence. Julie Fulmer-Mason from MedFolio speaks, sponsored by MedFolio

3-3-11 TOPIC: Living in Assisted Living at 42. Steve Gurney from Guide to Retirement Living Sourcebook speaks. This webinar is sponsored by Guide to Retirement Living Sourcebook

3-10-11 TOPIC: Richard Anthony from GRAND Media speaks

3-17-11 TOPIC: LIVE FROM EHX!

3-24-11 TOPIC: Mark Shea from North Cascade Right at Home speaks, “Home Care in the 21st Century”, sponsored by Home Controls

3-31-11 TOPIC: Cathy Majkowski from Home Instead Senior Care speaks, sponsored by Presto

4-7-11 TOPIC: 10 Ways to Break Into the Home Health Industry & Dealer-to-Dealer Panel  – – Laura Mitchell, Peter Radsliff, Bob Levy & Tom Morgan speak, sponsored by CEDIA

2010

1-7-10 LIVE FROM CES

1-14-10 Jack York CEO of It’s Never too Late, Speaks on Social Connectivity & Brain Stimulation

1-21-10 Julie Sipchen of the National Alzheimer’s Association speaks on the educational component on dementia as well as talk about the new Comfort Zone program.

1-28-10 Mike Dempsey of Independence Labs speaks on Fall Detection (Fall Sensors)

2-4-10 Terry Campbell, Atty at Law speaks on ElderCare and the natural synergy between Elder Law & Tech Providers 2-11-10 Terry Lynch author of “But I don’t Want ElderCare” speaks.. So You Don’t Want “Eldercare”? − Beware These Aging Myths!

2-18-10 Dan Dunlop CEO of Jennings speaks on Social Marketing & Media in the HealthCare Industry

2-25-10 Carolyn Sithong, an Occupational Therapist from Home for Life Design, will share an OT’s view on Aging-in-Place (AIP)

3-4-10 Patricia Grace, founder of Aging with Grace speaks

3-11-10 CloseBy Network speaks on monitoring technologies

3-18-10 SENIOR CYBORG: The Rise of the Machines. Charlie Hillman from GrandCare Systems speaks

3-25-10 LIVE FROM the Electronic House Expo (Orlando) Home Health technology pavilion

4-1-10 Neil Grabowski, CEO of Celery speaks on the value of customer service

4-8-10 Martin Diano, founder of Boomer Authority speaks on social media

4-15-10 Peter Radsliff (Presto) and Laura Mitchell (GrandCare Systems) present on HOW to dive into this 20 billion dollar aging & technology industry.  (A reprise from EHX 2010)

4-22-10 AgeTek Alliance Informational Member Session! Find out what this new alliance is all about and how YOU can join the vision!

4-29-10 Monica Anderson (formerly of Dakim), speaks on the importance of mental fitness

5-6-10 Patrece Banks, Invisible Caregiver, speaks on the medical device/assistive tech device issue

5-13-10 John Boden, ElderIssues, speaks on the Last Inch of Caregiver Data Transmission

5-20-10 Michele Ahlman, President of ClearSounds Communications, Inc. speaks on hearing/vision loss detection and methods for communication

5-27-10 Steve Abate, VRI, speaks on Telehealth and home safety for seniors.

6-3-10 Sponsored by PRESTO!  TOPIC:  The importance of social media and marketing to the Boomer Woman (Stephen Reily, VibrantNation.com, speaks)

6-10-10 Sponsored by Home Controls TOPIC: Roundtable discussion on the varied approach and process  of selling  to the aging population

6-17-10 Sponsored by FineThanx

co-sponsored by Celery & Clearsounds Communications

TOPIC: Dale Carter, Transition Aging Parents, speaks on “Elder Abuse” – Why you NEED to hear this

6-24-10 Sponsored by FineThanx

co-sponsored by Halo Monitoring and The Aging & Technology Alliance (AgeTek)

TOPIC: Maria Tadd, author of “Happiness Is Growing Old at Home”, speaks on various high-tech devices that will help seniors at home as well as in facilities

7-1-10 Sponsored by Home Controls

co-sponsored by Harper Technology Group & The Aging and Technology Alliance (AgeTek)

TOPIC: Debra Young, EmpowerAbility, CAPS and LIVEABLE DESIGN

7-8-10 Sponsored by Celery

co-sponsored by AARP Orlando@50+, Home Controls.

TOPIC: Lori Bitter, Continuum Care Crew,  Learn the misconception about how mature couples make their purchase decisions and why it is all about functionality, not features, that lead to adoption and a consumer devoted to your product.

7-15-10 Sponsored by Home Controls

co-sponsored by Celery & ClearSounds

TOPIC: Tessa Ten Tuscher, CEO of Living Well at Home speaks on The Assisted Living at Home Model of Care

7-22-10 Sponsored by Presto!

co-sponsored by ClearSounds & AgeTek

TOPIC: Shana Duthie, CEO of Nurture Connect, speaks on customer sales & service. You only have one chance to make a first impression

7-29-10 TOPIC:Rita Kobb, MN, APRN-BC,  VHA Telehealth Services speaks on care coordination and home telehealth in VHA Sponsored by Dr. Gene Loeb Aronin, co-sponsored by ClearSounds

8-5-10 TOPIC:Aging & Technology RoundTable: A Brainstorming Session, Sponsored by Worthington, co-sponsored by Presto!and GrandCare Systems

8-12-10 TOPIC: Mark Stowers, Comfort Keepers, discusses the circle of life & why home-based care providers and technology have synergy Sponsored by Ho’okele, co-sponsored by GrandCare Systems

8-19-10 TOPIC: Laurie Orlov, Aging in Place Technology Watch speaks on Caregiving Technology — What’s New? Sponsored by Added Care Services co-sponsored by Celery & Home Controls.

8-26-10 TOPIC: Social Media 2.0 – Peter from Presto explains, Sponsored by Presto! co-sponsored by Home Controls

9-2-10 TOPIC: Technology & Aging: The Value Proposition Ken Kerr speaks Sponsored by Home Controls

9-9-10 TOPIC:Building a New Aging Continuum – Art Carr speaks, Sponsored by Dakim

9-16-10 TOPIC: State-Level Aging Services Technology Provider And Policy Initiatives, Scott Peifer (CAST) Speaks Sponsored by Worthington Distribution

9-23-10 Sponsored by Home Controls TOPIC: LIVE FROM CEDIA!!

9-30-10 Sponsored by Presto! TOPIC: Aging in Place, Louis Tenenbaum speaks

10-7-10 TOPIC: Holistic Approach to Aging in Place, Charlie Hillman from GrandCare speaks

10-14-10 TOPIC: Videocalling for Seniors by Serge Kogan, g2gConnect

10-21-10 TOPIC: Dr. Barbara Harper from Harper Technology Group speaks on “GrandCare Systems and a Framework for Generational Understanding”

10-28-10 TOPIC: Liddy Manson from BeClose Speaks -Solving the Conundrum of Aging in Place Safely              11-11-10 TOPIC: Mary Furlong speaks on New revenue streams for your aging in place business Sponsored by Dr Marion E-Learning for Caregivers

12-2-10 TOPIC: Susan Ayers Walker discusses the Silver Tsunami & how your company can benefit

11-25-10 NO CALL! Happy Thanksgiving!!

11-18-10 TOPIC: Julie Jacobson, Editor of CE PRO speaks

12-9-10 TOPIC: Laurie Orlov speaks on 10 tips for launching a new product or service. http://www.ageinplacetech.com/blog/ten-tips-launching-new-product-or-service

12-16-10 TOPIC: Shana Duthie from Nuture Connect shares: Direct Sales – Why it works.

2009

10-29-09 Patrece Banks of Invisible Caregiver speaks on Assistive Technology, the knowledge gaps, risk management issues & medical devices

11-5-09 Susan Ayers Walker of Smart Silvers Alliance: The Silver Summit and trends in the aging market

11-12-09 Serge Kogan speaks“Who sells what to whom in the remote patient-monitoring market”

11-19-09 Peter Radsliff, founder of Presto

12-3-09 Barbara Friesner, AgeWise Living

12-10-09 Roundtable Sales Discussion

12-17-09 Carol Marak: Strategic Online Marketing