Tag Archive for: GrandCare Systems

Finding Opportunities for Health Care Technology Integration – Residential Systems Reports

Lee from Residential Systems does a nice job of discussing the opportunities in Digital Home Health. GrandCare’s VP of Marketing, Laura Mitchell & CEDIA’s Dave Pedigo weigh in on the dealer/integrator opportunities in home health technology and why the in-home health care providers should be listening…  NOTE: the technology called Health Fronts, should be HealthSense

RX Integration
By Lee Distad, September 6, 2011

Full story: http://residentialsystems.com/article/63422.aspx

inding Opportunities for Health Care Technology Integration

Technology is getting to the point where in-home technology can do things that help medical professionals monitor their patients remotely, long term.

In the AV and automation channels there are categories that are widely adopted, such as AV distribution, as well as ones that are less so, such as energy management. At least at present, home health care is a category that is in the latter group. But a partnership between CEDIA and manufacturers of these technologies is seeking to make it both better known and a successful profit center for integrators.

CEDIA’s director of technology, Dave Pedigo, has been personally embedded in home health care research for the past year. As he puts it, “The elevator to get on and understand the category would be to take away the technology for a second and look at sheer numbers: there are 100 million in the U.S. alone who are reaching retirement age. At the same time there’s a serious shortage of doctors: as many as 150,000 fewer than needed according to the Wall Street Journal.”

With the growth of an elderly population and decreasing number of medical professionals, the question becomes how that disparity is going to be handled. Pedigo explained that, “Technology is getting to the point where we can do things that help the medical professionals.” By which he means the ability to remotely monitor patients, long term.

The home health care market is very much in its infancy, according to Laura Mitchell, VP of marketing for GrandCare Systems. Although she warns that it’s not as undeveloped as some people might believe. “Maybe it’s better to say that it’s an adolescent with braces,” she joked, going on to assert that the category has been around for some while now and is seeing more vendors and more advanced technology.

Mitchell explained that when GrandCare was being developed in 2005 there were only three major players: GrandCare, QuietCare, which is now a part of GE, and Health Fronts. While educating the market is still ongoing, Mitchell said that it was more of an uphill back then, requiring her to get out in the field, telling people that the technology exists, and getting health-care professionals to accept it. “I went from place to place,” she said, “including long-term and in-home care providers, many of whom saw us as competition.”

Mitchell said that her mission was to teach health-care professionals that home health-care technologies are supplemental to the health-care workers, and not a replacement for the human touch. “A baby monitor is not a replacement for a mother,” Mitchell said, noting, “Our products enable a better standard of care and a bigger picture of wellness.” For example, a computer algorithm can see patterns of behavior and vital signs that a family member or in-home care provider might miss. That said, the system is simply reporting information. “The smartest part of the system is the caregiver who’s making assessments based on that information.” She concludes.

GrandCare Systems’ Laura Mitchell said that her mission has been to teach health-care professionals that home health-care technologies are supplemental to the health-care workers, and not a replacement for the human touch.

What it Means to Integrators

So why should integrators consider home health care? According to Mitchell, with an aging boom under way in the USA “This is something that has to happen, and must happen to assist Americans coping with the aging boom.”

According to Mitchell, there is a lot of education that needs to be done. As far as people outside the industry are concerned, home health care is synonymous with PERS, the Personal Injury Service, and better known by the iconic commercial tagline, “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” Mitchell said. “One of the biggest hurdles is explaining that this category is more than that. With crisis management, you push a button and something happens. But that’s a reactive technology. Other solutions, such as what GrandCare focuses on are proactive, preventative solutions.”

It’s Mitchell’s assertion that prospective clients should not wait until an emergency to get a home health-care system in place. Rather, that they should be looked at in the context of ongoing wellness; using the feedback and data from the system for preventative care. “Think of these systems as being in place as ‘no news is good news’ systems,” she explained.

Technology continues to progress, with recent innovations including medication management and GPS-enabled reporting, for tracking when a subject has gone beyond their normal parameters.

“Some of the medication technology can dispense medication at the right time and provide health and dose advice,” Mitchell explained.”

Although she points out that without a throat camera, there is no verification that the meds have been swallowed. Even then, technology is being developed with tablets that can alert the system that they’ve been dissolved. While that remains a future technology, monitors that track blood pressure, bodyweight, movement around the house, including frequency of bathroom breaks, and sleep patterns exist now, and these provide care givers with a more complete picture of a subject’s well-being.

Pedigo suggested that there are dual issues in play that make home health care ideal for integrators. The first is that there is a large potential client base, which translates to lucrative recurring revenue opportunities. The other is the nature of the technology itself.

“I don’t think it can be cookie cutter, which makes it ideal for integrators; we’re used to installing motions and dry contacts, and we’re already installing other systems,” Pedigo noted.

CEDIA’s Role

So what’s CEDIA doing to help raise awareness of home health care with integrators? “Well, we’re doing a couple of things,” Pedigo replied. “We’ve formed the Home Health Advisory Group, which comprises manufacturers that are advising us on what we should be doing for the industry, and helping CEDIA develop training materials.”

GrandCare Systems Laura Mitchell says that one of the biggest hurdles to selling home health-care category, is explaining that it’s more than just, “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” technology synonymous with with PERS, the Personal Injury Service.

A big part of CEDIA’s outreach is clarifying what home health care really means. “We’re taking this nebulous concept and honing it so that our members can sell it,” Pedigo explained.

At the moment, the home health-care field is wide open, yet with risks and unknowns that integrators will need to sort out.

“I think that at the moment there are few specific certifications involved, but I can foresee that changing,” Mitchell said. However, she pointed out that if integrators get involved with offering any healthcare devices, like blood pressure monitors, they have to be HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant.

“GrandCare has a HIPAA compliance officer, and we are teaching a course on this on September 7, 2011, before CEDIA EXPO begins,” Mitchell noted. This introductory course is an eight-hour session that covers everything integrators need to do to receive HIPAA certification. HIPAA compliance means that vendors are unable to sell to a dealer unless that dealer has achieved certification.

Mitchell also noted that integrators need to address the category with their commercial insurance provider, and be prepared to educate them. “From an insurance point of view there really are no rules yet,” she said. “The insurance companies still view it as a crisis system, like fire alarms, even though it isn’t that at all.”

Integrators may need to explain to their insurance carriers that they aren’t selling lifesaving devices; they are selling wellness devices.

And the business model itself may be more “industrial” than retail. Rather than being a quickbuck business, it requires cultivating connections in the health-care field and a potentially large list of decision makers who need to agree to the installation, including health care professionals and family members.

“Our dealers have an average of three meetings with the principal decision makers before a sale is made,” Mitchell said. “It’s not a quick cold call.”

As a result, she strongly recommends partnering with a care provider that specializes in aging, whether in a long-term care or a home-care capacity. Those partners understand how to have this conversation with prospective clients without sounding like a door-to-door salesman. “Dealers should stick to what they’re best at, which is the installation” Mitchell said. “A person who is used to dealing with the elderly has the patience and empathy that will help build your credibility.”

Lee Distad (www.leedistad.com) is an Edmonton, Alberta-based writer.

 

9-15-11 Aging &Technology Webinar – Technology in Senior Housing: Marketing Supportive Technology

See our newsletter Here

Thursday September 15th Aging/Technology Webinar:

Date: Thursday, September 15th, 2011
Time: 2pm EDT (1pm CDT / 12p MDT / 11am PDT)
Location: http://grandcaresystems.webex.com

Topic: Technology in Senior Housing: Marketing Supportive Technology

Though existing and emerging technology has great potential in improving the quality of care in senior housing, providers continue to face barriers in implementing the supportive technologies in these settings.  In this webinar, we will discuss known obstacles and describe effective ways of modifying a sales presentation to focus on the benefits to counter the barriers based on the specific needs of your audience.

Take Away Points:

  1. Accurately report benefits and challenges of implementing technology into a care plan
  2. Adapt to meet needs
  3. Quality training crucial for success

Our Speaker: Amber Lee, Prelude

As a leader in Prelude’s At Home initiative, Amber is responsible for identifying and delivering innovative solutions that improve care delivery and increase the quality of life for each family she serves.  Her dedication to creating meaningful relationships drives the extraordinary customer service that is the Prelude standard. Amber has a distinctive background in serving others who are navigating transitional decisions.  Years of working intimately with families in challenging situations has contributed to her aptitude for understand and empathizing with clients.  She has a unique ability to match technology offerings and care strategies to real life circumstances and is able to offer a fresh approach in responding to family concerns while balancing quality, efficiency, and less costly care options.

“I feel blessed that my love of people, particularly elders, has turned into a gratifying career.  I have the pleasure of interfacing with and educating families on the available resources to help mom and dad live in their own homes.”

Our Sponsor: GrandCare Systems

GrandCare combines aspects of “Smart Home” automation technology, internet communications, social networking designed for residents, telehealth assessment, activity of daily living monitoring, cognitive assists, medication management and two-way video chat technologies, into a flexible, user friendly and affordable package. Available since 2006, GrandCare Systems offers the most comprehensive and fully featured aging and technology system on the market today.

Want to be kept up to date on all things aging and technology?

Join our mailing list.

Brand New GC Med Tablet Unveiled at CEDIA: GrandCare Systems booth 4754

GrandCare is thrilled to unveil our latest portable tablet – GC Med Tablet at CEDIA!
Once again, GrandCare is proud to again sponsor the Future Tech Home Pavilion at CEDIA: BOOTH 4754.
GrandCare will also be moderating several of the Home Health Technology Sessions and GrandCare’s VP of Marketing, Laura Mitchell, will be leading a seminar on the How-To’s of in home health technology sales.

Portable GC Med Tablet

The GrandCare System will be shown in 2 locations on the CEDIA show floor and there will be three GrandCare Stocking Distributors exhibiting and ready to answer your questions at CEDIA: Home Controls (4754), JNL Technologies (4754) and Worthington Distribution (430)

The Future Home will be displaying a GrandCare System HomeBase along with a full range of sensor options including motion, indoor temp, door, bed/chair, telehealth (BP, Weight, Pulseox), Stove/Appliance Monitor, RxTender Medication Sensor, Big Red Buttons and more… You will also see the brand new GC Med Tablet within the Future Home Pavilion.

The show floor is open Thursday/Friday 9a – 6p – Saturday 9a – 5p

If you would simply like a demonstration of the system, you can stop by anytime or shoot an email to any of our authorized distributors to arrange a personal meeting.
1. JNL Technologies (www.jnltech.net) Booth 4754
2. Worthington Distribution (www.worthdist.com) Booth 430
3. Home Controls: Home Health Tech (gcdealers@homecontrols.com) Booth 4754

– For a Full Listing of Home Health Tech Events led by GrandCare Systems at CEDIA: http://grandcare.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/mark-your-calendars-home-health-tech-events-at-cedia-2011/

– Meet The GrandCare Staff & fellow AgeTek members for an informal No-Host mixer on Wednesday Sept 7th, 6-8p Pullman’s Lounge, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 123 Louisiana Ave

See you in Indy!!!!

Signs and Symptoms of Functional Decline

3 Common Signs of Functional Decline…and Technology Assists

In the article, Ryan discusses the common signs of functional decline, what to look for – signs to be aware of. He says “Studies have documented that functional decline, i.e., the loss of either complex or basic ADL functions is due to changes in one or more of six areas: physical, perceptual, cognitive, visual and hearing, falling and psychological…”

He focuses on the first three in this blog post (I expect another blog post to follow with the next three)

I am always interested in looking at common factors as we age, and how technologies like GrandCare and others on the market along with a combination of caregiving techniques and supervised care can help in ways to prevent, deter and treat.

1. Physical Decline

Obviously, this happens as we get older. I already notice that I am sorer after running or exercising, I recall a day when I didn’t even think of stretching before or after exercise and today I certainly feel the consequences if I fail to do the recommended body stretching. So, how does losing physical strength, balance, stamina and coordination affect us? It could make a fall more possible, it could prevent the exercise needed to maintain muscle strength, it could encourage more napping. So, what do we do?  Well, obviously, home modification is a big one. We can have wider accessible doorways and ramps, so it’s easier to get around if/when a walker is needed as well as a wheelchair. The inability to walk no longer makes us automatically a candidate for facility life.  We can have systems like GrandCare automatically turn on a light if/when we get out of bed during the night (to mitigate nighttime falls). We can eliminate floor rugs – eliminate the slipping factors involved.  We can set up a GrandCare remote monitoring system, to indicate to caregivers that a loved one may not be moving around as frequently, perhaps is sleeping more, not getting out of a chair the entire day, and even can indicate if movement stops (potentially a fall?)

2. Perceptual Changes

Ryan discusses perceptual changes as “all the senses: vision, hearing, sensitivity to touch, taste – even smell. After all, each is important to overall well-being. If you can’t smell smoke, you may lose your life to a house fire; if your sense of touch is diminished by poor circulation, you may be burned by scalding water”.  So, the nice thing about certain technologies is being able to alert others of potential “hazards”. Technologies can alert family members if the temperature gets too warm or too cold in the home. A GrandCare stove detector could indicate to the Loved One (through alarms, phone calls, etc) that the stove was left on too long or could call a nearby caregiver or neighbor…

Ryan talks about medications sometimes being responsible for changes. Technology can be a great assist in not only medication management (GrandCare can make a phone call, email, text if meds are not taken), but also can give a bigger picture image of how medications might be affecting a loved one. A Florida GrandCare client recently called and tearfully told me that her mother was declining and it seemed as though she had “sundowners”. She knew this because of the GrandCare motion graphs that showed a lack of movement during the day, agitated sleep patterns, activity throughout the night (whereas her mother used to just get up one time a night and soundly sleep the rest). My Florida client took the print out of these motion graphs to a doctor to get his opinion. She and he were both shocked to make the correlation between a medication change (heart medication change) for her mother and the dramatic change in activity/sleep patterns.  He made a tweak to her medications and it made a world of a difference. This is what we’re talking about! This is what makes coming to work worthwhile for me — seeing a true change that technology can make for people, make their lives better, brighter and help caregivers making them into SUPER CAREGIVERS!

3. Cognitive Changes

Ryan discusses losing the ability to focus or multi-task. The inability to remember things short term. Well, I can say that as I’ve aged, I have experienced this a bit! I remember after having my first baby boy blaming my Mom-nesia for things. The reasons? Lack of sleep? Lack of attention (I was pretty focused on the present and making sure I did everything right, I didn’t have the time nor the care to focus on other things). I think this is pretty typical. We forget things as we have to focus on other things, we are compensating every day!  I use my alarm clock every morning, I use my google calendar to remind me of my daily activities – pretty sure if I didn’t have that I’d miss every appointment on my calendar. I use my colleagues, I use my family and my husband to continually provide cognitive assists for me, so I can remember to do things. The fridge still has shopping lists posted, so I don’t forget to grab them. We all need this.  Using technologies, we can provide these services remotely for our loved ones. Providing a TO DO list on a virtual “Bulletin board” makes a lot of sense.  Perhaps a display of today’s events. The thing we’ve always said about GrandCare is that it never gets tired of saying the same thing repeatedly. It never judges, it never gets irritated when answering a question for the nth time. GrandCare can give the time, date, weather reports, medication reminders. GrandCare can tell a loved one that it’s cold outside and remind them to bundle up.

 

Thanks Ryan for another thought-provoking article!

3 Common Signs of Functional Decline

by RYAN MALONE · 0 COMMENTS

in ALZHEIMER’S,ASSISTED LIVING

Functional Decline
Photo Credit: Flickr user e-MagineArt.com.
Everyone changes physically and mentally with age, but there are some changes that can really put a loved one’s safety at risk.  If you think that a loved one may require a transition to assisted living or elderly care, then you must first assess whether they are undergoing a true functional decline.

Functional decline is sometimes difficult to diagnose as individual symptoms often go unnoticed. Below is a list of symptoms of functional decline to be familiar with.

  • Misusing medication (over or under use and deviating from a schedule)
  • Reports of inexplicable behavior from friends, neighbors or family members
  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Unpaid bills
  • Changes in spending patterns
  • inappropriate clothing
  • Stains on clothing or upholstery from urine or feces
  • Forgetting how to use simple tools
  • Poorly cared-for pets
  • Repetitive questioning
  • Difficulty in communicating
  • Confusion
  • Unfinished tasks and chores
  • Spoiled or poorly-prepared food

GrandCare SUPER-HEROES…

The GrandCare System was designed to help individuals stay independent at home for longer, reduce hospital readmissions, reduce the need for paid in-home staff visits, turn caregivers into “SUPER” caregivers allowing them to be multiple places at once.

Our system is simply placed into a home and offers two aspects:
1. Remote Monitoring: remotely monitor activities of daily living (sleeping, eating, med access, door openings), vitals (blood pressure, weight, pulseox, glucose). Caregivers can customize automated phone/em/text alerts (if someone doesn’t get out of bed, noncompliance, door opens during the night, etc.)

2. Communication/Socialization: 2-way interactive video chat via skype, incoming messages, emails, reminders, voicemails, games, videos, weather/news, calendar appts, etc – RIGHT on an interactive touch panel. Zero computer experience is needed.

 

Seeking a sponsor for our Thurday, September 1st webinar – “One Patient, Many Providers”

If you enjoy the free bi-weekly webinars created and hosted by GrandCare Systems, consider a $50 webinar sponsorship!  The sponsorship helps to defray costs for the webinar service. Sponsorship includes listing in all social media, Company Description & log inclusion in 2 email blasts sent out to over 1500 subscribers prior to the topic date. If you would like to support this webinar, please contact us at info@grandcare.com or dial 262-338-6147

Please include a company one paragraph description as well as a logo. Thanks! Your friends at GrandCare Systems!

Thursday September 1st Aging & Technology Webinar:

Date: Thursday, September 1st, 2011
Time: 2pm EDT (1pm CDT / 12p MDT / 11am PDT)
Location: http://grandcaresystems.webex.com

Topic: “One Patient, Many Providers: A Blueprint for Successful Care Transitions”

In this webinar you will learn how effective care transitions play a critical role with both clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. This timely program addresses effective care management techniques that improve care transitions, identify the main causes of avoidable hospital readmissions and describe how to use simple project management techniques to manage complex patients across the care continuum.

Purpose of Presentation:

  1. Define main reasons for re-hospitalization.
  2. Describe practical methods to prevent “bouncebacks.”
  3. Learn how care management and coordination based on project management techniques assists patients and families with their own self managed care.

Our Speaker: Kathleen Heery RN, MS, CCM

Kathleen Heery is a certified, RN Geriatric Care Manager and Homecare Consultant and owner of Healthcare Solutions for You. Kathy’s approach focuses on an elder’s ability to remain independent in the community and the capacity to fund needed services. Kathy has served as national director for a large homecare company, global director of care management services and has developed/implemented care coordination program/services for various organizations. Additionally, she is an active member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.

Kathy has been managing care transitions for the past few years and has recently coauthored a book on “Ending Hospital Readmissions: A Blueprint for Homecare Providers.”

Tomorrow’s Webinar: “Nutrition & Fitness: Promoting Healthy Aging”

Just a friendly reminder…

Please join us for tomorrow’s webinar

Our Topic: “Nutrition & Fitness: Promoting Healthy Aging”

2pm EDT – 1pm CDT – 12pm MDT – 11am PDT

 Join us at: http://grandcaresystems.webex.com

 Or simply call dial-in: 1-408-600-3600   Pin 669 416 193#

Open to anyone interested in the aging & technology industry. Our purpose is to discuss relevant aging topics, showcase available technologies, network, and learn from one another.

Over the years good nutritional behaviors has gotten a little complicated to figure out…we’re going to make it easy for you! Good nutritional behaviors are not just about the food you put in your mouth.  It’s back to the basics with the ABC’s: Adequacy, Balance, and Choices. Don’t just “complete” (finish) your plate but learn how to make a “complete” plate a reap the rewards of a healthy diet.

Purpose of Presentation:

To focus on good nutritional behaviors

To learn the ABC’s of nutrition

To learn how to make a “complete” plate

For complete information on tomorrow’s webinar Click Here

Mark Your Calendars – – Home Health Tech EVENTS at CEDIA 2011

If you are interested in the home health technology market, then CEDIA is the place to be Sept 7-10th in Indianapolis.

Come for the exhibits, the educational courses & the networking. GrandCare is a sponsor again this year of the Future Home Pavilion and will be showcased throughout the CEDIA show  by Distribution partners, Home Controls, JNL Technologies and Worthington Distribution.

GrandCare will be leading three educational courses on Digital Home Health & the valuable dealer opportunities available in this emerging market. GrandCare is also coordinating a pre-CEDIA HIPAA boot camp session as well as a no-host networking session!   Mark your calendars now – – if you will be at CEDIA, you can’t miss THESE events!!!!!!

Wednesday September 7th:

2:00p – 3:00pm  ESCR039 Home Health Technology is Here to Stay…Are You?
Catalog #: ESCR039-10, Wednesday: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Indianapolis Convention Center
Room 241
CEU Value: 0.50
Moderator: Laura Mitchell
Panelists: Tom Morgan, Peter Radsliff, Jim Gleason
In an economy where markets are drying up left and right, there’s one market that we can guarantee will only grow: The Aging & Technology Industry. This year alone, 7,000 boomers will turn age 65, increasing the demand for a new and sustainable “aging in place” model of care. Delivered by a true integration expert, the solution combines standard home automation and smart home technologies—complete with wireless tele-medicine, brain fitness, and socialization features. Learn about the future of aging and technology, why you should get involved, and how to start.  A la carte fees: Early $49/$99, Regular $71/$121, Onsite $85/$145  Register:  http://www.cedia.net/expo/expo11.att.register.php
4:00p – 5:30pm Pre-CEDIA HIPAA 90 minute boot camp (hosted by GrandCare Systems)
 Wednesday: 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. 
Crowne Plaza at Union Station, 123 W Louisiana St, Indianapolis (Room TBA)
Get trained by GrandCare’s HIPAA compliance officer on what HIPAA is, what is means to DEALERS, why it is REQUIRED of dealers reselling telehealth devices,  and what t takes to be HIPAA compliant. This seminar is Wednesday, Sept 7th 4-530p at the Crowne Plaza-Union Station hotel in Indianpolis.  
$129 per person (discounts for GC Dealers). To reserve a spot, contact info@grandcare.com OR call 262-338-6147
 
6:00p – 8:00pm Pre-CEDIA DEALER-TO-DEALER MIXER!!! 
Pullman’s Lounge, Crowne Plaza at Union Station, 123 W Louisiana St, Indianapolis
ALL ARE WELCOME!!!  FREE
Come meet the GrandCare Team and fellow AgeTek Members An informal NO HOST meet & greet at Pullman’s Lounge, Crowne Plaza-Union Station Hotel in Indianapolis, directly following HIPAA Boot Camp. 6p – 8p.  No RSVP needed, just meet us there! The GrandCare Team as well as AgeTek Board members will be there!

Thursday September 8th:

 9:00a – 6:00 pm Exhibits Open – – Visit the Future Home Pavilion Booth 4754 
 See an Exhibit Hall Map Here: http://www.mapyourshow.com/shows/index.cfm?booth=4754&exhid=319054&show_id=cedia11&userid=&lang=EN&locale=EN
 Press may Schedule an appointment for a demonstration: info@grandcare.com or download our GrandCare Press Kit: https://www.grandcare.com/presskit/
 
 
11:00a – 12:00pm  ESCR047 Home Health Technology Case Study: A How-To Discussion
Catalog #: ESCR047-7, Thursday: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
CEU Value: 0.50
Indianapolis Convention Center
Room 231
CEU Value: 0.50
Instructor: Laura Mitchell, GrandCare Systems
We all know the statistics and can agree that technology and aging is the future, so now what? This
course takes you on a journey from choosing your home health technologies to promoting and
educating to sales and support. Prepare to see real-life case studies on how actual home automation
installers started their business, promoted, sold and supported this new caregiving network clientele.
Discuss why it’s not your ordinary sale and how you can be prepared for this brand new $20 billion
dollar market! If you think home health technology might be your next market, you cannot afford to
miss this rare opportunity!
A la carte fees: Early $49/$99, Regular $71/$121, Onsite $85/$145  Register:  http://www.cedia.net/expo/expo11.att.register.php
  
 
 Friday September 9th:
9:00a – 6:00 pm Exhibits Open – – Visit the Future Home Pavilion Booth 4754 
 See an Exhibit Hall Map Here: http://www.mapyourshow.com/shows/index.cfm?booth=4754&exhid=319054&show_id=cedia11&userid=&lang=EN&locale=EN
 Press may Schedule an appointment for a demonstration: info@grandcare.com or download our GrandCare Press Kit: https://www.grandcare.com/presskit/
 
3:00p – 4:00pm  ESD010-4 Digital Home Health – The Technology of Aging in Place
ESD010
Catalog #: ESD010-4, Friday: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
CEU Value: 0.50 
Moderator: Laura Mitchell, GrandCare Systems
Panelists: Ken Kerr, Kip Meachum, Charlie Hillman
Get into the nitty gritty of the various technologies being used and integrated into independent living for
our aging population. Industry expert Laura Mitchell assembles a panel of manufacturers and ESCs to
discuss aging technologies, ranging from the Personal Emergency Response Systems (Think: “Help, I’ve
fallen and I can’t get up!”) to medication management, fall detection, Activities of Daily Living and
socialization/cognition. Anyone who wants to enter the home health technology needs to attend.
A la carte fees: Early $49/$99, Regular $71/$121, Onsite $85/$145  Register:  http://www.cedia.net/expo/expo11.att.register.php
 

Saturday September 10th:

9:00a – 5:00 pm Exhibits Open – – Visit the Future Home Pavilion Booth 4754 
 See an Exhibit Hall Map Here: http://www.mapyourshow.com/shows/index.cfm?booth=4754&exhid=319054&show_id=cedia11&userid=&lang=EN&locale=EN
 Press may Schedule an appointment for a demonstration: info@grandcare.com or download our GrandCare Press Kit: https://www.grandcare.com/presskit/
 
 
 

What is CEDIA EXPO?

CEDIA EXPO is the leading tradeshow in the residential electronic systems industry. Attending CEDIA EXPO gives you an advantage over the competition by providing the latest technologies, FREE training on the latest products, and the industry’s best education with CEDIA University courses. CEDIA EXPO gives you the best strategies to profit in home entertainment, environmental control, energy management, green technology, home health, security, and more.

Register Now: http://www.cedia.net/expo/expo11.att.register.php

What is GrandCare Systems?

GrandCare combines ADL monitoring, tele-wellness assessment, senior social networking & cognitive assists into one easy-to-use system. GrandCare is highly customizable and can be set up to fit your needs exactly. There is no “one size fits all” model, so it’s easy to make sure each customer gets EXACTLY what he/she is looking for.

GrandCare exhibiting at LeadingAge Conference – BOOTH 2340

GrandCare will be joining Unified Alerts in a booth at the Leading Age Conference this October. GrandCare is no stranger to LeadingAge or CAST. GrandCare founder, Charlie Hillman, is a CAST commissioner and back in 2005, GrandCare was chosen as one of only 30 companies worldwide to showcase at the once-a-decade White House Conference on Aging in the “IMAGINE” Pavilion by CAST.  Come and meet GrandCare Founder, Charlie Hillman, see the GrandCare HomeBase in action and learn how GrandCare’s fully featured technology can help your organization to save costs, transform your caregiving staff into SUPER caregiving staff, save footsteps, connect staff & family in a cost-effective way, provide detailed wellness & assessment information for nursing staff, etc.   Leading Age, formerly AAHSA, is an association of 5,400 not-for-profit organizations celebrating its 50th anniversary and dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging.

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZtGOshrBPU&feature=player_embedded]

AgingCare.com: Secrets our Loved Ones hide and How GrandCare can help….

Aging.com reported on 10 secrets that our aging parents keeps from us and some ways to deal with and approach them. I couldn’t help but think of all sorts of technology solutions (remote monitoring like GrandCare, Internet technology, etc.) that could assist in dealing with these 10 “secrets” shared in the story.

Of course, technology is only one piece to the puzzle. We are not quite at the point where technology comes immediately to mind when we are thinking about how to care for a loved one. It’s scary to embark upon caring for an aging parent and using a tool that is relatively new.  We did not grow up seeing technology used this way.  Many of us in today’s parenting generation have cared for children using all kinds of technologies (baby monitor, video monitor, bed monitor to detect SIDS, etc), but we don’t think to apply this to an obviously similar need among our aging parents. I get it, though, because although the caregiving process and stress can be similar to taking care of a child, it’s a completely different beast.

Children grow more and more independent as you guide them to do more and more things on their own. With an aging loved one, the opposite will occur. It’s much easier to give more freedom, obviously, than taking it away. I can imagine that it would be difficult to have someone tell you that you cannot or should not do things anymore.

Given this, we can’t be too surprised when a loved one hides or covers up certain things. I even think about my own kids cleaning up a mess they make, BEFORE I see it to avoid punishment or having things be taken away.

So what to do? How do we know if/when someone hides something? And what if it’s something that could be unsafe, unhealthy or potentially life-threatening? What steps could we or should we take to “get to the bottom” of things? How can we more closely monitor? How do we confront? I don’t know that there is an easy answer. I remember my parents having to “take away the keys” from my Grandpa. That was a hard day and it took him a while to get used to the loss of independence. It was the right thing to do (He was not even noticing if I passed him on the road and was repeatedly honking and wildly waving). Even though it was the responsible choice, it did not make it any less difficult.

The aging.com article lists 10 common things that people tend to “hide” or not reveal to those helping care for them. As I read the list I started to think that there really are some high tech and low tech solutions that could help out. Perhaps a telehealth assessment, a SKYPE visit, or even a remote activity of daily living monitoring solution, like GrandCare Systems.

Below is a list of the 10 secrets and the ways that I believe technology could be a piece of the puzzle:

1. Falls – – Technology can detect the actual fall itself, but even if they are not wearing anything…many technologies like GrandCare could alert a family member if they were not “up and about” as usual.
2. Pain – – So obviously technology can’t tell you WHAT they are feeling emotionally or physically, but can give you hints on it. For example, you could have SKYPE visits with a loved one and “see” how they are doing. Systems like GrandCare also have touch-based assessments that the loved one can fill out every day. People tend to be more comfortable telling a machine how they are feeling, versus “complaining” to their family. It can be a helpful resource and indicate if pain levels are there, swelling, happiness, etc. Activity Systems like GrandCare could also portray if a person was moving less than usual, which might be a good indication of a potential problem or pain.
3. Dizziness – – can be caused by many things such as low blood pressure or medication noncompliance…these things can all be remotely monitored by a tele-wellness system like GrandCare. GrandCare has several wireless, bluetooth enabled blood pressure, weight scale, pulseox, glucometer devices that can indicate a potential wellness issue. The medication dispenser could send out an alert if the meds were not accessed.
4, 5, & 6. Money Shortages, Frivolous Purchasing, Financial Abuse – – I put these together because I think they can be managed together. Technology is of great assistance as caregivers can check bank accounts, checks and credit card statements online. Not to mention, one of GrandCare’s initial goals was to help mitigate tele-marketing scams (the co-founder’s mother had an investment banker in Sun City West, AZ scam her, which gave a huge wake up to the entire family). GrandCare has a caller-ID sensor that can alert family members or primary caregivers of unusual, repeated incoming calls, etc. to help stop SCAMS!

7. Elder Abuse – – there are several factors to take into account with elder abuse. It can be very difficult to diagnose this, but technology systems in place can help. Technology can play a big role when determining neglect (caregiver is NOT arriving when they should be, patient is not being “turned”, fridge is NOT being accessed during mealtime, etc). SKYPE is a great way to “see” into the home and look into a loved one’s eyes to really determine what might be happening…

8. Auto Accidents or Driving Infractions – – Although technology won’t play much of a role with determining whether or not a loved one has gotten a ticket or driving infraction, it can share information about how your loved one is behaving in general. Is he/she wandering (could be indicative of sundowners, dementia or even seizures), is he/she complying with medications, eating regularly, normal vitals? sleeping well? All of these factors can help to give a bigger picture idea of what’s happening behind closed doors and allow family members to make educated, healthier and smarter decisions for a loved one.

9. Alcohol or Drug Abuse – – Again, technology can really give a better overall indication that all is well or not well at home. Eating/sleeping patterns, vitals, daily behaviors can help to give an educated view on what might be happening in a loved one’s life. In severe cases, it could be possible to use a monitoring system to monitor access to the liquor cabinet.

10. Gambling – – technology can help to assess when a loved one leaves the home and if they have their GPS enabled Cell phone, shoes or watch, a worried caregiver could be notified if they leave a designated perimeter (mostly used for wandering, dementia, etc)

Granted, there are many other (additional) ways to detect and mitigate these 10 secrets, but I wanted to note that there are some assistive technology solutions out there that are designed to enable a caregiver (call it a super caregiver) to become more aware (even if they don’t live close by) of how a loved one is doing. Because, after all, that’s what we all desire – for our loved one to be safe, be able to stay home (if that’s where he/she would like to be), stay virtually connected/socialized and continue to go about normal daily activities. These technologies were created so these four things could easily & instantaneously happen!

by Laura Mitchell, VP Marketing, GrandCare Systems

GrandCare is a comprehensive digital home health system combining aspects of home automation, activity of daily living monitoring, telehealth sensors, video chat, Internet communications and Social media, using a simple interactive TouchScreen (requires zero previous computer experience).

www.grandcare.com   dealers@grandcare.com   262-338-6147

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Top 10 Secrets That Aging Parents Keep and what to do about it

Source: AgingCare.com

Your aging parent may be keeping secrets from you. Not necessarily lies, but withholding of information that may be important to their health, safety or general well-being.

Often, as people age, they become embarrassed when they have to ask for help, or require assistance in their care. So they cover up bruises, accidents and money trouble in an attempt to maintain their independence.

From falls to spending habits and from abuse to car accidents, there are a range of “secrets” that elders tend to keep, according to Marilyn Sharbach Ladew, MSW, a nationally recognized expert in senior caregiving….