Tag Archive for: GrandCare Systems

Join our 3-31-11 Webinar- The 50/50 Rule: Solving Family Conflict

We invite you to join in GrandCare’s aging/technology industry webinars. All are welcome to join us!
Date: Thursday March 31st 2011
Time: 2pm EST (11am PST)
Room: Go to http://grandcaresystems.webex.com
If you would like to call in but you do not have access to a computer, call: 1-408-600-3600 access code: 668 422 850

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) We appreciate your patience!

Topic Description: The 50/50 Rule: Solving Family Conflict

This webinar is designed to help adult siblings and their aging parents deal with those sensitive situations that ariseamong brothers and sisters as their parents age and need assistance. Our speaker will cover a variety of sibling caregiving topics such as: How do you divide workload with your sister? What’s the best way to build teamworkwith your brothers? How can you reach agreement as a family on important topics to avoid family conflict?

About our speaker: Cathy Majkowski from Home Instead

Cathy Majkowski is the Community service Representative for Home Instead, where sheprides herself in being called a senior care advocate. Her first association with working with seniors was her small business “Catherine Tours- Motorcoach rours for Seniors”.Beyond her work with Home Instead, she serves on Board of Directors for the West Bend Senior Center,she was a founding  member of the Caregiver Coalation in Ozaukee County, and she serves on the planning committee for Ozaukee County Senior Conference and the the Washington County Aging Concerns Network Group.Cathy is an amazign community partner in West Bend, Wisconsin, where she resides with her husband, Rick and 2 children.Her passion for seniors and families is sure to come through as she shares what families need to be successful and independent.

Webinar Objectives:

Webinar Objectives- Get ideas on how to work through family conflict

– How to ease the caregiver/family into technology conversation

– Opening the doors to communication in a complicated family situation

3-24-11 GrandCare webinar: Home Care in the 21st Century- Mark Shea speaks

We invite you to join in GrandCare’s weekly aging/technology industry webinars. All are welcome to join us!
Date: Thursday March 24th 2011
Time: 2pm EST (11am PST)
Room: Go to http://grandcaresystems.webex.com
If you would like to call in but you do not have access to a computer, call: 1-408-600-3600 access code: 661 277 172 #

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) We appreciate your patience!

Topic Description: Home Care in the 21st Century

Existing consumer electronics and networking technologies are being re-purposed to allow family caregivers the ability to remain aware of a loved one’s health and safety. Perhaps the easiest way to think of these systems is as a “baby monitor times ten”. This is being heralded by pundits from the Consumer Electronics industry as the next big thing. Enabling a virtual presence in a home makes whole new levels of service and care that is affordable and available to almost everyone. The world of home care is about to change radically and rapidly.

About our speaker: Mark Shea from Right at Home

Our speaker, Mark Shea, has over twenty years of experience with networking and internet technologies and ten years with Microsoft. He teaches Social Media at the University of Washington. Mark currently owns a Home Care agency in Mount Vernon, Washington: North Cascade Right at Home. Mark will be presenting his vision of how these technologies can be leveraged by a Home Care Agency of the 21st Century.

Webinar Objectives:

– Learn how long term health care is being transformed

– How does technology fit into homes?

– Resistance to change – Acceptance. How does it work?

GrandCare Interviewed by Rave Publications at EHX 2011

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

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

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

Fantastic EHX Show

Just wanted to shoot out a quick post and give out a shout to the EHX folks as well as the fantastic dealers who attended this year’s EHX in Orlando, FL. While the event was smaller than the last few years, we found the attendees to be highly qualified, educated, motivated and enthusiastic about home health. A great testament to the industry and the work that has been done in the past 4-5 years.

In fact, many dealers confided that they ONLY came to EHX this year to learn more about the home health tech market and learn about GrandCare Systems.

GrandCare led 3 seminars on the Show Floor and was on another digital home health panel. They were all packed with interested dealers!! Very exciting for this industry!

GrandCare was displayed in 3 booths on the EHX floor. At the GrandCare Booth, Home Controls (Home Health Tech) Booth and the Worthington Booth.  The only other home health tech products on display were the Presto Computerless email and various Personal Emergency Response Units (both quite complementary to the GrandCare System).  We also got some good PR out there for the Aging Technology Alliance (AgeTek) many of the dealers expressed great relief at the notion of an organization like this that guide them on their way in the home health journey!
Now it’s back to the grind and following up with the hundreds of leads received.  Good work GrandCare, Home Health Tech, Worthington, ad Presto team on a job well done!

 

Please join GrandCare at What’s Next Boomer Business Summit after ASA in San Francisco.

GrandCare’s VP of Marketing, Laura Mitchell, will be moderating a social media panel. More details listed below.

What’s Next Boomer Business Summit:

Friday, April 29, 2011
Parc 55 Wyndham, 55 Cyril Magnin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

San Francisco, California

Website: www.BoomerSummit.com

The 8th annual What’s Next Boomer Business Summit is produced by Mary Furlong & Associates, and is the official post-conference of the American Society on Aging (ASA) Aging in America Conference on April 26-30, 2011 in San Francisco.

Event theme for 2011: Dynamics, Deals, Differentiation and Disruption.

Join us where America’s leading analysts, executive marketers, business leaders, and research experts will gather to introduce new research, products and services that truly represent what is next on the horizon for businesses selling to baby boomer and senior customers today.

  • Learn new go-to-market strategies and tactics
  • Access new research
  • Understand ways to reach caregivers
  • Get methods to creating online baby boomer communities

Keynote speakers are:

Guy Kawasaki, Entrepreneur & Author, Co-founder, Alltop; Jody Holtzman, Senior Vice President, Thought Leadership, AARP; Vint Cerf, Vice President & Chief Internet Evangelist, Google and Co-Inventor of the Internet; With featured speakers: Astro Teller, Director, New Projects, Google; Gail Sheehy, Best-Selling Author.

Agenda Tracks:

  • Social Media

 

Maximizing the Online World Build an interactive tool box for marketing your business! From email to Google, Twitter, and what’s in all worlds online to social media platforms, unlock the potential for your company. Our experts show you how to harness the power.

Moderator: Laura Mitchell, Vice President, Marketing, GrandCare Systems

Panelists: Joe Cannella, Senior Account Manager, Google; Nataki Edwards, Vice President, Marketing, AARP; Stephen Chen, Founder, NewRetirement.com

  • Alternate Distribution
  • Mobile, Local and Search
  • Entrepreneurship and Social Entrepreneurship
  • The Evolution of Design and Technology in Serving the Consumer Majority

 

 

 

Who should attend:

  • Corporate brand managers and managers of businesses, association and non-profit leadership where boomers and seniors are the primary customers.
  • Designers for products and services
  • Media, analysts, authors and bloggers, public relation agencies who write and blog and tweet insights and stories that reach and serve the 40+ audience
  • Association and non-profit leadership who want to learn best models and metrics of social entrepreneurship and business partnerships
  • Entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs creating products and services for the boomer and mature consumer
  • Corporate marketing, product and brand managers and business leaders who manage products and services targeting the boomer and senior customer.

Register: http://boomersummit.eventbrite.com/

(Early bird rate ends February 28!)

Agenda < http://www.boomersummit.com/agenda.html>,

Speakers < http://www.boomersummit.com/speakers.html>

Connect with us:

Facebook: Facebook/WhatsNextBoomerBusinessSummit

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/WhatsNextBoomer]

Event hashtag is: #WNBBS2011

 

Smart Money Magazine asks us – can aging be stylish?

Yesterday, Smart Money Magazine posted an article: Can a Medic Alert System be Stylish. They discussed grab bars, Personal Emergency Response Systems, Wearable Pendants, etc. GMU’s Andy Carle, Age in Place Tech Watch’s Laurie Orlov and AgeTek’s own Peter Radsliff all weighed in on solutions and adoption of technology to “age in place”.

I think this is a very important topic to address. People don’t want to use systems/devices that make them “feel” geriatric, old or disabled. That is the reason that the systems need to be viewed more like we view every day conveniences..think of railings on stairs, alarm clocks, smart phones, online calendar/reminders, appointment books, etc. All of these we use every day because they are helpful and they assist EVERYONE. Systems that enable a person to stay independent and at home should be viewed in a similar fashion. Nobody wants to have the scarlet pendant of aging, instead they want to be able to self-enable with gadgets, technologies, design, etc. If we design systems like GrandCare Systems that has many features that ANYBODY would enjoy, it is much more likely that a person will accept. I use GrandCare Systems in my home every day and my two toddler boys do too. We use it for different reasons, using the same alerts, cognitive assists, reminders, family calendar, etc that the system provides. Everyone benefits from convenience, safety, communication, etc. (Think of the iPad). I would NEVER be able to keep track of my schedule without my iPhone reminding me of EVERYTHING. Why should it be so different with non tech-savvy individuals? Check out my entry on why I believe Gen X-ers should also be adopting these technologies as early adopters: http://wp.me/pyOLA-dx Thanks for the article – short answer: YES, aging can and SHOULD be stylish and graceful! Laura Mitchell GrandCare Systems www.grandcare.com

What are your thoughts???

Read their article here: Can a Medic Alert System Be Stylish? – SmartMoney.com http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/technology/now-in-vogue-grandpas-gadgets-1299712884177/#ixzz1GJrWJD00

Join our Webinar this Thursday! 45 years old and in a retirement home? Steve Gurney speaks

We invite you to join in GrandCare’s weekly aging/technology industry webinars. All are welcome to join us!
Date: Thursday March 3rd 2011
Time: 2pm EST (11am PST)
Room: Go to http://grandcaresystems.webex.com

Topic Description: 45 Years Old in a Retirement Community? Steve Gurney Shares a First Hand Look at Our Eldercare System
Widely regarded as an expert in senior living options, Steve Gurney realized that he had not truly experienced these settings first-hand, and embarked on a project to live temporarily in a variety of senior housing options. Steve will share the new perspective he has gained from this “life changing” project and will share creative ideas and solutions that we can explore to better serve elders and their families in the future.

About our speaker:
Steve Gurney founded Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook in 1990. Drawing from the experience of observing his family caring for Steve’s aging grandfather, he created a comprehensive publication to help others in the same situation. Steve has worked closely with nearly every regional and national organization on aging to help find solutions to their challenges. Steve has helped thousands of elders and families make the transition to elder care settings and he has personally visited over 500 communities in his 20 year career.

Webinar Objectives
•Discover the value of looking at elder-care settings through a “different lens”.
•Understand the impact that “age segregation” plays in leadership, marketing and operations and explore solutions and opportunities.
•Discover creative ways that you can reinvent your definition of eldercare to create a more appealing offering

Our Sponsor: Guide to Retirement Living Sourcebook
The ProAging Network connects senior-serving professionals with news, events,
careers and more! Visit www.proaging.com.

GrandCare Slated to exhibit at EHX – The CEPRO EVENT

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

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

More info:

Schedule At A Glance:

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

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

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

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

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

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

RT@AgeTek Is custom install missing the boat with “Connected SOURCE”?

Had to repost this – – I thought it was a rather interesting take by AGETEK Chair, Peter Radsliff, and I couldn’t agree more…Connected Source sounds like a terrific idea and I think it could really benefit from having the component that today’s integrators are seeking – the final piece to the puzzle – “HOME HEALTH TECHNOLOGY”..It’s something that EVERYBODY is seeking…because everyone is getting older and 90% of seniors report wanting to stay independent in their own homes.

Is custom install missing the boat with “Connected SOURCE”?.

OPINION: So where does a consumer go to really get help with difficult home technology challenges, especially those that are not easily solved by trying to do-it-yourself? That’s what the Best Buy Magnolia Hi-Fi & Geek Squad store-within-a-store concepts were designed to address. Well, now the custom install community is introducing its own nationwide branded concept, but this time it’s is a store-within-their-showrooms called “Connected SOURCE.”

Described as “Sort of like True Value” as noted in Julie Jacobsen’s CE Pro article of February 23 [here], the Connected SOURCE concept seems like an idea whose time has come. Except that, in my humble opinion, the Connected SOURCE concept is completely missing the boat.

Categories for Connected SOURCE merchandising

© Connected SOURCE 2011

Each Connected SOURCE location will be merchandised exactly alike with seven zones: 1) 3D Theater, 2) DNLA/Skype, Internet, 3) iPTV/Movie Library, 4) Personal Audio & Headphones, 5) Home Networking, 6) Whole Home Control, and 7) Home Theater Control. Hey, but haven’t we heard a lot from custom installers in the past two years that their businesses are hurting selling the same ol’ same ol’? Is special merchandising and branding for 3D TV, home control or home theater control really going to make that big of a difference?

Where is the aspirational vision to tackle a huge and growing market with new solutions to problems people are encountering for the first times in their lives? You know, the kind of forward-looking vision that Magnolia and Geek Squad had over ten years ago that caused them both to be acquired by Best Buy. If Connected SOURCE is now selling headphones because they are cool again, or new TVs because everything people watch now goes “booga booga,” that doesn’t sound like a big plan for the future. If you ask me, it’s more of the same ol’ same ol’ and barely catches up with Big Box Custom, never mind surpassing them.

Here are seven statistics I found that any business these days will find interesting:
a) The 35 million Americans 65+ in 2000 doubles to 70 million in 2030
b) 25% of working Americans juggle their jobs vs. caring for a loved one.
c) 50% of caregivers are responsible for parent care while also parenting their own
d) 20% of family members actually quit working to provide care
e) 90% of focus group participants conducted by a prominent industry organization were willing to pay $50/mo. for services and technologies to stay independent and in their own home
f) 78 million Americans over age 50 controlled 67% of the country’s wealth in 2001
g) In the time you took to read this so far, 17 more people turned 50 years old, that’s 10,000 more every day!

Maybe putting bluetooth-enabled healthy-weight scales and blood-pressure cuffs next to iPads and Beats headphones isn’t really the solution for Connected SOURCE. But if not them, then who? Other retailers and industry leaders are already moving on this opportunity right now. But they don’t have the expertise like the custom install industry does. I hate to see new entrants struggle to create everything new as much as I hate to see the custom install industry completely missing this boat.

Hey, but that’s my two cents. I’m actually happy to see any collaboration towards collective branding and merchandising to help the industry connect with consumers. When you’re ready to go after a really huge market, give us a call.

Peter Radsliff
Board Chairman, Aging Technology Alliance [site]
President & CEO, Presto Services Inc. [site]

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