Tag Archive for: GrandCare Systems

NAHB’s Home Technology Alliance and CEDIA Host Free Webinar on Home Health Care Technology

National Association of Home Builders – hear Laura Mitchell of GrandCare speak!

“Home Health Technology: A $20 Billion Industry”
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (EDT)

NAHB’s Home Technology Alliance and CEDIA Host Free Webinar on Home Health Care Technology

Take part in this informative program and learn how to benefit from this growing home health care technology market opportunity by incorporating these trends into their service offerings.

According to Aging in Place Technology Watch’s Laurie Orlov, the aging and technology industry will reach $20 billion by 2020. People have a strong desire to remain independent and at home. This program, featuring Laura Mitchell, Business Relationship Specialist at GrandCare Systems, will provide insight about the aging and technology market, and the myriad products such as smart home, tele-health, brain fitness, and fall detection technologies. This program is open and free of charge to all NAHB and CEDIA members. Click here for registration information.

GrandCare Age/Tech Call TODAY: Home Care providers & Technology

EVERY THURSDAY at 2p EDT, the Aging/Technology Industry Virtually Convenes…

8-12-10 TOPIC:The Circle of Life
Mark Stowers, franchise owner of LaCrosse Comfort Keepers, discusses the circle of life & why home-based care providers and technology have synergy

Thursday Aug 12, 2010
TIME: 2pm EDT (11am PDT)
URL: http://my.dimdim.com/grandcare

This call is sponsored by Ho’okele Health Navigators: Enabling you to make informed decisions about your health
To sign up as a call sponsor: info@grandcare.com

Remember, the aging tsunami will float all boats! Together we can work together and build this brand new aging and technology category!

CEDIA Schedule Sept 23 – 26 Aging Technology Pavilion Educational Sessions

Schedule of Home Health Events sponsored by GrandCare Systems at CEDIA in Atlanta Sept 21 – 26

Tuesday Sept 21
9a – 5p GrandCare Systems Authorized Dealer Training
email info@grandcare.com to sign up
630 – 9p Meet the GrandCare Staff
“A Point of View, Hilton Atlanta
255 Courtland Street NE
Tel: 1+(404) 659-2000 ”
no RSVP needed

Wed Sept 22
10a – 1130 GrandCare Authorized Dealer Refresher Course
RSVP Needed: info@grandcare.com
7 – 9p AgeTek Alliance Meet & Greet
Location TBA – more info: agetek@me.com

Thurs Sept 23 (show floor opens 10 – 6p)
(Home Health Pavilion: Booth 4072)
1030 – 1130: Choosing which Tech is right for you Booth 4072
1145 – 1245: Simple Technology: BIG RESULTS Booth 4072
12:15 – 1:45: CLOSED LUNCHEON SESSION
2 – 3p: WEEKLY AGING & TECHNOLOGY CALL HOSTED BY GRANDCARE SYSTEMS -TOPIC: LIVE FROM CEDIA Booth 4072
3 – 330: Building a New Category – AgeTek Booth 4072
330 – 430: Vendor Mash-Up – ONE presentation showcases all the technologies in the home health pavilion
430 – 6p Senior Cyborgs – The Rise of the Machines Booth 4072

Fri Sept 24 (floor open 9a – 6p)
(Home Health Pavilion: Booth 4072)
10 – 11a Senior Socialization & Brain Fitness Booth 4072
1130 – 12p Profiting Together – AgeTek Booth 4072
1230 – 130 Vendor Mash-Up – ONE presentation showcases all the technologies in the home health pavilion
2p – 4p DIGITAL HOME HEALTH PANEL 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. ROOM: B312

Sat Sept 25 (floor open 9a – 5p)
1030 – 1130: From the “Willfull Suspension of Disbelief” to the New Reality Booth 4072
1130 – 12: Profiting Together!! The Aging Technology Alliance Booth 4072
1p – 2p: Elderly Monitoring & Safety Booth 4072
2 – 3p Vendor Mash-Up – ONE presentation showcases all the technologies in the home health pavilion Booth 4072
4 – 530p: ROOM A313: When Grandpa Wants the Cadillac – GRANDCARE Mfger Training

Sunday Sept 26 (floor open 10a – 3p)
10a – 11a: Technology for the Aging: A Value Proposition Booth 4072
11a – 12p: Senior Cyborgs: The Rise of the Machines Booth 4072

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.

Tomorrow GrandCare Webinar: Brainstorming Session

Join us for our weekly GrandCare aging & technology webinar.

When: Thursdays 2pm EDT
Where: http://my.dimdim.com/grandcare
Dial-in Listed on webinar

Topic: Brainstorming session on selling technology to the aging population. What are the obstacles? How are you overcoming them? How to price technology to the aging demographic.

JOIN US!

The New Wave of Home Healthcare


Electronic House Reports:

Electronic systems allow seniors to age comfortably and safely in their own homes.

Jul. 30, 2010 — by Lisa Montgomery

Talk to just about anybody, and they’ll have a story to share about an aging loved one. Often, those stories are punctuated with feelings of worry, guilt and uncertainty over how to best care for their elderly parent or friend.

Recently, a number of up-and-coming electronics manufacturers have developed a variety of technologies aimed squarely at this growing market of concerned caregivers. The solutions, they hope, will afford seniors the means to lead an independent life at home while giving their family members the assurance that all is well.

According to healthcare statistics, the timing couldn’t be better. In a June 2009 report from the AARP Policy Institute, the population of people 65 or older is projected to grow by 89 percent between 2007 and 2030, more than four times faster than the population overall. The aging population will skyrocket by another 118 percent between the years 2030 and 2050.

“The silver tsunami is coming,” says Laura Mitchell, director of business relations at Grand Care Systems, a manufacturer of monitoring systems for seniors. “As the generation of baby boomers grows older, we simply won’t have the resources—facilities or manpower—to adequately take care of our aging population, unless we invest in the development of digital home healthcare technology.”

Factor in the astronomical costs of long-term care, and it’s easy to see why some healthcare analysts believe the digital home healthcare industry will grow from a $2 billion business to a $20 billion industry by 2020. (Click here to view a slideshow of digital home healthcare products.)

Innovative Start-ups
Like any emerging industry, the digital home healthcare market today consists mainly of small start-up companies, although big names like GE, Intel and Philips are major players as well (see sidebar). Little synergy exists between the manufacturers, resulting in an industry that’s “somewhat chaotic right now,” says Laurie Orlov of market research firm Aging in Place Technology Watch.

“Products that should probably be sold together as a package are being sold separately, and pricing is all over the board.” Still, the technologies available are innovative, affordable and—most importantly—cater to the needs of both stay-at-home seniors and the people who care for them.

To gain a clearer sense of some of the solutions gaining steam, Orlov divides digital home healthcare products and systems into four main categories: safety and security, communication and engagement, health and wellness, and learning and contribution. Although technologies that help seniors stay mentally sharp are important, the systems and products that fall under the first three categories are expected to have the biggest impact on the aging-at-home lifestyle.

Safety and Security
The home safety and security market is driven largely by companies with systems designed to monitor the activities of an individual and report those findings to a preselected group of people. Personal emergency response system (PERS) devices, which typically alert caregivers of a critical situation after it has occurred, are one example of this type of product. However, today’s breed of alert systems focus on more on preventing and mitigating problems than sending out an S.O.S. Referred to as ADL (activities of daily living) monitoring systems, they employ a combination of small, unobtrusive wireless environmental sensors, a networking base unit, specially configured software, and the Internet to communicate to caregivers the daily routines of their elderly stay-at-home parents. The sensors and networking unit capture information about the person’s movement throughout the day and distribute it to a secure web server, where the software analyzes and organizes the data. Invited caregivers can then log on to review the recorded information. They can also receive instant alerts via email or text when specified sensors are tripped or if no activity has been recorded within a certain period of time…

Read more: http://www.electronichouse.com/article/the_new_wave_of_home_healthcare/C155

Two hi-touch technology providers, GrandCare & VRI, join forces and link their services to keep Seniors in their own homes

Two hi-touch technology providers, GrandCare & VRI, join forces and link their services to keep Seniors in their own homes

Dayton, OH, West Bend, WI – VRI, a medical alert, medication adherence and telehealth monitoring company, and GrandCare Systems, a provider of in home socialization, entertainment and wellness sensor technologies, announced today that they have developed a partnership to deliver an integrated portfolio of services. Now, GrandCare System care partners will be notified on GrandCare’s easy to use online interface when their loved one has activated their personal response system. In addition, VRI and GrandCare will be able to cross sell their integrated solution into their respective distribution channels.

“This was a natural partnership”, commented Andy Schoonover, President of VRI, “Both organizations are committed to safety and wellness, while giving the family members an unmatched ‘peace of mind’.

Laura Mitchell from GrandCare Systems added, “We know how difficult this whole process can be. We just hope we can help to make the family’s lifestyle easier, happier and more affordable”.

“It’s through partnerships such as these that innovation for elder-focused technologies will be accelerated”, said Peter Radsliff, chairman of the Aging Technology Alliance, an industry association developed to foster awareness of products and services geared toward the aging population. “Stimulating cooperation is why AgeTek was formed from the outset.”

“Blending our services can add a strong measure of comfort, convenience and control to those that desire to age in place but have conditions that may limit their ability to move freely, communicate effectively or otherwise navigate their environment”, said Steve Abate of VRI. “Partnering will ensure and encourage Seniors the opportunity to remain at home with safety and peace of mind.”

VRI is a healthcare services company with over 20 years of experience and is one of the largest providers of medical alert and monitored medication dispensing systems in the country. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, VRI’s services enable seniors and those with disabilities to maintain their independence and avoid long term care facilities and hospitalization. The company’s service portfolio includes Medical Alert Systems, Monitored Medication Dispensers, Telehealth services and other specialty solutions to provide safety and independence for their clients. For more information, or to see the range of VRI’s products please visit www.monitoringcare.com.

GrandCare Systems offers a new WINDOW into the online world using a simple-to-use virtually programmed TouchScreen. The Loved One simply enjoys and interacts with the incoming pictures, messages, 2-way web chat, family videos, games, reminders, calendar appts, news headlines, etc. – all maintained remotely by care-partners through a user-friendly online interface. But that’s just the “tip of the iceberg”. Smart “activity of daily living” and Tele-wellness sensors quietly talk to the Trillium TouchScreen and generate text, email or phone alerts to designated care-partners.

INTRODUCING Brand NEW GrandCare HomeBase!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD0qdEZd1PM

GrandCare Systems introduces the revolutionary HomeBase
GrandCare Systems introduces HomeBase, a new system that allows families to use the Internet to communicate and chat with disabled or aging relatives. Individuals with ZERO computer experience are now, for the first time, being VIRTUALLY and socially connected to family members and care partners across the world, without having to know or LEARN anything.

It’s that simple. GrandCare Systems’ HOMEBASE understands that everyone has different chosen methods for communicating; some virtual, some not. The HomeBase converts online communications into an easy to use, microwave-like TOUCHPANEL format for our disabled or aging loved ones.

Suppose a granddaughter wants to send an instant message to her grandfather
Or send over a Frank Sinatra music video that she knows he’ll enjoy. It’s now possible using GrandCare Systems’ HomeBase.

Perhaps a boomer child wants to share an online video of a grandchild learning to walk and follow it up with a quick Email explaining how big she’s gotten. It’s easy and quick using GrandCare Systems’ HomeBase.

Imagine your grandparent being reminded of when to mail out birthday cards, or exactly what time choir practice is tonight. The HomeBase calendar does just that!

Or maybe a wellness professional wants to use 2-way VIDEO chat to really “SEE” how well her client is doing. It’s here with GrandCare Systems’ HomeBase.

Say your great grandmother enjoys receiving messages, photographs and home videos of her growing family, without having to learn how to use a computer. It’s now a reality with GrandCare Systems’ HomeBase.

In our fast-paced, technology-oriented society, online communication is faster, more efficient and better than ever. Nobody should be excluded from connecting to family and friends, no matter where they live! HomeBase is a whole new world of communication between generations.

GrandCare HomeBase starts as low as $1995.00 (plus installation and a low monthly fee). Activity of Daily Living Sensors and Telewellness sensors can be easily integrated with the GrandCare HomeBase. For more information, or to find a local dealer in your area, please visit: www.grandcare.com or call 262-338-6147

GrandCare Systems, 2412 W.Washington St, Suite 10, West Bend, WI 53095 www.grandcare.com info@grandcare.com

GrandCare 2nd article in New York Times


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/garden/29hometech.html?scp=1&sq=GrandCare%20Systems&st=cse

The Technology for Monitoring Elderly Relatives

“IF I ever need to go to a nursing home, kill me first.”…
Customized Services

For those with advanced physical ailments, the ability to contact emergency personnel may not be enough. It wasn’t for Jean Roberts, a 79-year-old retired nurse who had a brain aneurysm 20 years ago, and now suffers from a seizure disorder. She and her daughter, Carol, 52, who is also disabled, set up a system of customized sensors from GrandCare Systems (grandcare.com).

With GrandCare, which averages between $15 and $25 a day, Carol receives cellphone alerts whenever a user-defined set of parameters is breached in her mother’s nearby Daytona Beach, Fla., home.

“I used to call and check on her constantly,” Carol said. “If she gets confused, she wouldn’t remember to push a pendant.”

Carol is automatically alerted if her mother’s front doors are opened before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m., and a bed sensor alerts her if her mother doesn’t get out of bed by 9 a.m.

If her mother’s home is too hot or too cold, she knows that, too. And if her mother begins to get confused and wanders rapidly from room to room, her daughter also receives an alert.

To help the elder Ms. Roberts feel more connected, she can receive e-mail messages and photographs through the GrandCare system, displayed on her TV or an available touch-screen display.

As her mother ages, Carol expects to add other features. “If she gets worse, we’ll write another parameter, that she can’t leave the house unless I’m notified,” she said. “She has no intention — none — of going into an assisted-care facility.”

For the monitoring of symptoms associated with heart failure and diabetes, Ideal Life (ideallifeonline.com) in Toronto offers a number of devices, including a scale, a blood-pressure meter and a glucose monitor that automatically send data to the company’s Web site, where it can be examined by a caregiver. Text messages or e-mail alerts can also be sent automatically to a caregiver’s smartphone.
…