Tag Archive for: GrandCare

Saga & GrandCare Featured on ITV

How technology is building a new old age

by Darren Burn: ITV News Producer

With 21 million people in the UK over the age of 50 – and with these figures expected to go up over the coming years – the need for care both at home and in hospital is increasing. Of more than 10,000 over 50s surveyed, 93% said they would much prefer to be cared for in their own home if the need were to arise.

Saga has just announced its partnership with US company GrandCare which make units specifically designed to enable the elderly to live in their own home longer.

The computers include sensors which detect if there has been no movement in a home for a defined period of time and will then alert a loved one or carer. The system can also recognize if the person has not taken their medication as well as take blood pressure and pulse readings, all the while updating families and health professionals.

The GrandCare System – which has been in use in the US since 2006 – uses a simple touch-screen interface which also allows video calling and games designed to keep the mind active. Saga has told ITV News that it hopes to release the first unit early this year.

Read the full article at: http://www.itv.com/news/2013-01-09/how-technology-is-building-a-new-old-age/

GrandCare Nominated for the 2013 Senior Living Awards – Most Innovative Product

SENIORHOMES.COM
2013 BEST SENIOR LIVING AWARDS


nominee-large“The SeniorHomes.com 2013 Best Senior Living Awards aims to identify and highlight top resources, people, providers and organizations in a wide variety of caregiving and senior living categories. Using a combination of public votes and a professional, standardized rating process, we’ve uncovered the most comprehensive, useful resources, influential people and forward-thinking organizations in the senior living space.”

MOST INNOVATIVE SENIOR LIVING PRODUCTS

“With the coming wave of aging baby boomers, hundreds of entrepreneurs are bringing innovative senior living products to the market, many designed to help seniors maintain their independence at home. We’ve identified the most innovative, out-of-the-box products which offer seniors independence or improved lifestyles.”

VOTE FOR GRANDCARE TODAY!

Since 2005, GrandCare Systems® has provided the most comprehensive caregiving technology on the market today, enabling individuals to remain safe, healthy and happy at home. GrandCare’s simple, touch platform enables a Resident to view pictures, receive incoming messages, watch videos, video chat with family, listen to music and play fun games. Using a series of wireless activity and telehealth devices, GrandCare can alert designated caregivers by phone, email or text if something seems amiss.

What’s Next? 2013 Business Boomer Summit

Boomer SummitTuesday, March 12, 2013
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Hyatt Regency
Chicago, Illinois

What’s Next: Building and Scaling Your Boomer/Senior Business : An Intelligent Network of Relationships to Drive your Boomer Business

What is the What’s Next Boomer Business Summit?
What’s Next Boomer Business Summit is an annual event that brings together the country’s top businesses and organizations that are focused on the baby boomer and beyond marketplace. It is where deals get done.

From What’s Next you will:

    • Identify the most effective channels into the Boomer/senior caregiver space
    • Build a business ecosystem for the caregiver, grandparent, pet, women, housing, and wellness marketplace
    • Identify the latest trends in social, mobile, search, e-commerce, and print
    • Develop global channels that will allow you to have the greatest reach
    • Identify go-to market strategies through retailers, e-commerce, and nonprofits
    • Learn how to monetize content and find distribution through large media channels and niche blogs
    • Discover how to raise money for your boomer idea from angels, incubators, corporations, and venture capital investors
    • Discover the riches in boomer niches that include play, pets, housing, aging in place, and food.
    • Pivot into a Life Reimagined
    • Receive templates to help build your LinkedIn profile, Twitter, Pinterest, and business Facebook profiles.
    • Learn how to build a business ecosystem that includes mentors and bloggers
    • Learn how to drive leads to your business

For more information on this event visit whatsnextsummit.com

UK Home Care Provider, Saga at Home, Partners with GrandCare Systems to power home care services

CES Las Vegas, NV – (January 8, 2013) – GrandCare Systems® announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas today, a partnership agreement under which Saga, the UK’s largest in-home care provider, will incorporate GrandCare’s touch-based digital health monitoring and socialization technology into their care service offerings.

This is a giant step for the remote monitoring industry as international player, Saga, shows the world how digital health technology could complement domiciliary care services for the over 50s.

“We are honored to have been chosen by Saga as their go-to-market technology for enhancing the 50+ services in the UK,” said GrandCare Founder Charlie Hillman, “the GrandCare technology takes away distance as a barrier to communication and care, benefiting our aging population with familial socialization and the connectivity of the Internet.”

Read more

CES 2013: GrandCare In-Booth Gala Tuesday, January 8th 3:30 – 5:30

Gala copy

CES In-Booth Event Agenda:

3:30p Happy Hour/Networking

4p WELCOME, Laura Mitchell, VP Business Development, GrandCare Systems
Sponsors: LivHOME CareMonitor, Z-Wave Alliance, CEDIA, Dakim, What’s Next Boomer Summit

    • GrandCare Announces UK Partnership, Charlie Hillman, Founder, GrandCare Systems
    • CEA Announces GrandCare as winner of CEA Entrepreneur of the Year, Steve Koenig, CEA
    • LivHOME CareMonitor announces national roll-out, Mike Nicholson, CEO LivHOME
    • GrandCare Announces Frost & Sullivan Award: Best Practices, Gaytha Traynor, Co-founder, GrandCare
    • GrandCare introduces new Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Erick Eiting, CMO, GrandCare
    • What’s Next Boomer Summit announces conference, Mary Furlong
    • Samsung Tablet Give-Away – special thanks to Samsung Enterprise Healthcare team

5:00 – 5:30p Networking/Happy Hour

Join GrandCare at CES for our press event & cocktail reception

Happy Holidays from GrandCare Systems!

When: Tuesday Jan 8th 330 – 530p PST
Where: GrandCare Booth – South Hall 2 BOOTH #26629 (within the Digital Health Pavilion)

More information on CES

We invite you to join us at CES for exciting announcements, introductions to our team & networking with friends!  This will be the perfect opportunity to get the inside scoop on the digital home health industry and find out why GrandCare is paving the way for remote monitoring and maintaining independence and chronic disease mgmt at home.
Come meet our new Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Erick Eiting, as he explains the importance of digital health in the healthcare industry and why he, as an emergency room doctor, believes digital health will be the key to successful post-hospitalization transitions.

GC Staff

CES In-Booth Agenda:

3:30p Happy Hour/Networking
4p WELCOME, Laura Mitchell, VP Business Development, GrandCare Systems
Sponsors: LivHOME CareMonitor, Z-Wave Alliance, CEDIA, Dakim, What’s Next Boomer Summit

    • GrandCare Announces UK Partnership, Charlie Hillman, Founder, GrandCare Systems
    • CEA Announces GrandCare as winner of CEA Entrepreneur of the Year, Steve Koenig, CEA
    • LivHOME CareMonitor announces national roll-out, Mike Nicholson, CEO LivHOME
    • GrandCare Announces Frost & Sullivan Award: Best Practices, Gaytha Traynor, Co-founder, GrandCare
    • GrandCare introduces new Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Erick Eiting, CMO, GrandCare
    • What’s Next Boomer Summit announces conference, Mary Furlong
    • Samsung Tablet Give-Away – special thanks to Samsung Enterprise Healthcare team

5:00 – 5:30p Networking/Happy Hour

1. We have been chosen by Industry Analysts – Frost & Sullivan for Best Practices Award for the Elderly Health & Wellness Customer Enhancement Award

GrandCare-Systems-LLC.

“The world of telehealth is most impactful when it is addressing the elderly population, but unfortunately, elderly care and wellness remains one of the most undeserved needs in healthcare,” reported Bujnoch. “GrandCare continues to show exceptional insight within elderly health and wellness by understanding the complex needs of the elderly and offers a unique, high-value solution in response.” -Senior Analyst from Frost & Sullivan, Zachary Bujnoch

Press Release

2. We are excited to announce our partner, LivHOME, has announced official launch of their LivHOME CareMonitor, powered by GrandCare Systems.

CareMonitorLogo

LivHOME CareMonitor™, a remote care service first announced in March, is beginning to roll out nationwide where LivHOME services are offered. It is currently available in Los Angeles, Walnut Creek and Riverside, Calif., and will continue to be rolled out to additional markets in late 2012 and early 2013. LivHOME CareMonitor™ is provided by LivHOME, Inc., one of the nation’s largest providers of professionally led at-home care for seniors.

Press Release

3. GrandCare will be hosting an in-booth Cocktail Press Reception at CES!!

zwa-logo

This event is sponsored by LivHOME CareMonitor and co-sponsored by the Z-Wave Alliance , CEDIA, Dakim Brain Fitness and The What’s Next Boomer Summit. We will be making some major announcements and a lucky winner will walk away with a brand new Tablet donated by Samsung’s Enterprise Healthcare team. Must be present to win!

(GrandCare is headed to the UK…learn all about our exclusive UK Partner at CES)

RSVP

4. GrandCare was the 2012 Winner of the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association and producer of CES) Entrepreneur of the Year Award!!

Charlie Hillman CEA Award

“Innovative companies like GrandCare are moving our economy forward. It’s a great example of how the consumer electronics industry is allowing seniors and people with disabilities to use technology to enhance their lives and allow caregivers to have access to their loved ones anytime.”  -CEA CEO & President, Gary Shapiro

Press Release

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!!!

Your friends at GrandCare Systems

grandcare.com

GrandCare Systems® Wins 2012 Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Award

Frost & Sullivan Presents GrandCare Systems® as a 2012 Best Practices Award Winner, North American Elderly Health and Wellness Customer Value Enhancement

GrandCare-Systems-LLC.

West Bend, WI – (December 12, 2012) – GrandCare Systems® has received the prestigious 2012 Frost & Sullivan, North American Elderly Health and Wellness Customer Value Enhancement Award. This award recognizes GrandCare Systems for offering an extensive, cutting-edge, elderly health and wellness solution.

“GrandCare has recognized the opportunity presented by the convergence of healthcare and wellness. The company has designed and launched a complete and vetted elderly solution that successfully addresses the needs of being happy and healthy,” said Frost & Sullivan Senior Industry Analyst Zachary Bujnoch.

GrandCare offers a system that allows communication between various devices to a central interactive touchscreen hub, which then relays that information into a reviewable format. The core of customer value with elderly care is not in the technology itself, but in the effective design of the system, and in the deployment and ongoing service of such a system. The elderly population has unique needs and desires for home health and wellness systems. These needs must be taken into account during the initial design and ongoing improvements of the offering. It is becoming increasingly evident that wellness activities for the elderly, such as social interactions, are important to healthcare, and they might be necessary for success in some aspects of healthcare outcomes. To achieve greater customer value in elderly health and wellness, each of these needs must be addressed. Since 2005, GrandCare has set the highest standard for value in this market by designing and providing both a health offering and a wellness offering in the same system.

“The world of telehealth is most impactful when it is addressing the elderly population, but unfortunately, elderly care and wellness remains one of the most undeserved needs in healthcare,” reported Bujnoch. “GrandCare continues to show exceptional insight within elderly health and wellness by understanding the complex needs of the elderly and offers a unique, high-value solution in response.”

GrandCare’s offering takes on two roles. First, it acts as an interactive communication platform that can receive data from various activity and digital health devices. The GrandCare platform is malleable and customizable to the specific needs of an elderly home or community setting. It integrates with health-focused peripherals, such as scales, glucometers and blood pressure devices, as well as smart home sensors that can monitor activity and wellness. The second role of the system is as a direct and interactive communication touchscreen for the aged. Through this highly functional hub, the elderly persons can interact with various passive monitoring devices by reviewing data, and they can also engage in a wealth of social and day-to-day activities, such as video chatting with family and maintaining a shared social calendar. The system itself is extremely flexible, as it can be utilized for many diverse tasks facing the elderly, such as keeping up with a complex medication regimen, prompting them with voice and written reminders, and providing stimulating brain exercises. Best of all, no computer knowledge is needed to operate the system, fulfilling the critical need for ease of use. By properly addressing all of these factors, GrandCare’s solution clearly proves a value for the elderly care market. GrandCare will be exhibiting in the Digital Health Pavilion at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Jan. 8–11, LVCC South Hall, Booth # 26629

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When PERS alone is just not enough…

I read a great article today by MobiHealth News’ Neil Versel.

“Panic Buttons for Seniors Must Go”

He shared a story about his own grandmother who was living in a facility with panic buttons. She had a fall and because she was unable to press the button, she ended up not receiving help for 8 hours. He called for more passive monitoring soutions that did not require involvement from the individual in order to effectively work.

Clearly at GrandCare, this topic is of utmost importance… I don’t think there has to be only one solution. Perhaps a combination of several pieces can cover several areas.  We combine digital health technology (what are her vitals, is she taking her medications, touchscreen education, prompts & assessments) as well as Activity of daily living remote monitoring…what you were talking about – a series of motion/temp, door, bed sensors can passively give relatives and caregivers information on someone’s routine activities… could this have saved her life? Not sure… but you certainly would have known MUCH sooner that she hadn’t been moving around, perhaps she missed a medication dosage, perhaps you’d be notified she didn’t access the fridge at mealtime or hadn’t used a bathroom in a number of hours.

07a_GrandCare_Taking_BP_on_the_HomeBase_full

The perfect fit is having a combination of a PERS in Conjunction with a system like GrandCare.  If someone is experiencing chest pain and is capable of pressing a button, a crisis mgmt system could be a life saving device.  If someone is having other symptoms (excessive weight gain, wandering, noncompliance, failure to return to bed during the night, etc), the only way you would remotely know that is from a Digital Health/ADL system.  There are some very forward-thinking providers and in-home caregivers out there that have seen the professional caregiving POWERED by technology is the way to go.  I think many times a provider looks at technology as THE solution and instead, it needs to become a vehicle to provide a solution instead of letting the tech define the care.

So who is blazing the trail? Who is doing this right… Just a few honorable mentions go to:

LivHOME’s CareMonitor™ powered by GrandCare Systems®:
One of the largest in-home care providers who combine hands-on care management, caregiving & technology as one complete solution to keep folks independent at home.
www.livhomecaremonitor.com

Lutheran Homes of NY in Jamestown, NY:
They have created SMARTMENT™ homes that combine GrandCare’s digital health monitoring and socialization along with a Personal Emergency Response System and Activity of Daily Living Monitoring!!

I believe the digital health and activity monitoring space is heating up…It’s an exciting time to be a part of this disruptive industry!  Thanks again to Neil for the insightful, personal and thought-provoking article!!

Laura_05
Laura Mitchell, GrandCare Systems
VP Business Development
www.linkedin.com/in/laurahmitchell

LivHOME CareMonitor™ Powered by GrandCare Begins Nationwide Rollout

Professional Care Managers Can Monitor Seniors via the Web, Maintaining Both Independence and Safety Offers Cost-Saving Alternative to Home Care 

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–When Howard, a 90-year-old living in Walnut Creek, Calif., needs his blood pressure or oxygen level checked, the data are transmitted directly from monitors on his arm and finger and immediately made available to his geriatric Care Manager. His body weight is also sent from a Bluetooth-enabled scale.

Because Howard has congestive heart failure and lung disease, the ability to monitor this data is crucial. Yet, it is executed with ease in the comfort of his own home.

And when he wants to view new photos of family and friends or even listen to his favorite jazz, all Howard has to do is touch a button on the same, simple device that connects him with his Care Manager.

Howard is one of the first seniors in the nation to use LivHOME CareMonitor™, a web-based, touch-screen service powered by GrandCare Systems that lets Howard’s professional Care Manager, Francesca Wood, monitor his health and safety remotely.

“With LivHOME CareMonitor™, I know that Francesca is aware of my health and vital signs at any time of the day, while I retain my independence and privacy. It also lets me stay connected with my family and friends at the touch of a button,” Howard said.

LivHOME CareMonitor™ (www.livhomecaremonitor.com), a remote care service first announced in March, is beginning to roll out nationwide where LivHOME services are offered. It is currently available in Los Angeles, Walnut Creek and Riverside, Calif., and will continue to be rolled out to additional markets in late 2012 and early 2013. LivHOME CareMonitor™ is provided by LivHOME, Inc., one of the nation’s largest providers of professionally led at-home care for seniors.

Seniors access the LivHOME CareMonitor™ service through an easy-to-use, web-based, touch-screen interface developed by GrandCare Systems. LivHOME Care Managers can monitor their clients using the web-based service and are alerted immediately if any problems arise. The system can track medication schedules, movements around the house and biometric readings such as blood pressure, glucose, blood oxygen and body weight.

“LivHOME CareMonitor™ represents an entirely new approach to caregiving, enabling us to monitor the health and safety of our clients – but without the intrusiveness or cost of hands-on care. This provides greater independence and privacy, while significantly reducing the cost of care. It also extends our caregiving services to a whole new demographic of seniors, those who would benefit from some assistance to remain independent in their home but don’t require a full-time caregiver,” said Mike Nicholson, LivHOME’s Chief Executive Officer.

“In 1999, LivHOME was one of the first companies to place caregiver supervision under a professional Care Manager’s responsibility. In 2012, LivHOME is a pioneer once more – placing remote home care technology oversight under a Care Manager’s responsibility,” Nicholson continued.

Features of the LivHOME CareMonitor™ service include:

  • Professional Care Manager assessment
  • Installation and setup of system
  • Touch-screen computer
  • Personal emergency response system
  • 24/7 alert monitoring and Care Manager availability
  • Medication, appointment and social reminders
  • Skype connectivity, photos, messages, music
  • Motion and pressure sensors, door monitors
  • Biometric measurements including weight, glucose, blood pressure, blood oxygen monitors

LivHOME CareMonitor™, powered by GrandCare Systems’ award-winning technology, is available in multiple configurations depending upon the needs of the individual senior.

To find out more about LivHOME CareMonitor™, please contact Mickey Goldkorn
at mgoldkorn@livhome.com or visit the LivHOME CareMonitor™ website
at www.livhomecaremonitor.com.

About LivHOME

LivHOME is one of the nation’s largest providers of professionally led at-home care for seniors. The company is dedicated to finding solutions that enable older adults to remain in their homes as long as possible. Based in Los Angeles, LivHOME delivers high quality at-home care throughout California as well as Arlington, Va., Atlanta, Austin, Tx., Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Silver Spring, Md. and The Woodlands, Tx.

Contacts

For LivHOME
Sharon Bially, 508-655-2676
sharon@farrellkramer.com

Why Z-wave is Impacting Digital Health: A LIVE Interview

Recently at the Z-Wave Alliance fall summit, GrandCare’s VP of Business Development was interviewed on Digital Health, what GrandCare does and how Z-Wave is impacting the Digital Health market.  Watch what the Z-Wave customers have to say in this LIVE interview from Z-Wave Fall Summit Press Interview. Laura Mitchell chimes in at about 2 mins and 30 seconds.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78tQiPsYUQk&feature=youtu.be]