Tag Archive for: Laura Mitchell

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

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]

GrandCare’s Laura Mitchell Nominated for TrailBlazer Award

GrandCare’s own Laura Mitchell has been nominated by the Digital Health Industry for the WEGO Health Activist “Trailblazer” Award!

You can support this nomination by endorsing Laura today!

GrandCare Returns to CES Digital Health Pavilion for 5th consecutive year!

GrandCare announced today that they plan to return to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, for their 5th consecutive year. GrandCare will be located in Las Vegas Convention Center, LVCC South Hall Booth 26629 within the Digital Health Pavilion. This will be a special year for GrandCare, as a 2012 winner of the CEA Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $186 billion U.S. consumer technology industry. CES is held every January at the Las Vegas Convention Center. CES 2013 promises the shifting focus to Digital Health, Fitness and Aging in Place Technologies with large pavilions and information-rich educational sessions.

“One cannot separate the rising costs of healthcare from the aging population boom”, said GrandCare founder, Charlie Hillman “The majority of our healthcare costs are spent in the later years of life. If we continue our healthcare focus on pounds of cure, we will most certainly bankrupt our grandchildren. At GrandCare, we strive to provide ounces of prevention through our innovative digital health tablet platform. This will not only save money, it will also enable individuals to self-manage chronic conditions from the luxury of their own homes.

Hillman is slated to present on Healthcare and the importance of digital health during the Digital Health Summit on January 9th at 10:15a, LVCC North N250.

GrandCare Systems will provide full demonstrations of the Digital Health platform within their booth (LVCC S 26629) in the Digital Health Pavilion. Attendees will experience the socialization, gaming & video chat features, while delving into telehealth, medication management & activity of daily living remote monitoring capabilities.

The Las Vegas Convention Center North Exhibit Hall is open Tuesday January 8th until Friday January 11th. For more information on the CES Show, visit: http://www.cesweb.org/

GrandCare is coordinating a no-host meet up on Monday evening at the West Wing Bar inside the MGM. All are welcome to join. Please RSVP here

GrandCare spotlighted at Z-WAVE Fall Conference

GrandCare’s Laura Mitchell recently returned from the Z-Wave Fall conference after keynoting on Digital Health and the GrandCare System (how z-wave plays a critical role).  Z-Wave has really taken an active role in engaging in the digital health industry and GrandCare is excited to be spotlighted as a Z-Wave Featured Company on the Z-Wave Alliance Website.

“At the forefront of the Connected Aging space, GrandCare’s System connects via the Internet and communicates with wireless Z-Wave sensors throughout the residence. At our Fall Summit, VP of Business Development Laura Mitchell will deliver a presentation on the GrandCare system and how Z-Wave provides empowered independent aging.”    Visit the Z-Wave Alliance website here

Lindsey from Residential Magazine attended Mitchell’s presentation and had this to say:

By Lindsey Adler November 2,2012

… This year’s event highlighted three key note speakers, including Laura Mitchell, VP of Business Development at GrandCare.  GrandCare’s “aging in place” technology has benefited from situations where senior citizens are transitioned from hospital emergency rooms to outpatient centers and eventually their own homes. GrandCare’s value add is software, Mitchell explained, meaning they work with existing protocol devices to develop unique health solutions with any range of hardware. “The key to this industry is partnerships,” she said. For CEDIA dealers, this means developing working relationships with long term care providers, outpatient centers, and other healthcare facilities.

…

To read the full article, click here. 

Z-Wave Alliance Featured Company: GrandCare Systems

Demographics throughout the world point squarely to an aging population.  In the US alone, 77 million Baby Boomers have begun turning senior, and 44 million of these individuals are already acting as caregivers to elderly parents and loved ones. Many nations in Europe and Asia are even older per capita.  We are in the midst of a senior population bulge that will last for the next 20-30 years.

Accessible monitoring, control and alert solutions powered by Z-Wave provide invaluable assistance to the wellness and convenience of these Boomer seniors — as well as the elderly loved ones for whom they are caregivers. These connected aging solutions are, and will continue to be, a vital demand for this enormous emerging market.

2012 mHealth Summit MEET-UP

The GrandCare team is delighted to once again attend the mHealth Summit this year at the Gaylord National Resort December 3 – 5.

Join the GrandCare team and others in the industry at the mHealth no-host MEET UP, Monday evening (Dec 3 – 830p) at the The Public House in National Harbor. This is an opportunity to casually meet up and network with colleagues throughout the Digital and Mobile Health Industry.

This event is free and requires no tickets. You can RSVP here and see who else is attending!

GrandCare will be hosting private meetings throughout the conference. To schedule a meeting or demo with GrandCare, please contact us

The 4th annual mHealth Summit attracts leaders from all sides of the spectrum, from government to non-profit organizations, The main focus for this event is the advancement of health related outcomes through the  use of technology. GrandCare is excited to be participating in this event. Backed by a full agenda, this event looks at current mobile health technology and ways to better it both in the United States as well as internationally. By utilizing mobile technology we can help providers deliver better care and create more awareness and promote better health for patients.

December 3rd – 5th, 2012

The Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center        

Fort Washington, Maryland

The 2012 mHealth Summit is the premier international forum connecting the mobile health ecosystem for mHealth research, education, thought leadership, exhibits and action-provoking panel discussions. Conference sessions will explore, examine, and debate the ways mobile technology is transforming  health care delivery, research, business and policy for the 21st century both in the U.S. and internationally, including developed and developing nations.

Click here to learn more about the 2012 mHealth Summit

Nick McLain, CEDIA – On Digital Home Health

Nick McLain has recently written a great article on entering the digital home health field. He covers not only the basic demographics and applications, but takes a moment to point out the challenges and need for integrators to really understand the health care industry.  He used industry experts: Laurie Orlov (Age in Place Technology Watch), GrandCare’s own, Laura Mitchell, and GrandCare partner, Tom Ardolf of Cybermation .

“This is more about understanding home health care and its industry than it is about understanding the technology, which most integrators can get pretty easily.” – Ardolf

Digital Home Health Continues Its Ascent –
But Is It Viable for the CE Industry?

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Nick McLain

Ed Thelen, 69, of Cold Spring is able to live in his apartment with the help of an integrated monitoring system marketed locally by Cybermation.
Jason Wachter, jwachter@stcloudtimes.com

“You’d be hard pressed to find a bigger endorser of digital home health technology than Ed Thelen of Cold Spring, Minn.

That’s not how the 70-year-old originally felt when his daughter, who also acts as his caregiver, proposed getting such a system a year ago. “My first reaction was, ‘I don’t need anything like that,’” he says. “But she talked me into it, and I’m really glad she did. It’s absolutely wonderful.”

Thelen, who has Parkinson’s and diabetes, records his blood pressure and weight, and the results are sent to his doctor. The unit he uses, a Grandcare System, also has Skype capabilities so that Thelen can talk to and see his relatives, and in particular his grandchildren, often. “I can see them all the time now,” he says. “It helps me keep in close contact with everybody.”

Telehealth, digital home health, remote monitoring, aging in place, e-health, m-health — whatever you want to call it, the industry, which aims to deliver health care remotely through technology, is a burgeoning one. Laurie Orlov, an industry analyst and founder of Aging in Place Technology Watch, puts the size of the digital home health care industry at approximately $6-7 billion — and growing.”

…

Laura Mitchell, vice president of business development for Grandcare Systems, says many of her dealers lower the initial upfront cost of the equipment and instead spread it out over monthly fees. After the equipment is paid for, the monthly fees are pure profit.

Ardolf started offering digital home health products and services in 2010. After two years, he is so satisfied with it that he sold the low-voltage electronic portion of his business, and now Cybermation focuses exclusively on digital home health.

Read more at www.cedia.net/blog

Technology and Its Benefits to Helping Adult Children, Caregivers and Seniors Live Better Lives

We wanted to share another great blog article by Mark Phillips, Product Manager at GE Healthcare IT.

Can Technology Help Adult Children, Caregivers and Seniors Live Better Lives?

Mark Phillips

Every day the aging population is growing at a significant rate, and at the same time, technology is taking off at a remarkable pace. So why not combine the two to help adult children take care of their aging loved ones without sacrificing their independence?   He has successfully addressed the key needs the Aging and Technology industry faces and has defined them as below:

      • Support seniors in living their absolute best life where they want to live it!
      • Keep families and caregivers connected, even across long distances
      • Support and promote socialization
      • Promote safety and peace of mind
      • Assist with activities of daily living
      • Help coordinate the myriad of care activities
      • Enable easy interaction with community services and businesses
      • Are easy to setup, intuitive, and easy to use
      • Are affordable to acquire and to keep

Phillips goes on to describe the issues that caregivers and their aging loved ones face and then gives some viable techology solutions as a vehicle to provide better, individualized, and more efficient care. GrandCare is mentioned as a stand out solution “these guys are the blaze, the trail pioneers in the market…”  GrandCare’s VP of Business Development, Laura Mitchell, is described by Mark as “a tireless champion for aging in place technology and who has delivered many blogs and webinars to help spread the word”.

Check out Mark Phillip’s complete blog Here.

Laura Mitchell Selected to Speak at The Annual Z-Wave Fall Summit

Digital Health Technology: Powered by Z-Wave

October 22-25 2012, Edison, NJ

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.  Every day, 10,000 people turn 65 and this trend will continue for the next 20 years. These boomers are demanding a NEW and sustainable “AGING IN PLACE” model of care.

Delivered by a true integration expert, the solution combines standard protocol-driven ZWAVE technologies – complete with wireless tele-medicine, brain fitness and socialization features.  Laura will discuss the future of this booming industry, the players involved, the GrandCare Systems model and why ZWAVE plays an integral role.

The Annual Z-Wave Fall Summit event brings together Alliance members, press and technology representatives from around the world to learn more about the Z-Wave ecosystem and promote its market leadership. The Fall Summit will include the final training sessions of the year, as well as a tour of the Z-Wave Interoperability Lab, plenary presentations by noted industry analysts, and the Member/Press evening reception and awards.

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