Tag Archive for: NAHB

Home Health Technology Webinar from 2010 What’s the same…what’s changed?

Just thought we’d share this. This is from 2010, a webinar led by GrandCare’s Laura Mitchell to the NAHB & CEDIA audiences… interesting what’s changed and what has stayed the same!!!

Home Technology Alliance Update

Aging in Place: Home Health Technology Webinar Recap

CEDIA, founding sponsor of NAHB’s Home Technology Alliance (HTA), offers quarterly educational webinars to supplement fundamental concepts highlighted in their joint newsletter.  Moderated by leaders in the industry, these webinars offer insider’s tips to help you and your business take advantage of growing trends.

To this end, CEDIA welcomed Laura Mitchell of GrandCare Systems in Minnesota to share her insight into “Home Health Technology: A $20 Billion Industry.” Throughout this webinar, broadcast on September 1, 2010, Ms. Mitchell explained the impressive target base that currently is or will be shortly interested in home health technology while touching on some available solutions.

As indicated in the title of this webinar, the home health technology field is a $20 Billion industry and growing with many contributing factors. With a baby boomer turning 63 every seven seconds, the target audience for this technology is growing exponentially. While this fact remains undisputed, another fact also plays into the hands of this growing field: this group wants to remain independent as long as possible.

“A study conducted in 2005 indicated that 80% of the respondents would be willing to pay an extra $100/month for services and technology that would allow them to stay independent,” mentioned Mitchell.

Mitchell cited Laurie M. Orlov’s Aging in Place Technology Watch, a market research firm providing thought leadership, analysis and guidance about technologies and related services, while she discussed the four main aging in place technology categories available. Each addressed a contributing factor toward a person’s inability to stay independent. The first category, home safety and security, would attends to the fact that one-third of all people aged 65 and older fall each year. Utilizing a home monitor, care givers or loved ones will be alerted immediately in case of an accident. The second category, learning and contribution, recognizes that people who are connected socially live longer. The third category, health and wellness, relates to the fact that medication management is one of the leading drivers to assisted living and nursing home facilities. Utilizing technology for both cognitive and medication management at home can help prevent the necessity of moving into those facilities. Finally, the fourth category, communication and engagement, relates to utilizing email, video phone, cell phone and PCs to stay in touch and traverse the other categories as well.

Perhaps most importantly, trades need to become educated about the newest available technology and how to use it to service this growing cross-section of our society. The consumers all want this technology, but don’t know how to ask for it. It is imperative that each builder and ESC ask questions to determine which technologies best suit their clients both now and going forward into the future. With the demand and the willingness to contribute monthly income toward technologies to stay independent, it would behoove both builders and ESCs to explore home health technology options.

“We are currently experiencing the largest population shift in history,” said Ric Johnson, Chief Technology Officer of Elite Systems Solutions. “This particular group is much different than the previous generation in that they are technology-driven. Any builder who is ignoring this market is losing out because this generation not only has a lot of equity in their current homes, but also more discretionary income to put toward the technology they desire. Options exist today to allow those in the 50+ market to remodel their existing homes or upgrade to new homes and be fully equipped with home healthcare, entertainment, home safety and communication devices. All of this technology equates to a common goal shared by most people in this cross-section of America: allowing the population to age in place.”

Click here to visit CEDIA’s archive of past Webinars including Home Health Technology: A $20 Billion Industry.

In addition to these quarterly Webinars, CEDIA also offers online CEDIA education classes, which can be accessed here, that NAHB members may take for continuing education credit:

  • Introduction to Sub-System Design
  • Introduction to Sub-System Control
  • Fundamentals of Home Theater Design
  • Introduction to Digital Media Servers
  • The Designer, the Client, and the Process
  • Design Documents
  • Project Management Process Flow: An Overview of the PMI Model
  • Home Theater Room Design
  • Introduction to Project Management

About CEDIA

CEDIA is an international trade association of companies that specialize in designing and installing electronic systems for the home. The association was founded in September 1989 and has more than 3,500 member companies worldwide. CEDIA Members are established and insured businesses with bona fide qualifications and experience in this specialized field. For more information on CEDIA, visit the association’s Web site atwww.cedia.org .

11-4-10 Webinar: E-Learning for Caregivers, Dr. Marion speaks

WHEN: Thursday November 4th, 2pm EDT (1p CT).
WHERE: http://my.dimdim.com/grandcare
WHAT: E-Learning for Caregivers, Dr. Marion speaks
WHY: With the senior generation living longer than ever before, Dr. Marion believes we are on the verge of an “elder care tsunami.” Her proven advice and support can help caregivers address the challenges they face as they care for their aging parents, spouses and loved ones.
Topic Description: Dr. Marion is about to release her E-Learning Tool for non professional caregivers. It is a program in partnership with Adobe featuring Captivate 3 technology. It is a 5 hour online class that walks Caregivers through the basics of caregiving from how to properly use a wheelchair to how to make the home safe. They are interested in embedding various products and services within the tool and offering them for sale under an affiliate model through the class.

About Dr. Marion:
A recognized visionary and thought leader in the elder field, Dr. Marion (Marion Somers, Ph.D) has over After decades of working directly with seniors and their caregivers, Dr. Marion launched a public effort to provide practical tools, solutions, and advice to those struggling to care for our aging population. She has helped millions of Americans through her book, “Elder Care Made Easier: Doctor Marion’s 10 Steps to Help You Care for an Aging Loved One,” and her web site, www.drmarion.org , speaking tours, syndicated column, national media appearances, and more.

Upcoming Events:
NAHB Webinar – Nov 17 (Laura M from GrandCare speaks) for info: nahb.org

CES (PRE CES WORKSHOP & ANNUAL AGETEK MEETING) – You don’t want to miss this!
ou are Invited to register for an exciting pre‐CES Workshop:
The Silver Tsunami’ is Coming: Is Your Company Ready?
Wednesday Afternoon ‐‐ January 5, 2011, Las Vegas
AgeTek member companies: $99, non‐members $149 suminfo@silverssummit.com
http://silverssummit.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=183&Itemid=71

NAPGCM- – May 12-15, 2011 | Sheraton New Orleans Hotel | New Orleans, LA
AgeTek Discounts apply: http://www.caremanager.org/calendar.cfm

Question/Answers from today’s Home Health Tech Webinar: NAHB/CEDIA

Thanks to NAHB & CEDIA for allowing me to speak on the webinar: Home Health Technology: A $20 Billion Industry”. We had 150 signed up, an amazing amount of interest! Thanks to all who attended!

Below are some questions I received after the webinar – I wanted to share with everyone!

1. Are there any systems on the market that identify through some sort of floor sweep that someone has fallen. Sometimes clients are not able to push the button. There are some “smart floor” applications that are out there. These can be costly solutions. Sometimes motion detection can pick up things like this. For example, excessive motion on the foot of the stairs, got up during the night & didn’t return to bed within a given parameter. There are all sorts of ways that we might know if something is “amiss”

2. I own MJW Home Modifications for Boomers & Beyond which modifies homes to allow clients to remain in their homes independently and safely and I want to add assistive technology to my offers. Who do I contact for more info at GrandCare Systems? Contact info@grandcare.com or call 262-338-6147 and we can absolutely have someone get in touch with you about becoming a reseller or pair you together with an existing dealer/integrator!
3. How do you become a dealer?/em> Contact info@grandcare.com or call 262-338-6147. Dealer process is different for some of the other technologies. To become a GrandCare dealer, dealers must attend training, sign the dealer documents & purchase their 1st demonstration system. GCHQ will be hosting a dealer training at CEDIA on Tues Sept 21, 2010 from 930a – 5p. Contact us for more info!

4. Do you have any advice about how to discuss the term monitoring and big brother watching? Remote monitoring & smart systems in general have wireless motion/temp/door sensors that can assess the overall activity in the home. It is as intrusive as a security system. It simply alerts a family member or caregiver if something is amiss. Senior/Loved One compliance is very important and we recommend that they absolutely understand that this is an enabling technology that can help them to remain independent, while giving their children “peace of mind” knowing they are safe, happy & healthy at home. GrandCare has a LARGE socialization/cognition/communication component that really helps us to overcome this. With GrandCare, grandma gets to video chat & receive incoming communications…if the family is involved, this featured OVERRIDES all else…

5. Sounds like most of the info is in the east or mid states, is there info in the west? I am not sure I understand what kind of information you are referring to. We have dealers throughout the entire United States, Canada and Australia. All sorts of organizations are doing this kind of technology – really everywhere. The technology that I showed in the presentation ranged from Europe to the East coast, midwest with products also on the west coast being shown.

6. Have you seen any web sites or web services that are bringing this all together? AgeTek Alliance (www.agetek.org), CAST – center for aging services technology, we try to help our GrandCare dealers by providing educational opportunities on how to partner with other organizations & provide a suite of products. We have weekly aging/tech conference call webinars open to everyone in the industry, we also host a monthly webinar for our GC dealers on marketing/sales, tech questions, etc – and have a dealer chat room and forum for dealers to communicate, cooperate, share information, ask questions, and access our documents/ppts/pics, etc

7. What are the franchise opportunities for the products? Many offer dealer programs. Those you will see at CEDIA have dealer opportunities available. Some have sales reps. Contact the specific company to find out details

8. What is the best way to jump start an AIP business and come up with prospects to talk to about systems for their loved ones? Make sure whichever program you join, they offer adequate training and materials. I know that some of our distributors offer a full range of “getting started” materials such as website options, sales/marketing & getting started training.

9. How can we demo your products?
What’s the best way for HH care companies and ESC’s to work together… so both can profit? What have you found to work the best? Contact the companies you are interested in and see if you can see a demonstration. Many have recorded demonstrations you can watch – or attend CEDIA to see them LIVE in action, touch them, try them, ask questions. If you come on to our weekly aging technology industry call – you can ask questions on the public chat, network and learn more about the industry. Much of this is also covered in your training program.

10. When providing a system, what should we say is a basic or approximate cost? This really ranges on what you are selling. If you are selling a Personal Emergency Response System, that’s going to be a much lowered cost, vs a fully featured Smart Home/Communication/Tele-wellness System. Some systems have a high upfront cost and lowered monthly cost, some go for a lower upfront cost and higher monthly, some are offered with rental/leasing programs.

11. When you provide this presentation get a copy of the list of manufacturers and products–pictures were displayed but no mention of the products. Many of the products that are shown on the ppt were mentioned, but I did mention a few too that did not have a picture shown. If there’s anything specific you are looking for, just contact me: laura@grandcare.com and I am happy to get you the information!

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.