New Senior Technologies Highlighted at AARP Conference
At last month’s AARP Life@50+ national convention, a competition among health-focused start-ups was a highlight of the conference. The LivePitch event allowed competition finalists to present brief start-up pitches to a nationwide audience.
To be eligible for the competition, companies must be focused upon consumer-oriented, technology-based health solutions for a “50 and over” market, and must be prepared to launch their service or program within the next 18 months.
In her regular aging in place technology blog, Laurie Orlov reviewed several of the more promising innovations geared toward seniors. They include the following:
AlzhUp.
Designed as a mobile app for seniors and their care teams, AlzUp provides a platform of activities and games for seniors, designed to address cognitive decline. What makes AlzhUp unique is its integration of an individual’s own personal bank of memories, along with care details, and daily routines.
According to the company’s website, “AlzhUp seeks to improve the quality of life of people with Alzheimer’s by integrating actual memories and scientifically proven therapies in a single platform, slowing the cognitive decline of the patient, as well as facilitate [sic] the active participation of the entire family and care team in the treatment process.”
Home for Life Design.
The tagline for Home for Life Design is: “Creating SPACE, so you can Age in Place!” SPACE is an acronym, for Safe, Personal, Accessible, and Cost-Effective home modifications.
Home for Life’s business model utilizes occupational therapists to conduct in-home environmental assessments to determine needed modifications, then connects the client with providers who complete personalized home modifications. Its mobile application also allows for paperless assessment and referral.
CarePredict.
CarePredict’s Tempo™ device serves as a monitoring and alert system that keeps track of individuals’ posture, movement, and location. It also tracks wearers’ daily patterns of behavior in a “rhythm journal.” Significant deviations from the daily pattern trigger alerts to loved ones or other caregivers.
The Tempo device is worn like a watch and interacts with wall-mounted wireless hubs in the home. In addition to responding to emergencies, the system can provide charts of lifestyle patterns and activity levels. CarePredict’s website touts its “sophisticated read on well-being” through its integration of location and activity data.
Ollo Wearables.
Offering a wearable, voice-controlled smartphone device, Ollo Wearables offers families “constant peace of mind that all is well.” Its CloudPhone 3G will serve as a wearable data and communications device, combining the features of a digital personal assistant with ongoing health monitoring.
By detecting falls, lack of movement, and other changes in activity and alerting medical services and designated loved ones, the CloudPhone can aggressively respond to a health crisis even before the wearer realizes something is wrong.
As strong advocates of aging in place, Homecare California is happy to see the continued strides being made in home-based health technology for older adults.
