New and Notable Tech Offerings

With a note on geriatric care managers and Skype

Last month I mentioned three new caregiving applications that entered the market recently. This month I'll present a summary list of other interesting products that have entered the market during the last six months or so. A number of products are expected to be announced during the latter half of 2010, so expect another post when there are at least six more.

AFrame Digital: Based in Reston, Virginia, AFrame Digital developed its remote monitoring technology through National Institute on Aging and other grants. It has recently begun commercial distribution of its watch-based product. "AFrame Digital is a research-based technology company delivering intelligent, nonintrusive and secure wireless wellness monitoring and alerting solutions to senior living communities, rehabilitation facilities and in the home." Cindy Crump is the CEO.

Ankota Family Connect: Ankota, Inc., based in Baltimore Maryland, just launched Family Connect, "an innovative software product that enables healthcare professionals and homecare agencies to provide real-time information to family members about their loved ones’ health and well-being, monitoring data such as activity level, state of mental health, daily routines, exercise, overall energy, eating habits and week-to-week changes." Will Hicklen is the CEO and a cofounder.

BeClose: This company provides wireless, sensor-based activity monitoring from its base in Vienna, Virginia. “Discreet, easy-to-install wireless sensors are placed throughout the home to help you monitor your loved one’s daily activities. If the sensors detect unusual motion or inactivity, the information is communicated to a secure online center." The company is a technology partner with Alarm.com and is privately funded. Liddy Manson is the CEO.

HAPPYNeuron Countdown: In May, online brain fitness provider HAPPYneuron, of Mountain View, California, launched "its newest executive function game, 'Countdown,' a math-based game that engages working memory, long-term memory, mental imagery, and concentration. HAPPYneuron’s robust game collection delivers significant novelty and variety to the program and makes for more effective adaptive brain training workouts based on an individual's cognitive strengths and weaknesses." Laura Fay is the CEO.

IDEAL LIFE: At last month's ATA event, Toronto-based IDEAL LIFE’s wireless remote health and wellness monitoring system unveiled its "universal mobile connectivity through compatibility with communication brands from Apple (including iPads) and AT&T to Verizon, Virgin Mobile, and US Cellular." Harvey Goldberg is the CEO and a cofounder.

Lifeline with Auto Alert: In March, Philips Lifeline (Andover, Massachusetts), provider of the Lifeline personal emergency response service (PERS), announced its augmented offering, Lifeline with Auto Alert, which is designed to "automatically place a call for help if it detects a fall and you're unable to push the button yourself." Eric Silfen is the company's chief medical officer.

Mobile Help: Launched in January, this Boca Raton, Florida, startup offers Mobile Help, a service that "integrates cellular and GPS technology to provide medical monitoring services and location tracking for emergency assistance to the user as well as notification and tracking for the caregiver." Elias Janetis is the founder and CEO.

Finally, a thought about GCMs and technology: Last week the New York Times’ New Old Age blog featured an interesting mention of a doctor consultation, via Skype video, with a 100-year-old woman and her grandson, on a laptop provided by the accompanying geriatric care manager. Yeah, that's right, the GCM. It was a first for the doctor (no early adopter there), and no doubt it was a first for the patient and her grandson. The GCM is not identified by name, only by company, SeniorBridge.

Now here is the remarkable part from the post: "SeniorBridge, a national geriatric care management chain, has trained its care managers to connect patients and families with laptops and Skype, not only during doctors’ visits but for special events like birthday parties or just for everyday contact."

Maybe it's just me, but this is the first time I have heard about an organization of GCMs considering video interaction with families important enough to define a process and train care managers accordingly. Meanwhile, an entire issue of NAPGCM's Journal of Geriatric Care Management, edited by GCM Julie Menack, was recently devoted to technology (including an article by yours truly). I think we've turned a corner—vendors take note!

By Laurie Orlov
Aging in Place Technology Watch Blog

[First posted June 6, 2010, at Laurie's Aging in Place Technology Watch Web site.]