Written by Nadege Messier, Grand App AI Australia / New Zealand

and Published on ARIIA’s website (Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia – Australian Government department promoting Innovation in Aged Care) :

https://www.ariia.org.au/knowledge-implementation-hub/resources/potential-benefits-age-tech-monitoring-technologies-aged

​​​Nowadays, new technologies are being integrated into the aged care sector. These systems are becoming part of the ‘Age-Tech’ and offer numerous benefits for older people, caregivers and families in their day-to-day lives.

​New technologies provide real-time monitoring of vital signs, activity levels, and behavioural or environmental conditions, allowing caregivers and family members to respond promptly to emergencies such as falls, health crises, or accidents. These same remote care systems are now considered critical in improving an older person’s safety whilst reassuring their caregivers and families.

​Prevention of risks within the home setting can now be calculated using a range of sensors and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm. Families who live away from their older relatives or older people who prefer to age in place rather than moving to assisted living facilities or move closer to their family which would take them away from their preferred environment, especially benefit from remote sensor technologies.

Many monitoring technologies include features to support communication between older persons, carers, healthcare providers and even families. These functions can facilitate collaboration, coordination of care, and timely communication of important information.

​By using monitoring technologies, seniors can maintain a greater level of independence and be healthy for longer while still receiving support and assistance as needed and according to the changes in their fitness levels.

​As children, nieces, nephews, and siblings, we all want our loved ones, our older people, to age well and be happy. We can acknowledge that changes in health conditions are a natural part of aging. Continuous monitoring enables the early detection of health issues or behavioural changes, allows timely intervention and treatment and can improve general health outcomes and support wellbeing.

​Additionally, these systems collect valuable data, which can be used to create customised care plans tailored to each older person’s needs. An individualised plan ensures that each person receives the right care and support, optimising their overall health and quality of life. The data collected by these monitoring technologies can provide valuable insights into the seniors’ health trends and patterns over time. This information can also guide data-driven decision-making regarding their care, lifestyle modifications, and treatment plans.

​Financially automated monitoring systems can streamline caregiving tasks, saving the effort of carers, seniors and families, increasing efficiencies and saving time for everyone involved. More than anything, it allows carers to focus on providing quality care and spending meaningful time with their older clients and residents. In addition, by helping prevent emergencies and hospitalisations, monitoring technologies can reduce healthcare costs for individuals and their families. Although it can appear expensive to set up initially, these can still potentially represent long-term savings for the older person and the health system.

Overall, new monitoring technologies empower seniors to age in place safely and comfortably while providing invaluable support to caregivers and peace of mind to families.​

*The views and opinions expressed in Knowledge Blogs are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of ARIIA, Flinders University and/or the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

The post Potential benefits of Age-Tech monitoring technologies in aged care appeared first on Grand App AI.

In today’s ever-evolving world, InsurTech is revolutionizing the insurance industry! While it may have taken a bit longer for insurance to catch up with other segments of Fintech, it’s clear that technology is now defining the Next Gen of insurance. These changes are not only impacting processes and software packages, but they’re also making waves in other fields and industries.

One field that is experiencing a significant impact is AgeTech. Until recently, AgeTech was primarily associated with Healthcare, with limited technological support. However, as things progress, people are starting to analyze how technologies, especially AI and Gen AI, can make a positive impact in this field too.

Now, let’s talk about why insurance is heavily influenced by demographic trends and statistics. Over the past few decades, there has been a global increase in life expectancy. Thanks to advances in healthcare, better living conditions, and improved nutrition, most of the population is enjoying longer lives. In fact, between 2000 and 2019, longevity increased by more than 6 years, from 66.8 years to 73.4 years. Imagine, it was only 46.5 years in 1950! And it’s projected to rise even further to 77.3 years by 2050.

But it’s not just about living longer; it’s about living healthier too! Healthy life expectancy (HALE) has increased by 8% from 58.3 in 2000 to 63.7 in 2019. These statistics, among many others, are shaping the way elderly individuals and their families think about the “Golden Age.” Research shows that more seniors prefer and will continue to live in their own homes, which means that remote assisted senior care systems need to step up and support them.

Technology will be and is already the game-changer! 
With technology advancing at lightning speed, new elements, tools, and methodologies are being developed to cater to the needs of the aging population. That’s where InsurTech companies come into play and they are popping up like mushrooms after the rain! These companies are here to support insurance carriers in dealing with increased longevity, improving operational efficiency, reducing claims, but more importantly price accurately while meeting the growing demands of their long standing customers.

The post The Next Generation of Technology appeared first on Grand App AI.

The landscape of seniorcare has been revolutionized by technology, with Elderly Monitoring Solutions and Responsive Family Alert Systems for Seniors emerging as vital tools that have not only transformed the quality of life for elderly individuals but also played a pivotal role in saving lives. These innovative systems have shown their efficacy through real-life scenarios, where prompt interventions made possible by these technologies have averted emergencies and ensured the safety and well-being of seniors.

Real Scenarios of Lifesaving Interventions:
1. Timely Medical Assistance: In a heartwarming case, an elderly woman living alone experienced a sudden fall that rendered her unable to reach a phone for help. However, her Elderly Monitoring Solution detected the fall and immediately sent out an alert to her family and caregivers. Her family was able to swiftly dispatch medical assistance, preventing potential complications arising from delayed medical attention.

2. Responsive Family Alert System: An elderly gentleman with a history of heart problems experienced severe chest pain while at home. His Responsive Family Alert System allowed him to send an immediate distress signal to his family members, who were able to call emergency services promptly. This rapid response led to timely medical intervention, ultimately saving his life.
3. Early Detection of Health Issues: A senior woman with chronic health conditions was using an Elderly Monitoring Solution that tracked her vital signs and daily activities. The system’s algorithm detected irregularities in her heart rate and alerted her healthcare provider. Subsequent medical tests revealed an underlying cardiac issue that was addressed in its early stages, preventing a potential life-threatening event.
4. Fall Detection and Assistance: An elderly man living independently experienced a fall in his home, triggering the fall detection feature of his monitoring solution. His family received an immediate alert, and emergency services were dispatched to his location. Thanks to the swift response, the man’s injuries were treated promptly, reducing the risk of complications.
The Power of Technology in Elderly Care: 

Elderly Monitoring Solutions and Responsive Family Alert Systems for Seniors offer a multi-faceted approach to senior care. These technologies not only provide peace of mind to both elderly individuals and their families but also empower seniors to maintain their independence while staying connected to a responsive support network.

The real-life scenarios where Elderly Monitoring Solutions and Responsive Family Alert Systems for Seniors have saved lives underscore the critical role that technology plays in modern eldercare. The Grand-Sense monitoring and alert platform of Grand-App AI acts as vigilant guardians, ensuring the safety and well-being of seniors and enabling swift responses to emergencies. As technology continues to advance, it’s heartening to witness how Grand-Sense solution is revolutionizing senior care and redefining the possibilities for healthy, secure, and fulfilling aging.

The post Lifesaving Impact – Elderly Monitoring Solutions and Responsive Family Alert Systems for Seniors appeared first on Grand App AI.

Long-Term Care (LTC) insurance, often considered challenging for insurance companies due to its uncertainties and risks, could find renewed viability through innovative approaches such as Intelligent Caregiver Alert Technology and Personalized Frailty Management Programs. These advancements have the potential to not only mitigate the concerns associated with LTC insurance but also offer new opportunities for insurers to provide valuable services to policyholders.

Intelligent Caregiver Alert Technology:
Integrating intelligent caregiver alert technology can significantly enhance the effectiveness of LTC insurance, making it more appealing for insurance companies:

Early Intervention: Smart sensors and monitoring systems can detect changes in a policyholder’s daily routines, vital signs, or activities. This data can help identify potential health issues or emergencies at an early stage, allowing for timely interventions that could prevent more severe conditions and reduce the overall cost of care.

Reduced Risk and Costs: By offering policyholders access to such technology, insurance companies can actively manage and minimize potential risks associated with frailty. Fewer emergency hospitalizations and the ability to address issues before they escalate can lead to cost savings, benefiting both policyholders and insurers.

Data-Driven Insights: The data collected by these technologies can provide insurers with valuable insights into the health and well-being of their policyholders. This information can inform more accurate risk assessments, allowing insurance companies to tailor coverage and pricing based on individual health profiles.

Personalized Frailty Management Programs:
Incorporating personalized frailty management programs can create a win-win scenario for insurers and policyholders:

Proactive Health Management: These programs can include personalized exercise regimens, nutrition plans, and cognitive training that cater to the specific needs of each individual. By promoting healthier lifestyles and better self-care practices, insurers can reduce the likelihood of policyholders needing extensive long-term care services.

Incentives for Policyholders: Insurance companies can offer incentives, such as premium discounts or coverage enhancements, to policyholders who actively engage in and benefit from these programs. This not only promotes healthier living but also aligns the interests of policyholders and insurers.

Enhanced Policyholder Relationships: The integration of personalized frailty management programs can foster stronger relationships between insurance companies and their policyholders. By actively contributing to policyholders’ well-being, insurers can differentiate themselves and build trust in an industry often associated with uncertainty.

In conclusion, by embracing Intelligent Caregiver Alert Technology, such as the one provided by Grand App AI Grand-Sense Platform, and Personalized Frailty Management Programs, insurance companies can address the challenges of Long-Term Care insurance while simultaneously offering innovative, value-added services. These approaches enable insurers to shift from being purely financial risk mitigators to active partners in policyholders’ health and well-being. Through these innovations, the landscape of LTC insurance stands poised for transformation, potentially redefining its relevance and appeal for both insurance companies and those seeking comprehensive care coverage.

The post The Potential Transformation of Long-Term Care Insurance: Embracing Innovation appeared first on Grand App AI.

Frailty, a common geriatric syndrome, presents a significant risk of catastrophic declines in health and function among older adults. Recognized for centuries as a marker of vulnerability in aging individuals, frailty manifests through weakness, decreased energy, low activity levels, unintentional weight loss, and slowness while walking. As a prevalent clinical syndrome in the elderly, frailty is associated with several health risks, including falls, disability, hospitalization, and mortality. It often leads to a loss of independence, making early detection crucial in preventing or delaying its onset.

A popular approach to assess geriatric frailty involves evaluating five dimensions that reflect underlying systems contributing to the syndrome: unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, muscle weakness, slowness while walking, and low levels of activity. The SHARE FI index, developed by Romero-Ortuno, is a common tool that measures frailty by checking fatigue, loss of appetite, grip strength, functional difficulties, and physical activity. Based on the status of these domains, individuals are classified as non-frail, pre-frail, or frail.

The advancements in technology have led to the development of innovative solutions for senior wellness monitoring, such as the Senior Wellness Monitoring System. This comprehensive system incorporates the reliable senior home alert systems and intelligent caregiver alert technology to provide continuous care and real-time monitoring for older adults in the comfort of their homes.

Utilizing AI technologies and smart algorithms, the Senior Wellness Monitoring System offers 24/7 Automatic Care and Distress Monitoring, enabling at-home caregiving companies to keep a holistic view of the senior’s well-being. The system combines specially built sensors and other components to detect changes in behavior, mobility, and daily activities, which are essential indicators for identifying early signs of frailty.

The integration of the Senior Wellness Monitoring System with intelligent caregiver alert technology ensures that caregivers receive instant alerts and notifications via a mobile application if any potential distress or critical situation arises. This proactive approach allows caregivers to promptly address any emerging health issues and provide timely assistance, reducing the risk of catastrophic health declines.

Prevention strategies for frailty are further reinforced with the Senior Wellness Monitoring System:

Identification of risk factors: The system’s continuous monitoring capabilities aid in identifying risk factors such as low activity levels and unintended weight loss, enabling caregivers to take early action and tailor interventions to the individual’s needs.

Physical activity: The system tracks activity levels and detects slowness while walking, encouraging caregivers to create personalized exercise regimens to promote physical well-being.

Nutritional intervention: By monitoring changes in appetite and weight, caregivers can assess nutritional needs and implement dietary improvements or nutritional supplementation, as suggested by studies for frailty prevention.

Non-surgical management: The Senior Wellness Monitoring System facilitates non-surgical interventions, including exercise tracking, occupational therapy, and nutritional supplementation, helping older adults maintain their independence and mobility.

Palliative care: For individuals experiencing advanced frailty with co-morbidities, the system ensures timely palliative care, enhancing their quality of life and providing comfort.

In conclusion, the Senior Wellness Monitoring System, encompassing reliable senior home alert systems and intelligent caregiver alert technology, empowers older adults by enabling early detection of frailty and providing personalized care. With continuous monitoring and real-time alerts, caregivers can intervene promptly, reducing the risk of catastrophic health declines and promoting healthier aging. By embracing technological advancements in senior care, we can ensure the well-being and independence of our elderly population, making their golden years truly golden.

Resorses:

• Wikipedia contributors. (2023, June 10). Frailty syndrome. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10:13, July 31, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frailty_syndrome&oldid=1159451252
• Bian C, Ye B, Mihailidis A. The Development and Concurrent Validity of a Multi-Sensor-Based Frailty Toolkit for In-Home Frailty Assessment. Sensors. 2022; 22(9):3532. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22093532
• Exploring the Market Requirements for Smart and Traditional Ageing Housing Units: A Mixed Methods Approach. Smart Cities 2022, 5, 1752-1775. https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities5040088
• Romero-Ortuno R, Walsh CD, Lawlor BA, Kenny RA (August 2010). “A frailty instrument for primary care: findings from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)”. BMC Geriatrics. 10 (1): 57. doi:10.1186/1471-2318-10-57. PMC 2939541. PMID 20731877.

The post Early Detection of Frailty: Empowering Seniors with the Senior Wellness Monitoring System appeared first on Grand App AI.