A new application for cellular technology now provides another option – in addition to GPS-based technologies – for tracking seniors who may wander due to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. As the number of seniors who need memory care services increases, technologies that enhance care strategies will continue to develop, experts say.
A new company has tapped the GSM (global system for mobile communication) cellular network to support a device called EmSeeQ, reports The New York Times. The company is called EmFinders (“Em” for emergency) and the EmSeeQ “looks like a black watch without a face. It’s placed on the user’s wrist just like a watch … It’s unlikely that a user can remove it, as two hands are needed to do so. So as not to agitate an individual who needs to wear one, the device remains silent and passive with no beeps or lights.”
The latest issue of Assisted Living Executive reports on the latest life safety products – from companies such as HomeFree and Status Solutions – designed to meet the needs of the senior living business and the residents they serve. Assisted Living Executive reports that “technologies related to medication management continue to be high-profile products, particularly as acuity levels rise and residents need help with multiple medications.” Read “Life Safety Outlook” in the new digital edition of the magazine, as well as back issues of Assisted Living Executive, at www.alfapublications.org
Monday, December 21, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
firstSTREET and MyGait introduce new designed for SENIORS "GO" computer
Wed Jun 17, 3:01 am ET
At the Boomer Venture Summit in Santa Clara, CA, firstSTREET and MyGait today unveiled a "failure-free and fear-free" computer especially conceived for and by seniors over an eight-year period of hands-on research at senior centers and assisted living communities around the country. The "designed for SENIORS GO Computer™" was developed down to the last detail, from its large-letter keyboard to its fool-proof operating system, to accommodate the needs and wishes of a demographic that has traditionally resisted the world of computers or had the hardest time accessing it. "And these are the very people," says Gordon, "who may well benefit most from email and Internet access."
Colonial Heights, VA (PRWEB) June 16, 2009 -- "Today the world starts changing for a huge number of senior citizens and their families."
So says Mark Gordon, president and CEO of firstSTREET, a national catalog and online marketing company whose products and services are focused on and directed to the "Baby Boomer and Beyond" market.
At the Boomer Venture Summit in Santa Clara, CA, firstSTREET and MyGait today unveiled a "failure-free and fear-free" computer especially conceived for and by seniors over an eight-year period of hands-on research at senior centers and assisted living communities around the country. The "designed for SENIORS GO Computer™" was developed down to the last detail, from its large-letter keyboard to its fool-proof operating system, to accommodate the needs and wishes of a demographic that has traditionally resisted the world of computers or had the hardest time accessing it. "And these are the very people," says Gordon, "who may well benefit most from email and Internet access."
10,000 seniors can't be wrong
To formulate this particular "GO" computer to meet those specific needs and many others, firstSTREET worked in cooperation with MyGait, a Houston-based computer services company that has provided turnkey computer services to senior communities since 2000.
"We know this is the computer that seniors want," says Jeff Hill, CEO at MyGait, "because its evolution has been based on trials and testing with more than 10,000 seniors who used it, critiqued it, challenged it and improved it. They wanted a computer that they couldn't crash or break, one that was completely logical and simple, that wouldn't confuse them, cost them their privacy or leave them vulnerable to viruses or unwanted email. Their suggestions were responsible for a number of special features, like a zoom that enlarges the screen up to 200 percent -- even for email and everything online. They favored a fingertip-controlled rollerball mouse, because it's easier on arthritic wrists and hands, and they wanted U.S.-based around-the-clock service availability."
Bud Myers, senior director of merchandising at firstSTREET, says firstSTREET searched for more than two years to find the right company to work with. "MyGait had already done so much of the research and development on this computer, and we quickly found that their company's dedication to solutions for an older demographic was very close to our own."
Hill says the greatest thrill has been watching seniors first approach the computer with doubt, then to witness the great joy of accomplishment when a grandchild returns an email message. "There are so many poignant stories of seniors connecting online for the first time with family members. And I'm always amazed at how quickly surfing the Web suddenly becomes a favorite pastime."
Just plug it in and "GO"
firstSTREET and MyGait executives agree that the two companies worked hard to ensure that everything about this computer is easy There's a large "GO" button that appears at the top of the screen, and a simple click transports the user to a variety of sites and applications, including a number that are especially useful to the older user such as Web sites for news or medical information, as well as games and other entertaining and brain-stimulating resources.
If a user gets confused while navigating around the system, there are green directional aids along the way, and the "GO" button is always the safe harbor -- easily re-accessible so that a user need not experience the sensation of being hopelessly lost that sometimes comes, for all generations, with traditional computers.
The problems of maintenance, spam, viruses and lost work -- other familiar plagues of the computer age--have been resolved by having safety, storage and repair issues handled remotely at MyGait, which monitors these computers 24/7. The user never has to worry about keeping the computer in tip-top condition because that is all handled at the remote site, as are any threats to security or safety.
"This is, in a way, the re-invention of computers to make them accessible to the elderly, so it's not exaggerating to say that this can be a life-changing product," says Hill. "Its ease of operation and maintenance-free system will enable those last holdouts against cyberspace technology -- the seniors who've never owned a computer before -- to come into the 21st century, to stay in touch with their families, to experience the satisfaction of mastering new skills, to enjoy a new independence and to gain access to a wealth of information, entertainment and communication."
firstSTREET is "Senior Approved" company
Gordon says that the designed for Seniors GO Computer is the most innovative product that firstSTREET has ever introduced. "And this company is the leading direct marketer of innovative products for boomers and beyond in the United States." Brands launched by firstSTREET include Jitterbug™ cell phone, TV Ears™ and Balanced Spectrum™ lights, all of which have been advertised heavily and successfully in major consumer magazines and other consumer channels.
firstSTREET was certified in 2008 as a "Senior Approved" business by Senior Approved Services, a national network of resources, products and services survey-endorsed by seniors and their families. FirstSTREET also maintains an association with the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University.
"We're clearly excited," says Myers, "and we're hoping a lot of members of the older generations, as well as their family members and caregivers, will give us a call to find out more about our computer or to order one." The company has set up a new number specifically for computer information and orders: 877-670-0737. You can also get more information about the designed for Seniors GO Computer at http://www.theGOcomputer.com.
###
Editor's Note: This is the most recent in a long line of similar products that previously failed. Companies like SagePort, Eldervision, Elder-Tek, FriendlyWorks, Senior Surfers, Microsoft WebTV and Senior PC, Big Screen, Generation Bridge, WisdomSoft, AgeSpan and so many others have tried to enter this space since 1997 and none of them have survived. Good luck to myGait, another company that has been at this "senior-friendly" technology thing for over ten years. BB
At the Boomer Venture Summit in Santa Clara, CA, firstSTREET and MyGait today unveiled a "failure-free and fear-free" computer especially conceived for and by seniors over an eight-year period of hands-on research at senior centers and assisted living communities around the country. The "designed for SENIORS GO Computer™" was developed down to the last detail, from its large-letter keyboard to its fool-proof operating system, to accommodate the needs and wishes of a demographic that has traditionally resisted the world of computers or had the hardest time accessing it. "And these are the very people," says Gordon, "who may well benefit most from email and Internet access."
Colonial Heights, VA (PRWEB) June 16, 2009 -- "Today the world starts changing for a huge number of senior citizens and their families."
So says Mark Gordon, president and CEO of firstSTREET, a national catalog and online marketing company whose products and services are focused on and directed to the "Baby Boomer and Beyond" market.
At the Boomer Venture Summit in Santa Clara, CA, firstSTREET and MyGait today unveiled a "failure-free and fear-free" computer especially conceived for and by seniors over an eight-year period of hands-on research at senior centers and assisted living communities around the country. The "designed for SENIORS GO Computer™" was developed down to the last detail, from its large-letter keyboard to its fool-proof operating system, to accommodate the needs and wishes of a demographic that has traditionally resisted the world of computers or had the hardest time accessing it. "And these are the very people," says Gordon, "who may well benefit most from email and Internet access."
10,000 seniors can't be wrong
To formulate this particular "GO" computer to meet those specific needs and many others, firstSTREET worked in cooperation with MyGait, a Houston-based computer services company that has provided turnkey computer services to senior communities since 2000.
"We know this is the computer that seniors want," says Jeff Hill, CEO at MyGait, "because its evolution has been based on trials and testing with more than 10,000 seniors who used it, critiqued it, challenged it and improved it. They wanted a computer that they couldn't crash or break, one that was completely logical and simple, that wouldn't confuse them, cost them their privacy or leave them vulnerable to viruses or unwanted email. Their suggestions were responsible for a number of special features, like a zoom that enlarges the screen up to 200 percent -- even for email and everything online. They favored a fingertip-controlled rollerball mouse, because it's easier on arthritic wrists and hands, and they wanted U.S.-based around-the-clock service availability."
Bud Myers, senior director of merchandising at firstSTREET, says firstSTREET searched for more than two years to find the right company to work with. "MyGait had already done so much of the research and development on this computer, and we quickly found that their company's dedication to solutions for an older demographic was very close to our own."
Hill says the greatest thrill has been watching seniors first approach the computer with doubt, then to witness the great joy of accomplishment when a grandchild returns an email message. "There are so many poignant stories of seniors connecting online for the first time with family members. And I'm always amazed at how quickly surfing the Web suddenly becomes a favorite pastime."
Just plug it in and "GO"
firstSTREET and MyGait executives agree that the two companies worked hard to ensure that everything about this computer is easy There's a large "GO" button that appears at the top of the screen, and a simple click transports the user to a variety of sites and applications, including a number that are especially useful to the older user such as Web sites for news or medical information, as well as games and other entertaining and brain-stimulating resources.
If a user gets confused while navigating around the system, there are green directional aids along the way, and the "GO" button is always the safe harbor -- easily re-accessible so that a user need not experience the sensation of being hopelessly lost that sometimes comes, for all generations, with traditional computers.
The problems of maintenance, spam, viruses and lost work -- other familiar plagues of the computer age--have been resolved by having safety, storage and repair issues handled remotely at MyGait, which monitors these computers 24/7. The user never has to worry about keeping the computer in tip-top condition because that is all handled at the remote site, as are any threats to security or safety.
"This is, in a way, the re-invention of computers to make them accessible to the elderly, so it's not exaggerating to say that this can be a life-changing product," says Hill. "Its ease of operation and maintenance-free system will enable those last holdouts against cyberspace technology -- the seniors who've never owned a computer before -- to come into the 21st century, to stay in touch with their families, to experience the satisfaction of mastering new skills, to enjoy a new independence and to gain access to a wealth of information, entertainment and communication."
firstSTREET is "Senior Approved" company
Gordon says that the designed for Seniors GO Computer is the most innovative product that firstSTREET has ever introduced. "And this company is the leading direct marketer of innovative products for boomers and beyond in the United States." Brands launched by firstSTREET include Jitterbug™ cell phone, TV Ears™ and Balanced Spectrum™ lights, all of which have been advertised heavily and successfully in major consumer magazines and other consumer channels.
firstSTREET was certified in 2008 as a "Senior Approved" business by Senior Approved Services, a national network of resources, products and services survey-endorsed by seniors and their families. FirstSTREET also maintains an association with the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University.
"We're clearly excited," says Myers, "and we're hoping a lot of members of the older generations, as well as their family members and caregivers, will give us a call to find out more about our computer or to order one." The company has set up a new number specifically for computer information and orders: 877-670-0737. You can also get more information about the designed for Seniors GO Computer at http://www.theGOcomputer.com.
###
Editor's Note: This is the most recent in a long line of similar products that previously failed. Companies like SagePort, Eldervision, Elder-Tek, FriendlyWorks, Senior Surfers, Microsoft WebTV and Senior PC, Big Screen, Generation Bridge, WisdomSoft, AgeSpan and so many others have tried to enter this space since 1997 and none of them have survived. Good luck to myGait, another company that has been at this "senior-friendly" technology thing for over ten years. BB
Monday, April 20, 2009
Long-Term Care Could Emerge as an Important Player in HIT
Few nursing homes are using electronic health records that allow them to share information with other healthcare providers—a standard known in the technology world as "interoperability." But more nursing homes could begin using more interoperable EHRs soon, thanks to incentives provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and a push to certify long-term care health IT products.
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) announced last Thursday that it aims to begin certifying long-term care Health IT products by July 2010.
CCHIT has created a volunteer task force full of industry players representing skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, home care, and hospice services, according to the CCHIT. The task force will advise a CCHIT work group creating the Long Term Care Spectrum certification.
Although certification is voluntary, the marketplace is starting to request it, said John Morrissey, communications director for CCHIT.
A certification would ensure buyers that certified long-term care HIT products would work seamlessly with other certified HIT products, said Majd Alwan, PhD, director for the Center for Aging Services and Technologies (CAST).
The ARRA is putting a lot of emphasis on standards-based interoperable health IT to guarantee every American has a health record that is portable or can allow the exchange of information, Alwan said. The certification is an indication that the investment in this product is somewhat protected and the system will not become obsolete because it is not compliant with national standards for interoperability, he said.
Achieving interoperability in HIT products is especially important in long-term care because the sector serves seniors who often have multiple chronic conditions and multiple care providers, such as physicians and pharmacists, Alwan said.
The population also tends to move across the several care settings. For example, if a senior who falls suffers from a broken hip, he or she may move from a hospital to a skilled nursing facility for rehab before transitioning to an assisted living facility within in relatively short period of time, Alwan said.
Also, sharing electronic records may be useful because seniors in long-term care facilities may have a primary care physicians or geriatricians who work outside of their facilities.
"The benefits of interoperable HIT across settings would be maximized in this segment," Alwan said.
The long-term care industry has adopted electronic records at a rate that is comparable, if not higher, than acute care and private physician practices, he said. However, many nursing homes are not using fully integrated or interoperable electronic records, he said.
"This implies the long-term care sector is not only ready for this, but stands in a position where it could leap-frog other sectors" in adopting electronic records, Alwan said.
Emily Beaver, April 20, 2009
Editor's Note:
If the CCHIT plans to certify LTC Health IT products then it might make sense for all you CEOs and CIOs to work with your software and patient record providers to make sure they are aware of this upcoming certification opportunity and go through the motions to become certified. BBrunk
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) announced last Thursday that it aims to begin certifying long-term care Health IT products by July 2010.
CCHIT has created a volunteer task force full of industry players representing skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, home care, and hospice services, according to the CCHIT. The task force will advise a CCHIT work group creating the Long Term Care Spectrum certification.
Although certification is voluntary, the marketplace is starting to request it, said John Morrissey, communications director for CCHIT.
A certification would ensure buyers that certified long-term care HIT products would work seamlessly with other certified HIT products, said Majd Alwan, PhD, director for the Center for Aging Services and Technologies (CAST).
The ARRA is putting a lot of emphasis on standards-based interoperable health IT to guarantee every American has a health record that is portable or can allow the exchange of information, Alwan said. The certification is an indication that the investment in this product is somewhat protected and the system will not become obsolete because it is not compliant with national standards for interoperability, he said.
Achieving interoperability in HIT products is especially important in long-term care because the sector serves seniors who often have multiple chronic conditions and multiple care providers, such as physicians and pharmacists, Alwan said.
The population also tends to move across the several care settings. For example, if a senior who falls suffers from a broken hip, he or she may move from a hospital to a skilled nursing facility for rehab before transitioning to an assisted living facility within in relatively short period of time, Alwan said.
Also, sharing electronic records may be useful because seniors in long-term care facilities may have a primary care physicians or geriatricians who work outside of their facilities.
"The benefits of interoperable HIT across settings would be maximized in this segment," Alwan said.
The long-term care industry has adopted electronic records at a rate that is comparable, if not higher, than acute care and private physician practices, he said. However, many nursing homes are not using fully integrated or interoperable electronic records, he said.
"This implies the long-term care sector is not only ready for this, but stands in a position where it could leap-frog other sectors" in adopting electronic records, Alwan said.
Emily Beaver, April 20, 2009
Editor's Note:
If the CCHIT plans to certify LTC Health IT products then it might make sense for all you CEOs and CIOs to work with your software and patient record providers to make sure they are aware of this upcoming certification opportunity and go through the motions to become certified. BBrunk
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Aging Technologies Highlighted on National Radio Program
March 31, 2009
by Craig Collins-Young
from CAST website (see link below)
Yesterday, Majd Alwan, director of the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST), was a guest on the Kojo Nnamdi Show, a live two-hour magazine program on WAMU that highlights news, political issues and social trends of the day.
Alwan and Nnamdi discussed how emerging technologies might be harnessed to make life better, help remove old barriers, and help reduce health care costs for ourselves or our older relatives.
If you missed the program, we’ve provided MP3 files of the first half of the show:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
To listen to the rest of the show, visit the Kojo Nnamdi Show.
http://futureofaging.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/aging-technologies-highlighted-on-national-radio-program/
by Craig Collins-Young
from CAST website (see link below)
Yesterday, Majd Alwan, director of the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST), was a guest on the Kojo Nnamdi Show, a live two-hour magazine program on WAMU that highlights news, political issues and social trends of the day.
Alwan and Nnamdi discussed how emerging technologies might be harnessed to make life better, help remove old barriers, and help reduce health care costs for ourselves or our older relatives.
If you missed the program, we’ve provided MP3 files of the first half of the show:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
To listen to the rest of the show, visit the Kojo Nnamdi Show.
http://futureofaging.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/aging-technologies-highlighted-on-national-radio-program/
Friday, March 13, 2009
Trends that Affect Aging in Place
Technology enables doctors to treat patients via Internet
Instead of calling his office, Dr. Elie Azrak's cardiology patients can hop
online to request prescription refills, check portions of their medical records
or send questions about their conditions.
Dr. Azrak and his fellow physicians at St. Louis Cardiology Consultants opened
the Web portal to a segment of patients late last month, part of a systemwide
rollout of electronic medical records across SSM Health Care.
Within a few years, the interventional cardiologist expects to be trading
e-mails with patients and possibly holding real-time Web chats.
"If we can use technology to communicate with our patients and make it easier,
why not?" asked Azrak, who is also vice president of the St. Louis Metropolitan
Medical Society. "I'm sure this is coming."
In fact, it's already here.
Technological advances rapidly are changing the way patients and doctors
communicate. Video-conferencing with other physicians, remote patient
monitoring and e-mail already are standard tools for many physicians across the
country.
One of the newest innovations, a platform that allows insurers to provide
patients with real-time access to their doctors via webcam, launched in Hawaii
in mid-January.
Proponents say "e-care" will help broaden access to health care, create savings
for employer-sponsored health plans and help fight a growing shortage of
physicians nationwide.
Others welcome technology but worry about reimbursement for e-care and the
effectiveness of digital diagnoses.
"I don't see tele-health as ever replacing a personal relationship and direct
one-on-one contact with your physician," said Dr. Michael Wulfers, president of
the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians. "I just don't see how you're going
to be able to ever accurately do a physical exam over the Internet."
CONSULTATIONS ONLINE
Dr. Roy Schoenberg is working on that.
The Boston physician's health tech company, American Well, has developed a
secure communication platform that connects doctors and patients for real-time
consultations.
American Well's first customer, Hawaii's Blue-Cross-Blue Shield licensee, took
the system live on Jan. 15. Consumers access the service by logging on through
the insurer's website.
Patients can search for specific physicians or seek out specialists for
10-minute consultations through webcams or text chats. The sessions can be
extended for a fee.
"Online care is a technology that allows us to extend the reach of the existing
health care system so that it is much more available and in a way much more
financially reachable," said Schoenberg, the company's president and chief
executive. "It has tremendous promise."
The company did not release preliminary utilization figures from Hawaii.
Doctors can search through a patient's electronic medical records and write
prescriptions. Health plan members pay $10 to access the platform. The
uninsured or those on other plans pay $45 per session.
American Well receives transaction and licensing fees through its deal with the
Hawaii Medical Service Association. Only physicians licensed in Hawaii can
provide care, and they're covered under a blanket medical malpractice policy
from AIG. Doctors are reimbursed automatically and electronically.
Schoenberg declined to discuss the company's plans to expand outside of Hawaii.
However, he said a number of health plans across the country are expected to
implement the platform this year.
Of course, American Well doesn't bill itself as a cure-all. Patients
experiencing chest pains or flare-ups of complex conditions should head
straight to an emergency room, Schoenberg said.
Some physicians, including Wulfers, have raised concern about the potential
hazards. Doctors can't feel a patient's abdomen or conduct a cavity exam
through the screen.
"It seems to be just another (idea) along with urgent care or minute clinics,
which will in the end lead to more fragmentation of care … and lower quality of
health care," said Wulfers, a longtime family physician in Cape Girardeau. "It
seems to me like it's a walk-in clinic over the Internet."
Still, many patients couldn't take advantage of "virtual house calls" if this
service was suddenly available everywhere.
Only about 11 percent of U.S. Internet users have webcams connected to home
computers, according to a recent study conducted for the California Healthcare
Foundation. Meanwhile, about 65 percent of adult Americans have broadband or
dial-up service, providing access to e-mail and the Web, according to a recent
study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
Despite skepticism of the virtual house call, Wulfers e-mails some patients,
adding that "in the future, I could do a lot of things by e-mail."
A survey by the California Healthcare Foundation also found increased use of
e-mail between physicians and patients in the Golden State: 13 percent of
Californians using the Internet reported getting medical advice via e-mail in
2007, up from 8 percent in 2004.
Starting March 1, Mercy Medical Group in St. Louis will test an online pilot
program that gives secure Web access to a select group of patients. The
patients will be able see lab results, get information about X-rays and
schedule appointments through an interactive calendar.
Patients can take a picture of a suspicious rash and send the image in an
e-mail. Doctors can respond to an e-mail question about high cholesterol with
links to health-related websites.
Mercy plans to offer the Web portal to all patients by January, said Dr. Thomas
H. Hale, president and chief executive.
Excited about the possibilities of the "electronic stethoscope," as he called
the Internet, Hale also sounded a note of caution.
"What we don't want to do is to take that opportunity and say, 'Everything
we've done in the past we need to throw away,'" Hale said.
"It has to be a clinical tool in the (arsenal) of physicians and caregivers."
By Chris Birk
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
Wednesday, Feb. 25 2009
Editor's Note:
If remote care technology continues to develop to the point where it becomes unnecessary for a large percentage of the population to leave their homes for a congregate setting, then how will the senior housing industry address this trend and continue to fill up multi-dwelling units or CCRCs?
BB
Instead of calling his office, Dr. Elie Azrak's cardiology patients can hop
online to request prescription refills, check portions of their medical records
or send questions about their conditions.
Dr. Azrak and his fellow physicians at St. Louis Cardiology Consultants opened
the Web portal to a segment of patients late last month, part of a systemwide
rollout of electronic medical records across SSM Health Care.
Within a few years, the interventional cardiologist expects to be trading
e-mails with patients and possibly holding real-time Web chats.
"If we can use technology to communicate with our patients and make it easier,
why not?" asked Azrak, who is also vice president of the St. Louis Metropolitan
Medical Society. "I'm sure this is coming."
In fact, it's already here.
Technological advances rapidly are changing the way patients and doctors
communicate. Video-conferencing with other physicians, remote patient
monitoring and e-mail already are standard tools for many physicians across the
country.
One of the newest innovations, a platform that allows insurers to provide
patients with real-time access to their doctors via webcam, launched in Hawaii
in mid-January.
Proponents say "e-care" will help broaden access to health care, create savings
for employer-sponsored health plans and help fight a growing shortage of
physicians nationwide.
Others welcome technology but worry about reimbursement for e-care and the
effectiveness of digital diagnoses.
"I don't see tele-health as ever replacing a personal relationship and direct
one-on-one contact with your physician," said Dr. Michael Wulfers, president of
the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians. "I just don't see how you're going
to be able to ever accurately do a physical exam over the Internet."
CONSULTATIONS ONLINE
Dr. Roy Schoenberg is working on that.
The Boston physician's health tech company, American Well, has developed a
secure communication platform that connects doctors and patients for real-time
consultations.
American Well's first customer, Hawaii's Blue-Cross-Blue Shield licensee, took
the system live on Jan. 15. Consumers access the service by logging on through
the insurer's website.
Patients can search for specific physicians or seek out specialists for
10-minute consultations through webcams or text chats. The sessions can be
extended for a fee.
"Online care is a technology that allows us to extend the reach of the existing
health care system so that it is much more available and in a way much more
financially reachable," said Schoenberg, the company's president and chief
executive. "It has tremendous promise."
The company did not release preliminary utilization figures from Hawaii.
Doctors can search through a patient's electronic medical records and write
prescriptions. Health plan members pay $10 to access the platform. The
uninsured or those on other plans pay $45 per session.
American Well receives transaction and licensing fees through its deal with the
Hawaii Medical Service Association. Only physicians licensed in Hawaii can
provide care, and they're covered under a blanket medical malpractice policy
from AIG. Doctors are reimbursed automatically and electronically.
Schoenberg declined to discuss the company's plans to expand outside of Hawaii.
However, he said a number of health plans across the country are expected to
implement the platform this year.
Of course, American Well doesn't bill itself as a cure-all. Patients
experiencing chest pains or flare-ups of complex conditions should head
straight to an emergency room, Schoenberg said.
Some physicians, including Wulfers, have raised concern about the potential
hazards. Doctors can't feel a patient's abdomen or conduct a cavity exam
through the screen.
"It seems to be just another (idea) along with urgent care or minute clinics,
which will in the end lead to more fragmentation of care … and lower quality of
health care," said Wulfers, a longtime family physician in Cape Girardeau. "It
seems to me like it's a walk-in clinic over the Internet."
Still, many patients couldn't take advantage of "virtual house calls" if this
service was suddenly available everywhere.
Only about 11 percent of U.S. Internet users have webcams connected to home
computers, according to a recent study conducted for the California Healthcare
Foundation. Meanwhile, about 65 percent of adult Americans have broadband or
dial-up service, providing access to e-mail and the Web, according to a recent
study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
Despite skepticism of the virtual house call, Wulfers e-mails some patients,
adding that "in the future, I could do a lot of things by e-mail."
A survey by the California Healthcare Foundation also found increased use of
e-mail between physicians and patients in the Golden State: 13 percent of
Californians using the Internet reported getting medical advice via e-mail in
2007, up from 8 percent in 2004.
Starting March 1, Mercy Medical Group in St. Louis will test an online pilot
program that gives secure Web access to a select group of patients. The
patients will be able see lab results, get information about X-rays and
schedule appointments through an interactive calendar.
Patients can take a picture of a suspicious rash and send the image in an
e-mail. Doctors can respond to an e-mail question about high cholesterol with
links to health-related websites.
Mercy plans to offer the Web portal to all patients by January, said Dr. Thomas
H. Hale, president and chief executive.
Excited about the possibilities of the "electronic stethoscope," as he called
the Internet, Hale also sounded a note of caution.
"What we don't want to do is to take that opportunity and say, 'Everything
we've done in the past we need to throw away,'" Hale said.
"It has to be a clinical tool in the (arsenal) of physicians and caregivers."
By Chris Birk
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
Wednesday, Feb. 25 2009
Editor's Note:
If remote care technology continues to develop to the point where it becomes unnecessary for a large percentage of the population to leave their homes for a congregate setting, then how will the senior housing industry address this trend and continue to fill up multi-dwelling units or CCRCs?
BB
Thursday, February 5, 2009
NewsFlash - Transition to Digital TV Delayed
The long wait to switch to digital TV broadcasts will now be a bit longer after the U.S. House of Representatives voted today to postpone the switch to June 12, according to an Associated Press report.
The bill, which was approved by the Senate last week, needs only President Barack Obama’s signature to become a law. Obama has said he will sign it.
For the majority of the nation already ready for digital TV broadcasts, the delay still impacts us all. The pending law will tap into government funds to provide more discounts on digital converter boxes for analog TV viewers. Also, this means four more months of commercials, stories and coverage of the digital TV transition.
According to AP, the House voted 264-158 to delay. Last week, the House rejected a similar bill because it failed to get a two-thirds majority as a special fast-track vote. However, today’s action required a simple majority. The Senate approved the delay early last week. - (from the Orange County Register)
Coupon Program - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TV converter box coupon program?
Congress created a TV converter box coupon program for households that want to continue using their analog TV sets after June 12, 2009. The program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, which can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.
How do I get my coupons?
Between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, consumers can apply for up to two $40 coupons per household by calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), by applying online at www.DTV2009.gov or by mailing an application to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Applicants will receive their coupons in the mail.
Where can I use my coupons?
When your coupon comes in the mail, it will include an insert that lists nearby participating retailers. These retailers are likely to be stores where you commonly go to buy electronics products. You can also order TV converter boxes online and by telephone. Click here for a list of participating retailers and to locate them on a map using your zip code.
When can I apply for my coupons?
You may apply for coupons between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, while supplies last.
Are coupon applications available in other places, such as my local library or grocery store?
The government is working with its partners to make applications available in places that make the most sense for communities. The easiest way to apply is to call the 24-hour hotline at 1-888-DTV-2009 or online at www.DTV2009.gov. If you don't have a computer, try one of the public computer terminals at your local library.
Are coupon applications available in retail stores?
Some retailers may offer coupon application forms at their stores. However, retailers cannot issue coupons. Consumers must request them directly from the federal government. Each retailer will decide whether it wants to provide applications. The easiest way to apply is to call 1-888-DTV-2009 or go online at www.DTV2009.gov.
What does the TV converter box coupon look like?
Coupons look like plastic credit cards or gift cards that are widely used by the retail industry. Unlike gift cards, TV converter box coupons do not carry a stored value and can only be used towards the purchase of eligible TV converter boxes.
Are all consumers eligible for the coupon program?
Yes, every U.S. household is eligible, but supplies are limited. There are 22.25 million coupons available to all U.S. households. Once those coupons have been used, an additional 11.25 million coupons will only be available to households that solely receive their TV broadcasts over-the-air using an antenna. Households with TV sets connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service are not eligible for the second batch of coupons. Consumers can apply for coupons until March 31, 2009, or until the funds are exhausted.
How many coupons can I request?
Each household can request a maximum of two coupons. Each coupon may be applied towards the purchase of a single converter box. The coupons can be ordered one at a time or both at the same time.
What information do I need to provide the government to request my coupons?
The TV converter box coupon application requires you to provide your name, household address, number of coupons requested (maximum of two) and whether you subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay television service.
Will the government use my name and address for any other purpose?
No. Your personal information is protected under privacy laws and will not be sold or used for purposes other than administering the NTIA coupon program.
Are nursing homes, group homes and other institutions eligible for coupons?
Under the coupon program's current rules, these viewers are excluded from applying, but that may change soon. The program requires that applicants must meet the U.S. Census Bureau definition of a household. However, in April, the NTIA filed a proposed rulemaking that would allow people living in nursing homes and other group institutions to qualify for converter box coupons.
Can I apply for people who are unable to apply for themselves, such as an elderly parent?
Yes, but you will need to use that person's home address, which will be validated for eligibility. Only two coupons will be issued per U.S. household address, and the coupons are intended for the resident of that household.
What if I have my mail sent to a post office box?
Under the coupon program's current rules, the government will only mail coupons to post office boxes in areas without home mail delivery or for households on Indian reservations, Alaskan Native villages and other rural areas, but that may change soon. In April, the NTIA filed a proposed rulemaking that would allow people who use post office boxes to qualify for converter box coupons.
Can I use my coupons to purchase any TV converter box on the market?
No, your coupons can only be used toward the purchase of converter boxes deemed coupon-eligible by the federal government. Click here for a list of eligible converter boxes. You may also ask participating retailers whether the TV converter boxes sold in their stores can be purchased with the $40 government coupon.
Can I use my coupon to purchase other consumer electronics products, such as DVD recorders or televisions?
No, coupons are electronically coded so they may be used only for buying coupon-eligible converter boxes.
Can I use my coupon to get $40 off a TV converter box I've already purchased?
No, coupons must be presented at the point of sale and must be redeemed at the time TV converter boxes are purchased.
What happens to my coupon after I use it?
It is instantly deactivated and cannot be used again. Stores may keep them, or you can throw them away. Keep your receipt and a record of your coupon number in case you decide to exchange or return the converter box.
Can I replace a lost or stolen coupon?
No, coupons cannot be reissued. If you have requested one coupon, you may be eligible to receive another. However, if both coupons were lost or stolen, or you requested both coupons, used one, and the other coupon is lost or stolen, by law the government is unable to issue coupon replacements.
Can I use both coupons toward the purchase of one converter box?
No, only one coupon can be used per coupon-eligible converter box.
Can coupons be used by other members of a household?
Yes. Coupons can be redeemed by anyone in your household. However, only two coupons will be issued per household regardless of the number of occupants or families.
How long are coupons active?
Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed. An expiration date is printed on each coupon.
If I bought a TV converter box with the coupon, but then returned it for credit with the retailer, can I use that credit for any other purchase at the retailer?
You will not be able to receive cash or credit for the coupon amount, but you can receive cash or credit for any additional amount you paid out of pocket, if the store policy permits returns or exchanges.
Can I exchange my TV converter box for another one?
If the retail store permits exchanges, you can exchange the converter box you purchased for another coupon-eligible one.
If my coupon expires before I use it, can I apply for another one?
If you applied for just one coupon and it expires before you use it, then you may apply for a second coupon. However, once two coupons have been issued to your household, you are no longer eligible to request any more coupons. Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed.
Can a coupon be used to pay for sales tax?
No, the $40 coupon can only be used towards the price of an eligible TV converter box, excluding any sales tax.
Editor's Note: TSH reported on the switch to DTV in a previous blog and cautioned the owners and operators of senior housing facilities to take note of the change and make sure that they request converter box coupons for their residents, and also make provisions for a staff member to hook up the new converter boxes. Hopefully, everyone is prepared for the upcoming change. BBrunk
The bill, which was approved by the Senate last week, needs only President Barack Obama’s signature to become a law. Obama has said he will sign it.
For the majority of the nation already ready for digital TV broadcasts, the delay still impacts us all. The pending law will tap into government funds to provide more discounts on digital converter boxes for analog TV viewers. Also, this means four more months of commercials, stories and coverage of the digital TV transition.
According to AP, the House voted 264-158 to delay. Last week, the House rejected a similar bill because it failed to get a two-thirds majority as a special fast-track vote. However, today’s action required a simple majority. The Senate approved the delay early last week. - (from the Orange County Register)
Coupon Program - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TV converter box coupon program?
Congress created a TV converter box coupon program for households that want to continue using their analog TV sets after June 12, 2009. The program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, which can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.
How do I get my coupons?
Between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, consumers can apply for up to two $40 coupons per household by calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), by applying online at www.DTV2009.gov or by mailing an application to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Applicants will receive their coupons in the mail.
Where can I use my coupons?
When your coupon comes in the mail, it will include an insert that lists nearby participating retailers. These retailers are likely to be stores where you commonly go to buy electronics products. You can also order TV converter boxes online and by telephone. Click here for a list of participating retailers and to locate them on a map using your zip code.
When can I apply for my coupons?
You may apply for coupons between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, while supplies last.
Are coupon applications available in other places, such as my local library or grocery store?
The government is working with its partners to make applications available in places that make the most sense for communities. The easiest way to apply is to call the 24-hour hotline at 1-888-DTV-2009 or online at www.DTV2009.gov. If you don't have a computer, try one of the public computer terminals at your local library.
Are coupon applications available in retail stores?
Some retailers may offer coupon application forms at their stores. However, retailers cannot issue coupons. Consumers must request them directly from the federal government. Each retailer will decide whether it wants to provide applications. The easiest way to apply is to call 1-888-DTV-2009 or go online at www.DTV2009.gov.
What does the TV converter box coupon look like?
Coupons look like plastic credit cards or gift cards that are widely used by the retail industry. Unlike gift cards, TV converter box coupons do not carry a stored value and can only be used towards the purchase of eligible TV converter boxes.
Are all consumers eligible for the coupon program?
Yes, every U.S. household is eligible, but supplies are limited. There are 22.25 million coupons available to all U.S. households. Once those coupons have been used, an additional 11.25 million coupons will only be available to households that solely receive their TV broadcasts over-the-air using an antenna. Households with TV sets connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service are not eligible for the second batch of coupons. Consumers can apply for coupons until March 31, 2009, or until the funds are exhausted.
How many coupons can I request?
Each household can request a maximum of two coupons. Each coupon may be applied towards the purchase of a single converter box. The coupons can be ordered one at a time or both at the same time.
What information do I need to provide the government to request my coupons?
The TV converter box coupon application requires you to provide your name, household address, number of coupons requested (maximum of two) and whether you subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay television service.
Will the government use my name and address for any other purpose?
No. Your personal information is protected under privacy laws and will not be sold or used for purposes other than administering the NTIA coupon program.
Are nursing homes, group homes and other institutions eligible for coupons?
Under the coupon program's current rules, these viewers are excluded from applying, but that may change soon. The program requires that applicants must meet the U.S. Census Bureau definition of a household. However, in April, the NTIA filed a proposed rulemaking that would allow people living in nursing homes and other group institutions to qualify for converter box coupons.
Can I apply for people who are unable to apply for themselves, such as an elderly parent?
Yes, but you will need to use that person's home address, which will be validated for eligibility. Only two coupons will be issued per U.S. household address, and the coupons are intended for the resident of that household.
What if I have my mail sent to a post office box?
Under the coupon program's current rules, the government will only mail coupons to post office boxes in areas without home mail delivery or for households on Indian reservations, Alaskan Native villages and other rural areas, but that may change soon. In April, the NTIA filed a proposed rulemaking that would allow people who use post office boxes to qualify for converter box coupons.
Can I use my coupons to purchase any TV converter box on the market?
No, your coupons can only be used toward the purchase of converter boxes deemed coupon-eligible by the federal government. Click here for a list of eligible converter boxes. You may also ask participating retailers whether the TV converter boxes sold in their stores can be purchased with the $40 government coupon.
Can I use my coupon to purchase other consumer electronics products, such as DVD recorders or televisions?
No, coupons are electronically coded so they may be used only for buying coupon-eligible converter boxes.
Can I use my coupon to get $40 off a TV converter box I've already purchased?
No, coupons must be presented at the point of sale and must be redeemed at the time TV converter boxes are purchased.
What happens to my coupon after I use it?
It is instantly deactivated and cannot be used again. Stores may keep them, or you can throw them away. Keep your receipt and a record of your coupon number in case you decide to exchange or return the converter box.
Can I replace a lost or stolen coupon?
No, coupons cannot be reissued. If you have requested one coupon, you may be eligible to receive another. However, if both coupons were lost or stolen, or you requested both coupons, used one, and the other coupon is lost or stolen, by law the government is unable to issue coupon replacements.
Can I use both coupons toward the purchase of one converter box?
No, only one coupon can be used per coupon-eligible converter box.
Can coupons be used by other members of a household?
Yes. Coupons can be redeemed by anyone in your household. However, only two coupons will be issued per household regardless of the number of occupants or families.
How long are coupons active?
Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed. An expiration date is printed on each coupon.
If I bought a TV converter box with the coupon, but then returned it for credit with the retailer, can I use that credit for any other purchase at the retailer?
You will not be able to receive cash or credit for the coupon amount, but you can receive cash or credit for any additional amount you paid out of pocket, if the store policy permits returns or exchanges.
Can I exchange my TV converter box for another one?
If the retail store permits exchanges, you can exchange the converter box you purchased for another coupon-eligible one.
If my coupon expires before I use it, can I apply for another one?
If you applied for just one coupon and it expires before you use it, then you may apply for a second coupon. However, once two coupons have been issued to your household, you are no longer eligible to request any more coupons. Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed.
Can a coupon be used to pay for sales tax?
No, the $40 coupon can only be used towards the price of an eligible TV converter box, excluding any sales tax.
Editor's Note: TSH reported on the switch to DTV in a previous blog and cautioned the owners and operators of senior housing facilities to take note of the change and make sure that they request converter box coupons for their residents, and also make provisions for a staff member to hook up the new converter boxes. Hopefully, everyone is prepared for the upcoming change. BBrunk
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Get Ready for Cell Phone Savvy Residents
Older consumers in their 60s and 70s use electronic gadgets nearly as much as 18 to 34-year-olds, according to a study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). And while younger people are still more likely to play video games, use portable MP3 players, and visit social networking sites, older people use cell phones at a competitive rate.
More than 3,100 U.S. adults were surveyed for the CEA study, which found that in week prior to taking the survey, 80 percent of 60-somethings used cell phones—nearly equal the usage rates of 18 to 34-year-olds.
Preparing for an influx of baby boomers who will demand technology access, many senior living companies have partnered with other organizations to meet those needs. Brookdale Senior Living recently partnered with AT&T to offer a series of one-on-one sessions with seniors to help them with the features of their cell phones, such as sending text messages, controlling volume, and checking voice mail.
Editor's Note:
We're going to start a series of posts on senior's and their current use of technology in 2009. Keep an eye out for some eye-opening statistics that will have you re-thinking your service offerings and activity calendars. BBrunk
More than 3,100 U.S. adults were surveyed for the CEA study, which found that in week prior to taking the survey, 80 percent of 60-somethings used cell phones—nearly equal the usage rates of 18 to 34-year-olds.
Preparing for an influx of baby boomers who will demand technology access, many senior living companies have partnered with other organizations to meet those needs. Brookdale Senior Living recently partnered with AT&T to offer a series of one-on-one sessions with seniors to help them with the features of their cell phones, such as sending text messages, controlling volume, and checking voice mail.
Editor's Note:
We're going to start a series of posts on senior's and their current use of technology in 2009. Keep an eye out for some eye-opening statistics that will have you re-thinking your service offerings and activity calendars. BBrunk
Monday, January 5, 2009
What Boomers Want -- New study reveals leading-edge baby boomers' retirement home dreams
To crack the code on what the generation known as the baby boomers will want next in a home, you'll have to talk to the 77 million people born between 1946 and 1964. Since that's not likely, the next best thing might be to talk with a select few whose tastes, values, preferences, and influence over others will lend real insight into what the rest of the market-making cohort may desire in their retirement homes.
So earlier this year, Hanley Wood, BIG BUILDER'S parent company, and research firm DYG surveyed 2,000 homeowning boomers—aged 50 to 60 with household incomes averaging $100,000 or more—to find out what these soon-to-retire consumers want in their homes and communities as they move into the next stage of their lives. DYG then held eight follow-up focus groups of eight participants each in June in Chicago and Fairfax, Va. Results of the “Every 8 Seconds: American Housing as Boomers Turn 60” study were compared with a 2005 survey by DYG of “average” baby boomers.
This select sampling of trendsetting boomers, who may serve as bellwethers of their age-group's wider behaviors and attitudes toward imminent home decisions, are called “Boomfluentials” in the study. Some survey results are both surprising and controversial, but each statistic offers builders insight into what this unique generation dreams about for its retirement years. This information can be translated into a truly vast array of opportunities, as two things emerged conclusively about baby boomers. They can't be lumped together—they fill a lot of niches—and they not only want what they want, but they can afford it, too.
BOOMER BASICS: A birdseye view of the first floor of the 2,900 square-foot home Ed Binkley designed with boomers' desires in mind, features of their preferences—the ability to live on one floor, as well as a second master suite.
It was impossible to cover even a fraction of “Every 8 Seconds: American Housing as Boomers Turn 60” in this article, so we've summarized the major findings. We shared the study's results with 10 builders and four consultants and then spoke to them about what they thought the study meant for builders. What we've chosen to report on here were the study findings, and the opportunities they revealed, that drew the strongest, most intense responses from the builders and consultants with whom we spoke. They focused on features of the home, types of housing, and communities.
WHAT'S THE STORY?
Conventional wisdom says that retirees want one-story, small homes, and the Hanley Wood research supports this, with 38 percent of the survey respondents interested in remodeling or moving so they can live on one floor and 58 percent willing to move to a smaller home. The flip side of these statistics represents those boomers who would be happy with two floors and a larger home. Both options represent opportunities for builders to create new housing products.
Kushner Cos. built two golf course communities on rolling, landscaped terrain on Long Island, with eight different house models. “The original design was for six of the eight models to have master suites on the first floor,” says Sam Gershwin, president of the Westminster Communities division of the company. “The other two models put all bedrooms on the second floor. In response to customers, we now have two new [one-floor] ‘ranch' models.”
As for larger homes, Slenker Land Corp, which acts as the master planner for communities in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, has seen the number of single women buying homes in 55-plus communities increase dramatically in the past five years. “In our region, a mother and daughter or two sisters are selling their homes and then moving together into a 55-plus home,” says Bob Slenker, the company founder. “Especially in the last year in the Washington, D.C., area, there have been a lot of sales of those types. So we've started designing homes for a boomer to [live] with an aging parent who is not ill. These are homes with two master suites, where the boomers are upstairs, and mom, who is 84 and healthy, is downstairs.”
Another opportunity identified by “Every 8 Seconds” is the second home—44 percent of the participants show an interest in that option whether they would build, buy, or rent. Ed Binkley, partner-in-charge of the Orlando office of Bloodgood Sharp Buster Architects and Planners, calls this trend “home-splitting,” in which people live in more than one city. He's designed a small home based on both Hanley Wood's research and this trend. “Maybe [people] don't buy a great big home in one place,” says Binkley. “They split the square footage between the two houses. Big builders can sell houses to these people in both markets.”
Such homes would fill different functions for their owners. “We are re-introducing the seasonal home,” says Steve Soriano, president of Robson Communities. These are lower-end, lower-price products, but Soriano stresses that “lower” doesn't refer to the buyer's income. “The buyer may be just as well off financially, but only plans to spend a few months there,” he says. “It's impractical for them to buy a big house.”
Consultant Bill Becker, founder of the William E. Becker Organization, foresees big builders that operate in multiple markets selling boomers both primary and vacation homes. “Boomers are bored with what they have and where they live,” he says. “They're looking at what they're going to do with their leisure time. So builders can take advantage of this by selling two houses rather than one.”
Of all the findings in “Every 8 Seconds,” the most controversial was these leading-edge boomers' reported lack of interest in family and friends, especially grandchildren, compared with average boomers. Only 59 percent identified spending time with the grandkids as a priority after age 60, compared with 80 percent of average boomers.
Yet this finding has a concrete effect on house design, too. “We struggle with how in tune [new retirees] are with their grandchildren,” says Michael Skea, vice president of marketing and sales for the northeast region of K. Hovnanian. “We do customer surveys, and on the grandchildren, we get conflicting information. If they want to see their grandchildren a lot, then we need more bedrooms and community attractions.”
If retiring boomers are really less interested in having adult children and grandchildren stay with them, then builders can build smaller houses with fewer bedrooms. But if these boomers want family to stay with them, houses must be larger, with more guest space. Either way, it's a product opportunity for the builder that accurately assesses the trend.
ATTACHMENT ISSUES
The idea of retirement homes was conceived in the United States, and the basic paradigm has been the single-family, detached home in suburbia. The home might be in a golf course or other gated community, but it was never multifamily, attached, or high-density housing.
A ROOM OF THEIR OWN: Although many boomers say they want one-story living, others say they wouldn't mind having a second floor. A separate, second-floor suite for children and grandchildren is an appealing feature to 21 percent of boomers.
“Every 8 Seconds” opens new doors for builders of active adult or retirement housing. While about 89 percent of boomers currently live in the traditional single-family, detached home, only about 72 percent want to live in such a home in the future. As long as they can own their residence, multifamily buildings, such as co-ops and condos, appeal to 11 percent of boomers. Only 4 percent of this generation currently lives in such housing, so this market could grow as boomers retire. Townhomes, duplexes, and row houses are attractive to 15 percent of this group as well, and because only 6 percent of boomers currently live in this type of dwelling, again, opportunity awaits the builder that reads the local market correctly.
“We'll see a higher proportion of development in multifamily housing,” says Margaret Wylde, president of the consulting company Promatura Group. “One reason is land scarcity. A second reason is acceptance by customers of multifamily living, as long as they own. Sharing of walls is not as abhorrent to boomers as to their parents' generation.”
Toll Brothers builds single-family, multifamily, high-rise, and small, medium, and large attached and detached homes in cities and in beach communities. “[The survey] tells me that Toll Brothers' diverse approach is right,” says Kira McCarron, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of Toll Brothers. “There are many ways to serve the market.”
Or take Kushner Cos.' four-story, elevator-access, Waterford residential building in East Brunswick, N.J., or K. Hovnanian's Vista Pointe at Imperial Walk, a six-story condo tower in West New York, N.J. Both high-end, lavishly appointed projects owe their existence, at least in part, to New Jersey's extreme land shortage. “Land constraints in New Jersey led K. Hovnanian to develop products with density to build in semi-urban areas,” says Skea. “There is a market demand by people who want to stay in North New Jersey and have this type of highly amenitized, resort-at-home atmosphere.”
Suburbia is home to 73 percent of the “me” generation surveyed by DYG, but only 67 percent of them want to live in the 'burbs when they retire. County life calls 14 percent of the respondents, though 8 percent live there now. The big city beckons 16 percent of the boomers, while 18 percent are currently city dwellers. All of this suggests that there will be fewer boomers in the suburbs, more in the country, and about the same number in the cities.
McCarron is skeptical about these statistics. “I doubt the rural statements,” she says. “Cities are getting better. We are seeing sizable interest in city offerings from people in this category. The idea that people want to be pastoral—they aren't being realistic.”
At Shea Homes' active adult, age-restricted Trilogy Communities, the feeling is urban, but on a small scale. “We know there won't be a big movement to cities,” says Rick Andreen, president of Trilogy Communities. “We find [that there] is a desire for urban convenience but not the drawbacks.” Each master planned Trilogy Community has a “modern” urban core that is walkable, secure, and safe, complete with retail stores and large pedestrian walkways and trails. “We're seeing multiple small urban centers in the future,” says Andreen. “People live in suburban areas, but they have these small urban centers nearby with all the retail and entertainment. They are more than a village, but less than a city center.”
Living Luxury
Toll Brothers entered the active adult market in 1999. “We knew we were following boomers into their next phase of life,” says Kira McCarron, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of the company. “We knew their retirement paradigm was not the same as their parents'. But we were hit between the eyes by how much luxury that they did want.” McCarron says Toll Brothers did anticipate a certain amount of extras, but not a quantity that would increase the price of a $400,000 house by another $200,000—just as an example. “It wasn't any one thing,” McCarron says. “It was just the entire volume.”
Although only one third of boomers surveyed by Hanley Wood and DYG. selected “luxurious” as a characteristic of their dream home, it's obvious that opulence and lavishness represent a huge opportunity for builders who cater to high-end boomers. Finding a way to put some luxury into mid-range or even lower-end housing products is a way for any builder to differentiate itself.
Boomers want functional and efficient spaces, but they also want homes that are open, airy, user-friendly and that seamlessly mix indoor and outdoor spaces. They want big master suites, spa-like master bathrooms, big state-of-the-art kitchens, casual gathering spaces. And they want green, energy-efficient, high-tech, environmentally-friendly homes. Add a dash of luxury, and there's an opportunity there for every builder.
Top 10 Dream Home Characteristics
SOURCE: “EVERY 8 SECONDS: AMERICAN HOUSING AS BOOMERS TURN 60,” SPONSORED BY HANLEY WOOD AND CONDUCTED BY DYG
AGE-INCLUSIVE
When it comes to the housing situation or type of communities the surveyed respondents were most interested in, their answers represent many new ideas for builders. Take the notion of age-restricted communities. Only 13 percent liked the idea, while 56 percent were far more interested in living in multicultural, richly diverse neighborhoods. Just 28 percent want to live in a golf resort, while 65 percent of the surveyed respondents want to live in an outdoors living community. Though it's a small group, 12 percent said they want to live in a foreign country. Taken together, the findings show that baby boomers want to live in very different communities than their parents and grandparents.
The lack of interest in age-restricted registered dissent, most notably at Pulte Homes, the nation's leader in active adult communities through its age-restricted Del Webb brand. David Schreiner, vice president of Pulte's active adult business in Phoenix, says, “We do see people wanting to live in communities with people their own age, so I disagree with that finding.”
On the other hand, the lack of interest in age restriction endorsed the strategies of Civix Holdings, which is moving into the active adult market with a new community in central Florida. Still in the planning stages, the community will include a mix of housing types with lots of outdoor activities and no age restrictions. “Hanley Wood's study solidifies our decisions in favor of a mix of condos, single-family homes, and no age restrictions,” says senior vice president Howard Cohen. “We're doing the right thing.”
Shea Homes' Trilogy Communities still represent a third version of the diversity issue. In its master planned developments, Trilogy is just one piece of the whole. The rest of the developments include mixed types of family housing and the small urban centers. “Boomers don't want to live in a traditional active adult community,” says Andreen. “They want diversity, but they also want to be around people who are a similar life stage. They can live in Trilogy, but the grandchildren may be in the family village just a quarter mile away.”
Golf's low popularity ranking was a disappointment but not a surprise for Steve Soriano. “We knew, but weren't willing to accept, the decline of golf as a reason to move into a community,” he says. Golf is more than a recreation. The course is integral to surface water management, especially in the desert. Soriano says Robson Communities will keep building golf communities until it can find something to replace the course's role in water management.
Still, outdoor activities ranked far more highly than golf, and Becker thinks big builders should heed the findings. “The number one thing boomers want is to be way more active,” he says. “They want to see a trail with stations along the way where they can do exercises. Builders should put in more outdoor [amenities].”
Although just 12 percent of “Every 8 Seconds” respondents said they'd like to live in a foreign country, this, too, could have significance for builders. There's skepticism, of course, “I think very few people will actually move to another country,” says E. Thomas Wetzel, president of the Retirement Living Center. “Medicare is not applicable in a foreign country. You have to buy health insurance locally.”
Nevertheless, says Wylde, “Builders should ask what it is about the foreign communities that people like. It's often that they're walkable, have a common central square, and have a sense of community of spending time lingering on lunch, of savoring, and enjoying life more.”
Andreen agrees. “I think moving to another country is a fantasy,” he says. “But it's a yearning that we as builders should think about.”
Bridget Mintz Testa is a freelance writer based in Houston.
Eight on “8” Hanley Wood, BIG BUILDER's parent company, recently sponsored an online survey of 2,000 baby boomers who own their own homes, are 50 to 60 years old, and have average household incomes of $100,000 and up. This survey, “Every 8 Seconds: American Housing As Boomers Turn 60,” conducted by research company DYG was followed up in June by discussions with a total of eight focus groups made up of eight individuals each in Chicago and Fairfax, Va. Responses were tabulated and compared with responses from “average” baby boomers. Here's a short summary of the major research findings.
Setting boundaries: In general, these leading-edge baby boomers are focused on themselves in their retirement, which 66 percent of them expect to enjoy, compared to just 52 percent of average boomers. They are not as interested in family, grandchildren, volunteer work, faith, or religion as average boomers.
Move down: Only 21 percent of high-income boomers wish to stay in their current home as it is today, although an additional 15 percent are willing to remodel their current home to match their desires. Thirty-five percent are interested in buying another home, 17 percent want to design or build a new home, and 44 percent want to build, buy, or rent a second home. The majority, 58 percent, wants to move into a smaller home, while 12 percent want to move into a larger one.
Give 'em space : A single-family, detached home is still housing type for 72 percent, but 11 percent would like to live in a multifamily building in a unit they own and 15 percent would like to live in a semi-detached home, such as a townhouse, duplex, or row house.
Location, location, location: Most, 67 percent, want to live in the suburbs in the future, while about 14 percent want to move to rural areas. Only 16 percent are interested in living in urban areas, which is less than the 18 percent of boomers who live in cities now. This suggests little, if any, movement to cities.
Warm and sunny: Boomfluentials say they don't want to live a traditional retirement lifestyle, but they do prefer traditional retirement regions. Nearly a third say they'd like to live in a South-Atlantic state, especially those considering buying a second home. And the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions should experience an exodus of boomers. The Mountain states appeal to 14 percent.
Amenities, please: Top unmet boomer housing needs include low upkeep and maintenance, energy efficiency, state-of-the-art technology, environmental friendliness, and “universal” or “barrier-free” design features for accessibility (including a single-floor homes).
Great outdoors: Just under two-thirds of the high-income boomers, 65 percent, want to live in a community designed for outdoor activities; 61 percent want to live in a community with a laid-back, relaxed, casual lifestyle. More than half of these boomers are interested in communities that are environmentally-friendly, multi-cultural, intellectually stimulating, and focused on health.
From the home office: About 25 percent of this high-end boomer community has already retired from at least one job. Among those who are still working, six in 10 plan to retire within the next five to 10 years. Despite these plans, 55 percent want to have a room in their retirement home from which they can work.
TO PURCHASE A COPY OF HANLEY WOOD'S REPORT, “EVERY 8 SECONDS: AMERICAN HOUSING AS BOOMERS TURN 60,” VISIT WWW.AMERICANHOUSINGCONF.COM.
Source: BIG BUILDER Magazine
Happy New Year Everyone: We expect to bring you new, interesting, and thought-provoking concepts in 2009 to enhance your resident experience and operational goals. Enjoy! BB
So earlier this year, Hanley Wood, BIG BUILDER'S parent company, and research firm DYG surveyed 2,000 homeowning boomers—aged 50 to 60 with household incomes averaging $100,000 or more—to find out what these soon-to-retire consumers want in their homes and communities as they move into the next stage of their lives. DYG then held eight follow-up focus groups of eight participants each in June in Chicago and Fairfax, Va. Results of the “Every 8 Seconds: American Housing as Boomers Turn 60” study were compared with a 2005 survey by DYG of “average” baby boomers.
This select sampling of trendsetting boomers, who may serve as bellwethers of their age-group's wider behaviors and attitudes toward imminent home decisions, are called “Boomfluentials” in the study. Some survey results are both surprising and controversial, but each statistic offers builders insight into what this unique generation dreams about for its retirement years. This information can be translated into a truly vast array of opportunities, as two things emerged conclusively about baby boomers. They can't be lumped together—they fill a lot of niches—and they not only want what they want, but they can afford it, too.
BOOMER BASICS: A birdseye view of the first floor of the 2,900 square-foot home Ed Binkley designed with boomers' desires in mind, features of their preferences—the ability to live on one floor, as well as a second master suite.
It was impossible to cover even a fraction of “Every 8 Seconds: American Housing as Boomers Turn 60” in this article, so we've summarized the major findings. We shared the study's results with 10 builders and four consultants and then spoke to them about what they thought the study meant for builders. What we've chosen to report on here were the study findings, and the opportunities they revealed, that drew the strongest, most intense responses from the builders and consultants with whom we spoke. They focused on features of the home, types of housing, and communities.
WHAT'S THE STORY?
Conventional wisdom says that retirees want one-story, small homes, and the Hanley Wood research supports this, with 38 percent of the survey respondents interested in remodeling or moving so they can live on one floor and 58 percent willing to move to a smaller home. The flip side of these statistics represents those boomers who would be happy with two floors and a larger home. Both options represent opportunities for builders to create new housing products.
Kushner Cos. built two golf course communities on rolling, landscaped terrain on Long Island, with eight different house models. “The original design was for six of the eight models to have master suites on the first floor,” says Sam Gershwin, president of the Westminster Communities division of the company. “The other two models put all bedrooms on the second floor. In response to customers, we now have two new [one-floor] ‘ranch' models.”
As for larger homes, Slenker Land Corp, which acts as the master planner for communities in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, has seen the number of single women buying homes in 55-plus communities increase dramatically in the past five years. “In our region, a mother and daughter or two sisters are selling their homes and then moving together into a 55-plus home,” says Bob Slenker, the company founder. “Especially in the last year in the Washington, D.C., area, there have been a lot of sales of those types. So we've started designing homes for a boomer to [live] with an aging parent who is not ill. These are homes with two master suites, where the boomers are upstairs, and mom, who is 84 and healthy, is downstairs.”
Another opportunity identified by “Every 8 Seconds” is the second home—44 percent of the participants show an interest in that option whether they would build, buy, or rent. Ed Binkley, partner-in-charge of the Orlando office of Bloodgood Sharp Buster Architects and Planners, calls this trend “home-splitting,” in which people live in more than one city. He's designed a small home based on both Hanley Wood's research and this trend. “Maybe [people] don't buy a great big home in one place,” says Binkley. “They split the square footage between the two houses. Big builders can sell houses to these people in both markets.”
Such homes would fill different functions for their owners. “We are re-introducing the seasonal home,” says Steve Soriano, president of Robson Communities. These are lower-end, lower-price products, but Soriano stresses that “lower” doesn't refer to the buyer's income. “The buyer may be just as well off financially, but only plans to spend a few months there,” he says. “It's impractical for them to buy a big house.”
Consultant Bill Becker, founder of the William E. Becker Organization, foresees big builders that operate in multiple markets selling boomers both primary and vacation homes. “Boomers are bored with what they have and where they live,” he says. “They're looking at what they're going to do with their leisure time. So builders can take advantage of this by selling two houses rather than one.”
Of all the findings in “Every 8 Seconds,” the most controversial was these leading-edge boomers' reported lack of interest in family and friends, especially grandchildren, compared with average boomers. Only 59 percent identified spending time with the grandkids as a priority after age 60, compared with 80 percent of average boomers.
Yet this finding has a concrete effect on house design, too. “We struggle with how in tune [new retirees] are with their grandchildren,” says Michael Skea, vice president of marketing and sales for the northeast region of K. Hovnanian. “We do customer surveys, and on the grandchildren, we get conflicting information. If they want to see their grandchildren a lot, then we need more bedrooms and community attractions.”
If retiring boomers are really less interested in having adult children and grandchildren stay with them, then builders can build smaller houses with fewer bedrooms. But if these boomers want family to stay with them, houses must be larger, with more guest space. Either way, it's a product opportunity for the builder that accurately assesses the trend.
ATTACHMENT ISSUES
The idea of retirement homes was conceived in the United States, and the basic paradigm has been the single-family, detached home in suburbia. The home might be in a golf course or other gated community, but it was never multifamily, attached, or high-density housing.
A ROOM OF THEIR OWN: Although many boomers say they want one-story living, others say they wouldn't mind having a second floor. A separate, second-floor suite for children and grandchildren is an appealing feature to 21 percent of boomers.
“Every 8 Seconds” opens new doors for builders of active adult or retirement housing. While about 89 percent of boomers currently live in the traditional single-family, detached home, only about 72 percent want to live in such a home in the future. As long as they can own their residence, multifamily buildings, such as co-ops and condos, appeal to 11 percent of boomers. Only 4 percent of this generation currently lives in such housing, so this market could grow as boomers retire. Townhomes, duplexes, and row houses are attractive to 15 percent of this group as well, and because only 6 percent of boomers currently live in this type of dwelling, again, opportunity awaits the builder that reads the local market correctly.
“We'll see a higher proportion of development in multifamily housing,” says Margaret Wylde, president of the consulting company Promatura Group. “One reason is land scarcity. A second reason is acceptance by customers of multifamily living, as long as they own. Sharing of walls is not as abhorrent to boomers as to their parents' generation.”
Toll Brothers builds single-family, multifamily, high-rise, and small, medium, and large attached and detached homes in cities and in beach communities. “[The survey] tells me that Toll Brothers' diverse approach is right,” says Kira McCarron, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of Toll Brothers. “There are many ways to serve the market.”
Or take Kushner Cos.' four-story, elevator-access, Waterford residential building in East Brunswick, N.J., or K. Hovnanian's Vista Pointe at Imperial Walk, a six-story condo tower in West New York, N.J. Both high-end, lavishly appointed projects owe their existence, at least in part, to New Jersey's extreme land shortage. “Land constraints in New Jersey led K. Hovnanian to develop products with density to build in semi-urban areas,” says Skea. “There is a market demand by people who want to stay in North New Jersey and have this type of highly amenitized, resort-at-home atmosphere.”
Suburbia is home to 73 percent of the “me” generation surveyed by DYG, but only 67 percent of them want to live in the 'burbs when they retire. County life calls 14 percent of the respondents, though 8 percent live there now. The big city beckons 16 percent of the boomers, while 18 percent are currently city dwellers. All of this suggests that there will be fewer boomers in the suburbs, more in the country, and about the same number in the cities.
McCarron is skeptical about these statistics. “I doubt the rural statements,” she says. “Cities are getting better. We are seeing sizable interest in city offerings from people in this category. The idea that people want to be pastoral—they aren't being realistic.”
At Shea Homes' active adult, age-restricted Trilogy Communities, the feeling is urban, but on a small scale. “We know there won't be a big movement to cities,” says Rick Andreen, president of Trilogy Communities. “We find [that there] is a desire for urban convenience but not the drawbacks.” Each master planned Trilogy Community has a “modern” urban core that is walkable, secure, and safe, complete with retail stores and large pedestrian walkways and trails. “We're seeing multiple small urban centers in the future,” says Andreen. “People live in suburban areas, but they have these small urban centers nearby with all the retail and entertainment. They are more than a village, but less than a city center.”
Living Luxury
Toll Brothers entered the active adult market in 1999. “We knew we were following boomers into their next phase of life,” says Kira McCarron, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of the company. “We knew their retirement paradigm was not the same as their parents'. But we were hit between the eyes by how much luxury that they did want.” McCarron says Toll Brothers did anticipate a certain amount of extras, but not a quantity that would increase the price of a $400,000 house by another $200,000—just as an example. “It wasn't any one thing,” McCarron says. “It was just the entire volume.”
Although only one third of boomers surveyed by Hanley Wood and DYG. selected “luxurious” as a characteristic of their dream home, it's obvious that opulence and lavishness represent a huge opportunity for builders who cater to high-end boomers. Finding a way to put some luxury into mid-range or even lower-end housing products is a way for any builder to differentiate itself.
Boomers want functional and efficient spaces, but they also want homes that are open, airy, user-friendly and that seamlessly mix indoor and outdoor spaces. They want big master suites, spa-like master bathrooms, big state-of-the-art kitchens, casual gathering spaces. And they want green, energy-efficient, high-tech, environmentally-friendly homes. Add a dash of luxury, and there's an opportunity there for every builder.
Top 10 Dream Home Characteristics
SOURCE: “EVERY 8 SECONDS: AMERICAN HOUSING AS BOOMERS TURN 60,” SPONSORED BY HANLEY WOOD AND CONDUCTED BY DYG
AGE-INCLUSIVE
When it comes to the housing situation or type of communities the surveyed respondents were most interested in, their answers represent many new ideas for builders. Take the notion of age-restricted communities. Only 13 percent liked the idea, while 56 percent were far more interested in living in multicultural, richly diverse neighborhoods. Just 28 percent want to live in a golf resort, while 65 percent of the surveyed respondents want to live in an outdoors living community. Though it's a small group, 12 percent said they want to live in a foreign country. Taken together, the findings show that baby boomers want to live in very different communities than their parents and grandparents.
The lack of interest in age-restricted registered dissent, most notably at Pulte Homes, the nation's leader in active adult communities through its age-restricted Del Webb brand. David Schreiner, vice president of Pulte's active adult business in Phoenix, says, “We do see people wanting to live in communities with people their own age, so I disagree with that finding.”
On the other hand, the lack of interest in age restriction endorsed the strategies of Civix Holdings, which is moving into the active adult market with a new community in central Florida. Still in the planning stages, the community will include a mix of housing types with lots of outdoor activities and no age restrictions. “Hanley Wood's study solidifies our decisions in favor of a mix of condos, single-family homes, and no age restrictions,” says senior vice president Howard Cohen. “We're doing the right thing.”
Shea Homes' Trilogy Communities still represent a third version of the diversity issue. In its master planned developments, Trilogy is just one piece of the whole. The rest of the developments include mixed types of family housing and the small urban centers. “Boomers don't want to live in a traditional active adult community,” says Andreen. “They want diversity, but they also want to be around people who are a similar life stage. They can live in Trilogy, but the grandchildren may be in the family village just a quarter mile away.”
Golf's low popularity ranking was a disappointment but not a surprise for Steve Soriano. “We knew, but weren't willing to accept, the decline of golf as a reason to move into a community,” he says. Golf is more than a recreation. The course is integral to surface water management, especially in the desert. Soriano says Robson Communities will keep building golf communities until it can find something to replace the course's role in water management.
Still, outdoor activities ranked far more highly than golf, and Becker thinks big builders should heed the findings. “The number one thing boomers want is to be way more active,” he says. “They want to see a trail with stations along the way where they can do exercises. Builders should put in more outdoor [amenities].”
Although just 12 percent of “Every 8 Seconds” respondents said they'd like to live in a foreign country, this, too, could have significance for builders. There's skepticism, of course, “I think very few people will actually move to another country,” says E. Thomas Wetzel, president of the Retirement Living Center. “Medicare is not applicable in a foreign country. You have to buy health insurance locally.”
Nevertheless, says Wylde, “Builders should ask what it is about the foreign communities that people like. It's often that they're walkable, have a common central square, and have a sense of community of spending time lingering on lunch, of savoring, and enjoying life more.”
Andreen agrees. “I think moving to another country is a fantasy,” he says. “But it's a yearning that we as builders should think about.”
Bridget Mintz Testa is a freelance writer based in Houston.
Eight on “8” Hanley Wood, BIG BUILDER's parent company, recently sponsored an online survey of 2,000 baby boomers who own their own homes, are 50 to 60 years old, and have average household incomes of $100,000 and up. This survey, “Every 8 Seconds: American Housing As Boomers Turn 60,” conducted by research company DYG was followed up in June by discussions with a total of eight focus groups made up of eight individuals each in Chicago and Fairfax, Va. Responses were tabulated and compared with responses from “average” baby boomers. Here's a short summary of the major research findings.
Setting boundaries: In general, these leading-edge baby boomers are focused on themselves in their retirement, which 66 percent of them expect to enjoy, compared to just 52 percent of average boomers. They are not as interested in family, grandchildren, volunteer work, faith, or religion as average boomers.
Move down: Only 21 percent of high-income boomers wish to stay in their current home as it is today, although an additional 15 percent are willing to remodel their current home to match their desires. Thirty-five percent are interested in buying another home, 17 percent want to design or build a new home, and 44 percent want to build, buy, or rent a second home. The majority, 58 percent, wants to move into a smaller home, while 12 percent want to move into a larger one.
Give 'em space : A single-family, detached home is still housing type for 72 percent, but 11 percent would like to live in a multifamily building in a unit they own and 15 percent would like to live in a semi-detached home, such as a townhouse, duplex, or row house.
Location, location, location: Most, 67 percent, want to live in the suburbs in the future, while about 14 percent want to move to rural areas. Only 16 percent are interested in living in urban areas, which is less than the 18 percent of boomers who live in cities now. This suggests little, if any, movement to cities.
Warm and sunny: Boomfluentials say they don't want to live a traditional retirement lifestyle, but they do prefer traditional retirement regions. Nearly a third say they'd like to live in a South-Atlantic state, especially those considering buying a second home. And the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions should experience an exodus of boomers. The Mountain states appeal to 14 percent.
Amenities, please: Top unmet boomer housing needs include low upkeep and maintenance, energy efficiency, state-of-the-art technology, environmental friendliness, and “universal” or “barrier-free” design features for accessibility (including a single-floor homes).
Great outdoors: Just under two-thirds of the high-income boomers, 65 percent, want to live in a community designed for outdoor activities; 61 percent want to live in a community with a laid-back, relaxed, casual lifestyle. More than half of these boomers are interested in communities that are environmentally-friendly, multi-cultural, intellectually stimulating, and focused on health.
From the home office: About 25 percent of this high-end boomer community has already retired from at least one job. Among those who are still working, six in 10 plan to retire within the next five to 10 years. Despite these plans, 55 percent want to have a room in their retirement home from which they can work.
TO PURCHASE A COPY OF HANLEY WOOD'S REPORT, “EVERY 8 SECONDS: AMERICAN HOUSING AS BOOMERS TURN 60,” VISIT WWW.AMERICANHOUSINGCONF.COM.
Source: BIG BUILDER Magazine
Happy New Year Everyone: We expect to bring you new, interesting, and thought-provoking concepts in 2009 to enhance your resident experience and operational goals. Enjoy! BB
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