Aging, tech-savvy baby boomers who want to retain control over their own lives will lead to a near-tripling of their adoption of wireless and mobile health (mHealth) products by 2020, according to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Enterprise Forum of the Northwest. Study lead author lead author Michael Gallelli notes that the nation’s 78 million baby boomers--the oldest of whom turn 65 this year--will help the mHealth information technology market grow to $4.6 billion by 2014 and to $12 billion by 2020.
Most of these boomers, like the generation of Xers behind them, have expressed a “high willingness” to use home-based health monitoring devices, particularly health and fitness software; mobile health applications; personal emergency response services; remote monitoring tools; and telemedicine technology. The growth in connected health, along with soaring healthcare costs coupled with rapid adoption of mobile technologies will create an “explosion of personal data,” creating numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs, Gallelli said.
TSH Editor's Note: Since 2002 we've been reporting in this Forum that a seachange is taking place in the senior housing and care industries, and that the central point in the continuum of care will eventually become the home as people overwhelmingly choose to age in place as long as possible. The ramifications for the real-estate development focused executives in our readership are immense. You must immediately start to implement plans so that the next generation of what we now call senior housing takes into account a whole plethora of communication, monitoring, and embedded services to assist the families and residents in their their pursuit to maintain a high quality of life as they age. BB
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
What 50+ Consumers Want: Research to Help You Understand Your Target Market
Various Highlights from last week's NAHB International Builder's Show
Wednesday, January 12
50+ Small Builder’s Forum: Keeping Up with the Big
Guys, One House at a Time
You don’t have to compete with the national 50+ lifestyle builders to
be in the game. Success could also be right around the corner for
builders of smaller, intimate communities, or even those who build one
house at a time. In this forum, you’ll hear from small 50+ and custom
builders who will candidly share how they have carved their own niche in
this market segment. They will discuss the risks and rewards, how they got
started and how they are surviving in today’s challenging market conditions.
Learning Outcomes: Find out from other 50+ builders what they are
doing to stay competitive in their marketplace. Learn innovative ways
to distinguish your company as a leader in the 50+ marketplace and
communicate this message to your prospective buyers. Get the tools you
need to serve the diverse needs of 50+ consumers, with an emphasis on
product, pricing and incentives.
Exploding the Myths of 50+ Lifestyle Selling
This hard-hitting program exposes many to the myths about selling to
the elusive, 50+ lifestyle buyer. Two sales training and personnel
development veterans will share fresh, proven techniques for prospecting to
this group, asking questions that bond and connect, neutralizing the most
common objections and closing the sale.
Learning Outcomes: Hear a condensed version of the “5-Step 50+ Lifestyle
Selling Process,” including clearly explained steps and strategies. Get
proven tips on how to make value-based presentations that resonate with
buyers. Learn the new, most effective closing methods for this buyer that
rely on a soft “asking for the order.”
Looking into the Crystal Ball … A New Vision for 50+
Communities and Amenities
What will the 50+ housing industry look like in the coming
decade? In this session, award-winning architects will share
their vision for the future. Drawing on their knowledge and experience, they
will cover the broad spectrum that is 50+ housing. What types of
communities will the new 50+ buyers want? What type of amenities should
builders and designers include? You will get the answers to these questions
and much more!
Learning Outcomes: Learn where the 50+ housing opportunities will
be in the next decade, including how the design of single-family, multigenerational
and multifamily housing may evolve. Get a glimpse of what
types of home technologies are being developed to appeal to the 50+
market. Hear expert insights into universal and sustainable design.
What 50+ Consumers Want: Research to Help You Understand Your Target Market
Statistics have shown that most 50+ buyers prefer to stay right where
they are, in their current homes and communities. To help you create a
compelling case that will motivate your prospects to move to your own
community, this panel session will provide a profile of 50+ buyers and exactly
what they are looking for in their next purchase. A leading market researcher
will present data from a national consumer survey on preferred community
types, how much buyers are willing to pay and the impact of incentives to
move. In addition, the American Association of Retirement Communities
(AARC) will reveal findings from its 2010 study on destination buyers, focusing
on the decision-making process, the hot buttons of today’s pre-retirees and
how the financial and real estate crises have impacted them.
Learning Outcomes: Know the types of communities 50+ buyers want,
their plans for retirement and incentives that might make them move into a
50+ community. Understand the real estate pricing expectations of different
demographic and psychographic segments within the 50+ buyer market.
Gain a clearer picture of the retiree buyer — insights that go beyond the
bricks and mortar to the nuances of the decision-making process.
Thursday, January 13
50+ Builder Forum: Surviving the Slowdown,
Planning for the Upturn
You’ve heard the economic and market forecasts, but what’s really
happening out in the field? In this session, builders of all sizes in the
50+ market — including national and small/mid-size builders — will discuss
what’s going on in their own backyards as well as their insights for the
future. The panel will examine everything from consumer attitudes, product
design and marketing to how they are accessing financing and making
deals, adapting business operations and strategically planning for the
recovery. Most importantly, builders will share success stories and how they
intend to capitalize on opportunities that tend to occur at this point in the
business cycle.
Learning Outcomes: Find out how builders of all sizes across the country
are coping with current market conditions and preparing for the housing
industry recovery. Get market-tested strategies and ideas from successful
50+ builders about what is working for them, including business operations,
design, marketing, amenities and more. Find out how to position your
company to succeed in a challenging marketplace.
50+ Economic and Market Forecast
Is a housing recovery around the corner? If so, what’s the outlook for
the 50+ market? In this session, an NAHB economist will provide an
overview of the economic conditions affecting this segment of the housing
industry. In addition, you’ll hear a nationally recognized market researcher
share an in-depth analysis of the 50+ landscape and identify emerging
trends and opportunities for builders and developers. It’s the next best thing
to having a crystal ball!
Learning Outcomes: Find out what is happening in the 50+ housing
industry today and how the segment is currently performing compared to
other product types. Get a detailed look at economic factors that directly
impact the 50+ market, and hear a forecast with both short- and long-term
projections. Examine emerging trends and how they will impact the growth
of 50+ communities.
50+ Housing Description: Statistics have shown that most 50+ buyers prefer to stay right where they are, in their current homes and communities. To help you create a compelling case that will motivate your prospects to move to your own community, this session will provide a profile of 50+ buyers and exactly what they are looking for in their next purchase. A leading market researcher will present data from a national consumer survey on preferred community types, how much buyers are willing to pay and the impact of incentives to move. In addition, the American Association of Retirement Communities (AARC) will reveal findings from its 2010 study on destination buyers, focusing on the decision-making process, the hot buttons of today's pre-retirees and how the financial and real estate crises have impacted them.
Learning Outcomes:
* Know the types of communities 50+ buyers want, their plans for retirement and incentives that might make them move into a 50+ community
* Understand the real estate pricing expectations of different demographic and psychographic segments within the 50+ buyer market
* Gain a clearer picture of the retiree buyer - insights that go beyond the bricks and mortar to the nuances of the decision-making process
* Acquire actionable strategies and solutions that address the "new retiree," whose definition of retirement is vastly different than previous generations
Fee: IBS education sessions are available on a first-come, first served basis to Full Registrants and those who purchase a One- or Two-Day Education with Exhibits Registration
Tracks: 50+ Housing
Universal Design Day. Only at IBS.
Reimagining Universal Design | Wednesday, January 12
What is Universal Design?
Essentially, it’s “smart design” for everyone – not just the 50+ market. Whether you call it “inclusive design,” “design-for-all” or “lifespan design,” universal design is social sustainability. It also provides tremendous opportunities for builders and remodelers alike.
Join the NAHB 50+ Housing Council on opening day of the 2011 NAHB International Builders’ Show for Universal Design Day – Reimagining UD for a chance to learn, discuss and collarborate on one of the biggest emerging niches in home building.
* Get the tools you need to design beautiful and functional homes and communities that maximize lifestyle for all.
* Find out about the vast number of products available, how to define choices and discover how simple it can be to design “smart.”
* Learn how to expand your customer base and gain a key marketing advantage.
Universal Design Day Events
Everything will be happening in 50+ Lifestyle Central (West 314A, Level III), the 50+ Housing Council’s headquarters during IBS. Click on the event for more details.
50+ Housing Council IBS Kickoff Breakfast
7:30 – 9:00 AM
Reimagining Universal Design – Creating a High-Tech Advantage
9:00 – 10:15 AM
Meet the 50+ Housing Experts – Smart Design
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Universal Design Day Luncheon
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Reimagining Universal Design – Kitchens, Baths and More
1:15 – 2:30 PM
Universal Design Product Tour
2:30 – 4:30 PM
Whirlpool 50+ Housing Council Reception
5:00 – 6:00 PM
For more information on 50+ Lifestyle Central and all 50+ Housing Council activities at the 2011 International Builders’ Show, visit www.BuildersShow.com/50plus. Or contact Jeff Jenkins, NAHB 50+ Housing Council, at jjenkins@nahb.org.
Wednesday, January 12
50+ Small Builder’s Forum: Keeping Up with the Big
Guys, One House at a Time
You don’t have to compete with the national 50+ lifestyle builders to
be in the game. Success could also be right around the corner for
builders of smaller, intimate communities, or even those who build one
house at a time. In this forum, you’ll hear from small 50+ and custom
builders who will candidly share how they have carved their own niche in
this market segment. They will discuss the risks and rewards, how they got
started and how they are surviving in today’s challenging market conditions.
Learning Outcomes: Find out from other 50+ builders what they are
doing to stay competitive in their marketplace. Learn innovative ways
to distinguish your company as a leader in the 50+ marketplace and
communicate this message to your prospective buyers. Get the tools you
need to serve the diverse needs of 50+ consumers, with an emphasis on
product, pricing and incentives.
Exploding the Myths of 50+ Lifestyle Selling
This hard-hitting program exposes many to the myths about selling to
the elusive, 50+ lifestyle buyer. Two sales training and personnel
development veterans will share fresh, proven techniques for prospecting to
this group, asking questions that bond and connect, neutralizing the most
common objections and closing the sale.
Learning Outcomes: Hear a condensed version of the “5-Step 50+ Lifestyle
Selling Process,” including clearly explained steps and strategies. Get
proven tips on how to make value-based presentations that resonate with
buyers. Learn the new, most effective closing methods for this buyer that
rely on a soft “asking for the order.”
Looking into the Crystal Ball … A New Vision for 50+
Communities and Amenities
What will the 50+ housing industry look like in the coming
decade? In this session, award-winning architects will share
their vision for the future. Drawing on their knowledge and experience, they
will cover the broad spectrum that is 50+ housing. What types of
communities will the new 50+ buyers want? What type of amenities should
builders and designers include? You will get the answers to these questions
and much more!
Learning Outcomes: Learn where the 50+ housing opportunities will
be in the next decade, including how the design of single-family, multigenerational
and multifamily housing may evolve. Get a glimpse of what
types of home technologies are being developed to appeal to the 50+
market. Hear expert insights into universal and sustainable design.
What 50+ Consumers Want: Research to Help You Understand Your Target Market
Statistics have shown that most 50+ buyers prefer to stay right where
they are, in their current homes and communities. To help you create a
compelling case that will motivate your prospects to move to your own
community, this panel session will provide a profile of 50+ buyers and exactly
what they are looking for in their next purchase. A leading market researcher
will present data from a national consumer survey on preferred community
types, how much buyers are willing to pay and the impact of incentives to
move. In addition, the American Association of Retirement Communities
(AARC) will reveal findings from its 2010 study on destination buyers, focusing
on the decision-making process, the hot buttons of today’s pre-retirees and
how the financial and real estate crises have impacted them.
Learning Outcomes: Know the types of communities 50+ buyers want,
their plans for retirement and incentives that might make them move into a
50+ community. Understand the real estate pricing expectations of different
demographic and psychographic segments within the 50+ buyer market.
Gain a clearer picture of the retiree buyer — insights that go beyond the
bricks and mortar to the nuances of the decision-making process.
Thursday, January 13
50+ Builder Forum: Surviving the Slowdown,
Planning for the Upturn
You’ve heard the economic and market forecasts, but what’s really
happening out in the field? In this session, builders of all sizes in the
50+ market — including national and small/mid-size builders — will discuss
what’s going on in their own backyards as well as their insights for the
future. The panel will examine everything from consumer attitudes, product
design and marketing to how they are accessing financing and making
deals, adapting business operations and strategically planning for the
recovery. Most importantly, builders will share success stories and how they
intend to capitalize on opportunities that tend to occur at this point in the
business cycle.
Learning Outcomes: Find out how builders of all sizes across the country
are coping with current market conditions and preparing for the housing
industry recovery. Get market-tested strategies and ideas from successful
50+ builders about what is working for them, including business operations,
design, marketing, amenities and more. Find out how to position your
company to succeed in a challenging marketplace.
50+ Economic and Market Forecast
Is a housing recovery around the corner? If so, what’s the outlook for
the 50+ market? In this session, an NAHB economist will provide an
overview of the economic conditions affecting this segment of the housing
industry. In addition, you’ll hear a nationally recognized market researcher
share an in-depth analysis of the 50+ landscape and identify emerging
trends and opportunities for builders and developers. It’s the next best thing
to having a crystal ball!
Learning Outcomes: Find out what is happening in the 50+ housing
industry today and how the segment is currently performing compared to
other product types. Get a detailed look at economic factors that directly
impact the 50+ market, and hear a forecast with both short- and long-term
projections. Examine emerging trends and how they will impact the growth
of 50+ communities.
50+ Housing Description: Statistics have shown that most 50+ buyers prefer to stay right where they are, in their current homes and communities. To help you create a compelling case that will motivate your prospects to move to your own community, this session will provide a profile of 50+ buyers and exactly what they are looking for in their next purchase. A leading market researcher will present data from a national consumer survey on preferred community types, how much buyers are willing to pay and the impact of incentives to move. In addition, the American Association of Retirement Communities (AARC) will reveal findings from its 2010 study on destination buyers, focusing on the decision-making process, the hot buttons of today's pre-retirees and how the financial and real estate crises have impacted them.
Learning Outcomes:
* Know the types of communities 50+ buyers want, their plans for retirement and incentives that might make them move into a 50+ community
* Understand the real estate pricing expectations of different demographic and psychographic segments within the 50+ buyer market
* Gain a clearer picture of the retiree buyer - insights that go beyond the bricks and mortar to the nuances of the decision-making process
* Acquire actionable strategies and solutions that address the "new retiree," whose definition of retirement is vastly different than previous generations
Fee: IBS education sessions are available on a first-come, first served basis to Full Registrants and those who purchase a One- or Two-Day Education with Exhibits Registration
Tracks: 50+ Housing
Universal Design Day. Only at IBS.
Reimagining Universal Design | Wednesday, January 12
What is Universal Design?
Essentially, it’s “smart design” for everyone – not just the 50+ market. Whether you call it “inclusive design,” “design-for-all” or “lifespan design,” universal design is social sustainability. It also provides tremendous opportunities for builders and remodelers alike.
Join the NAHB 50+ Housing Council on opening day of the 2011 NAHB International Builders’ Show for Universal Design Day – Reimagining UD for a chance to learn, discuss and collarborate on one of the biggest emerging niches in home building.
* Get the tools you need to design beautiful and functional homes and communities that maximize lifestyle for all.
* Find out about the vast number of products available, how to define choices and discover how simple it can be to design “smart.”
* Learn how to expand your customer base and gain a key marketing advantage.
Universal Design Day Events
Everything will be happening in 50+ Lifestyle Central (West 314A, Level III), the 50+ Housing Council’s headquarters during IBS. Click on the event for more details.
50+ Housing Council IBS Kickoff Breakfast
7:30 – 9:00 AM
Reimagining Universal Design – Creating a High-Tech Advantage
9:00 – 10:15 AM
Meet the 50+ Housing Experts – Smart Design
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Universal Design Day Luncheon
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Reimagining Universal Design – Kitchens, Baths and More
1:15 – 2:30 PM
Universal Design Product Tour
2:30 – 4:30 PM
Whirlpool 50+ Housing Council Reception
5:00 – 6:00 PM
For more information on 50+ Lifestyle Central and all 50+ Housing Council activities at the 2011 International Builders’ Show, visit www.BuildersShow.com/50plus. Or contact Jeff Jenkins, NAHB 50+ Housing Council, at jjenkins@nahb.org.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Boomers To Create An Explosion of Health Data
The aging of tech-savvy baby boomers who want to retain control over their own lives will lead to greater adoption of wireless and mobile health products, helping to reposition healthcare around patients, a new report says. But advances may not be sustainable without a fundamental shift in the way healthcare is paid for and unless there is a greater social foundation to encourage wellness and prevention efforts, according to the MIT Enterprise Forum of the Northwest (MITEF NW).
The group, one of 27 chapters of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology organization supporting technology entrepreneurs worldwide, released the report this week as a precursor to its Jan. 19 event in Seattle, called “Boomers, Technology & Health: Consumers Taking Charge!” MITEF NW also seeks to position Washington and Oregon as leaders in “personal connected health.”
“The boomers have every reason to be one of the primary drivers of connected health,” lead report author Michael Gallelli told MobiHealthNews. Compared to previous generations that have made it to midlife, the 78 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964—the first of whom turn 65 this year—are more affluent, independent and innovative. “They don’t want to give up control of their lives,” he said.
Plus, nearly 60 percent of boomers have been caring for aging relatives for at least the last three years, the report says, citing a Humana estimate. A “significant piece” of connected health is online and mobile social networking to encourage people to live healthier lives and provide much-needed emotional support, according to Gallelli. “The best way changes are made are usually peer-driven,” he said.
This growth in connected health thanks to the aging population and soaring healthcare costs coupled with rapid adoption of mobile technologies will create what Gallelli called an “explosion of personal data,” creating numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs. “For entrepreneurs, the opportunities lie between the edges of the established healthcare industry and consumer and web mobile technology,” the report states.
The Pacific Northwest is well positioned to become a hub of activity in this area because it is home to many innovative universities, technologically advanced healthcare organizations, a strong business community and leading nonprofits with an interest in health issues, notably the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Still, Gallelli called the report rather cautious in that it discusses the many barriers to connected health. He said it’s “not realistic” for entrepreneurs to come up with an idea then expect to cash out a couple of years later, as they may have done during the dot-com boom.
Among the obstacles to wide adoption of connected health is the uncertainty over how home healthcare devices and smartphone apps will be regulated. And then there is the question of reimbursement. “Under long-standing payer models, consumer expectation is that insurance picks up the tab for medical testing and treatment costs. Until payers embrace covering remote or mobile monitoring costs, in whole or part, new businesses will be asking care providers and/or end users to directly bear the fees for new products and services,” the report states.
However, Gallelli said consumers may find that it more sense to pay a few hundred dollars a month to provide electronic health monitoring services for elderly parents in their homes than to shell out thousands for the less-inviting environment of a nursing home.
For more on the report, read the MITEF NW press release or download the report here.
http://mobihealthnews.com/9905/
Wednesday - January 12th, 2011 - 09:29am EST by Neil Versel
Editors Note:
Many thanks to Neil Versel and mobihealthnews for covering our MITEF event! Hope to see you all in Seattle next Wednesday. BB
The group, one of 27 chapters of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology organization supporting technology entrepreneurs worldwide, released the report this week as a precursor to its Jan. 19 event in Seattle, called “Boomers, Technology & Health: Consumers Taking Charge!” MITEF NW also seeks to position Washington and Oregon as leaders in “personal connected health.”
“The boomers have every reason to be one of the primary drivers of connected health,” lead report author Michael Gallelli told MobiHealthNews. Compared to previous generations that have made it to midlife, the 78 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964—the first of whom turn 65 this year—are more affluent, independent and innovative. “They don’t want to give up control of their lives,” he said.
Plus, nearly 60 percent of boomers have been caring for aging relatives for at least the last three years, the report says, citing a Humana estimate. A “significant piece” of connected health is online and mobile social networking to encourage people to live healthier lives and provide much-needed emotional support, according to Gallelli. “The best way changes are made are usually peer-driven,” he said.
This growth in connected health thanks to the aging population and soaring healthcare costs coupled with rapid adoption of mobile technologies will create what Gallelli called an “explosion of personal data,” creating numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs. “For entrepreneurs, the opportunities lie between the edges of the established healthcare industry and consumer and web mobile technology,” the report states.
The Pacific Northwest is well positioned to become a hub of activity in this area because it is home to many innovative universities, technologically advanced healthcare organizations, a strong business community and leading nonprofits with an interest in health issues, notably the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Still, Gallelli called the report rather cautious in that it discusses the many barriers to connected health. He said it’s “not realistic” for entrepreneurs to come up with an idea then expect to cash out a couple of years later, as they may have done during the dot-com boom.
Among the obstacles to wide adoption of connected health is the uncertainty over how home healthcare devices and smartphone apps will be regulated. And then there is the question of reimbursement. “Under long-standing payer models, consumer expectation is that insurance picks up the tab for medical testing and treatment costs. Until payers embrace covering remote or mobile monitoring costs, in whole or part, new businesses will be asking care providers and/or end users to directly bear the fees for new products and services,” the report states.
However, Gallelli said consumers may find that it more sense to pay a few hundred dollars a month to provide electronic health monitoring services for elderly parents in their homes than to shell out thousands for the less-inviting environment of a nursing home.
For more on the report, read the MITEF NW press release or download the report here.
http://mobihealthnews.com/9905/
Wednesday - January 12th, 2011 - 09:29am EST by Neil Versel
Editors Note:
Many thanks to Neil Versel and mobihealthnews for covering our MITEF event! Hope to see you all in Seattle next Wednesday. BB
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Forum to discuss how baby boomers can use technology to enhance health
Forum to discuss how baby boomers can use technology to enhance health
A forum – Boomers, Technology, and Health: Consumers Taking Charge – will be offered from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle.
Technology can help boomers who want to reduce the cost and inconvenience of doctor visits, delay or be active in retirement, take care of their aging parents, and age independently in their own homes themselves, say the sponsors of the forum, the MIT Enterprise Forum of the NW.
Mobile, wireless, social, and data technologies can provide a range of patient-centered, cost-reducing, and time-saving health management options for the benefit of consumers. These technologies also can be valuable to caregivers, health care providers, employers, taxpayers, and the healthcare industry.
"Boomers are unlike any previous mid-life generation in terms of population size, spending power, tech-savvy, and independent spirit," said Michael Gallelli, coordinator of the forum. "Our event will explore how this so-called Sandwich Generation will demand and drive the personalization of health and wellness, and what role mobile, social networking, and data technologies will play in the use of connected health products by boomers and their families."
Picture
The forum panel – moderated by Frank Catalano, principal at Intrinsic Strategy – will discuss from a consumer and technology point of view how various technologies will come together to deliver health solutions for baby boomers. Panelists include:
• Jay Bartot, co-founder and CTO, Medify
• Clayton Lewis, venture capitalist and partner, Maveron
• Marc Pierson, M.D., vice president of clinical information and quality, PeaceHealth
• John Sherry, director of user experience design, Intel Corporation
• Tandy Trower, founder and CEO, Hoaloha Robotics
A report prepared by the MIT Enterprise Forum of the NW for the Jan. 19 forum shows that U.S. baby boomers will play a key role in the adoption of technology-enabled health products for personal use.
Challenges to be address in the development and use of this technology include business model viability, data accuracy, behavioral challenges, and privacy concerns.
Currently, 17 percent of the nation's GDP is spent on health care. With the doubling of the population age 65 and older, driven by 78 million aging boomers, technology will be an important tool for managing chronic disease conditions associated with age, addressing medical personnel and senior care housing shortages, lessening family caretaker pressures, and encouraging self-care and health awareness, according to the report.
The report also points out that Washington and Oregon can become a center for health technology due to the software, mobile, research, senior care, and policy expertise available in regional institutional and business communities.
The report outlines several business opportunity areas, including personal health analytics and management, medication adherence, remote and mobile monitoring and tracking, social health and wellness communities, and robotics software.
The early registration deadline for the forum is Jan. 9.
Boomer Consumer
http://blog.seattlepi.com/boomerconsumer/archives/234641.asp
TSH Editor's Note: I've been a member of the Pacific Northwest MIT Enterprise Forum since 1996 and this is the first program that has ever been dedicated to this type of subject matter. A incredibly dedicated group of volunteers, including myself, toiled for more than six months to reach out on a national basis and contact thought leaders and those involved in the development and deployment of technologies for our aging population. The result is the upcoming Forum on January 19. If you are in the Seattle area please register to attend. Hats off to the Program Director Michael Galleli and the entire team that made this program a reality.
A forum – Boomers, Technology, and Health: Consumers Taking Charge – will be offered from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle.
Technology can help boomers who want to reduce the cost and inconvenience of doctor visits, delay or be active in retirement, take care of their aging parents, and age independently in their own homes themselves, say the sponsors of the forum, the MIT Enterprise Forum of the NW.
Mobile, wireless, social, and data technologies can provide a range of patient-centered, cost-reducing, and time-saving health management options for the benefit of consumers. These technologies also can be valuable to caregivers, health care providers, employers, taxpayers, and the healthcare industry.
"Boomers are unlike any previous mid-life generation in terms of population size, spending power, tech-savvy, and independent spirit," said Michael Gallelli, coordinator of the forum. "Our event will explore how this so-called Sandwich Generation will demand and drive the personalization of health and wellness, and what role mobile, social networking, and data technologies will play in the use of connected health products by boomers and their families."
Picture
The forum panel – moderated by Frank Catalano, principal at Intrinsic Strategy – will discuss from a consumer and technology point of view how various technologies will come together to deliver health solutions for baby boomers. Panelists include:
• Jay Bartot, co-founder and CTO, Medify
• Clayton Lewis, venture capitalist and partner, Maveron
• Marc Pierson, M.D., vice president of clinical information and quality, PeaceHealth
• John Sherry, director of user experience design, Intel Corporation
• Tandy Trower, founder and CEO, Hoaloha Robotics
A report prepared by the MIT Enterprise Forum of the NW for the Jan. 19 forum shows that U.S. baby boomers will play a key role in the adoption of technology-enabled health products for personal use.
Challenges to be address in the development and use of this technology include business model viability, data accuracy, behavioral challenges, and privacy concerns.
Currently, 17 percent of the nation's GDP is spent on health care. With the doubling of the population age 65 and older, driven by 78 million aging boomers, technology will be an important tool for managing chronic disease conditions associated with age, addressing medical personnel and senior care housing shortages, lessening family caretaker pressures, and encouraging self-care and health awareness, according to the report.
The report also points out that Washington and Oregon can become a center for health technology due to the software, mobile, research, senior care, and policy expertise available in regional institutional and business communities.
The report outlines several business opportunity areas, including personal health analytics and management, medication adherence, remote and mobile monitoring and tracking, social health and wellness communities, and robotics software.
The early registration deadline for the forum is Jan. 9.
Boomer Consumer
http://blog.seattlepi.com/boomerconsumer/archives/234641.asp
TSH Editor's Note: I've been a member of the Pacific Northwest MIT Enterprise Forum since 1996 and this is the first program that has ever been dedicated to this type of subject matter. A incredibly dedicated group of volunteers, including myself, toiled for more than six months to reach out on a national basis and contact thought leaders and those involved in the development and deployment of technologies for our aging population. The result is the upcoming Forum on January 19. If you are in the Seattle area please register to attend. Hats off to the Program Director Michael Galleli and the entire team that made this program a reality.
Philips Home Healthcare Weaves a Boomer Safety Net
Philips Home Healthcare Weaves a Boomer Safety Net
By Interview by Stephanie Schomer
Deb Citrin
Senior director, strategy and business development, Philips Home Healthcare
Framingham, Massachusetts
Citrin, 50, is rethinking how to market products for the elderly -- by targeting their aging children.
"Baby boomers are still managing their lives and taking care of their children, but they're also taking care of their aging parents. Every 2.3 seconds, somebody over the age of 65 suffers a serious fall. Our Lifeline service with AutoAlert automatically calls for help if a fall is detected. I am a baby boomer, and my mother has the Lifeline pendant. We also have a service that notifies adult children if Mom or Dad hasn't taken their medication. Boomers are willing to spend dollars on aging successfully and managing health. If we help them care for their parents -- and help the parents age at home -- the boomers will remember our products as they themselves cross the 65-year mark."
Comment from the TSH Editor - 2011 seems to be the year that Technology for senior housing settings and for those that want to age in place finally comes out of the closet and takes a position in the mainstream mindset. Stay tuned for several more notable announcements from the CES and NAHB annual conventions. BB
By Interview by Stephanie Schomer
Deb Citrin
Senior director, strategy and business development, Philips Home Healthcare
Framingham, Massachusetts
Citrin, 50, is rethinking how to market products for the elderly -- by targeting their aging children.
"Baby boomers are still managing their lives and taking care of their children, but they're also taking care of their aging parents. Every 2.3 seconds, somebody over the age of 65 suffers a serious fall. Our Lifeline service with AutoAlert automatically calls for help if a fall is detected. I am a baby boomer, and my mother has the Lifeline pendant. We also have a service that notifies adult children if Mom or Dad hasn't taken their medication. Boomers are willing to spend dollars on aging successfully and managing health. If we help them care for their parents -- and help the parents age at home -- the boomers will remember our products as they themselves cross the 65-year mark."
Comment from the TSH Editor - 2011 seems to be the year that Technology for senior housing settings and for those that want to age in place finally comes out of the closet and takes a position in the mainstream mindset. Stay tuned for several more notable announcements from the CES and NAHB annual conventions. BB
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