Testimonial from Stacey Pierce, Director of LIVE@HOME Technologies:
LIVE@HOME Technologies understands the new frontier of in-home care through technology, using both low and high tech technology to meet the needs of our clients. We use everything from telephone check ins, Personal Emergency Response Units and Remote Telehealth & Activity of Daily Living Monitoring Systems such as GrandCare Systems. The GrandCare technology is result driven; a “proactive versus reactive care solution”. As one example, Mr. C has had many heart surgeries, Congestive Heart Failure, and Diabetes. We have worked with his doctors to set wellness parameters and goals to prevent a future “event”. This type of awareness and proactive care can mitigate hospital stays and detect potential symptoms before it becomes life-threatening. Using GrandCare technology, we have kept Mr. C in his home for two years now, saving him and his family, roughly $112,000.
In home care can be very expensive and many simply cannot afford or do not need 24 hours of hands-on care. We utilize technology, such as GrandCare Systems, to work in conjunction with professional caregiving staff. Live@Home Technologies has placed GrandCare technology in many homes, not only as a cost- effective way to stay at home, but also to assess if and when additional care might be warranted.
Live@Home Technologies has also designed programs to save money for Long Term Care Facilities as well as their residents. The average cost of Independent Living at The Oaks, a CCRC in South Carolina, is $2,000.00 per month and goes up to $3,5000.00 for Assisted Living. Live@Home Technologies implemented a new “Monitoring Independent Area of Living” program at the Oaks by using GrandCare motion, door and bed sensor technology to monitor several residents at once. This concept allows the Oaks to reduce unnecessary footsteps and save money by making fewer caregivers more efficient and effective. Each resident has seen a cost savings of $1200.00 per month, that’s almost $15,000.00 per year.
Through the setting of individual rules, we monitor activities such as wandering, being out of bed, leaving apartments in middle of night, not accessing medications, or too much motion in bathroom; all of which have been directly related to UTIs, medications not being taken properly and increased Sundowners. Using the GrandCare technology, we assess each individual’s ADLs, allowing us to be proactive and respond to any notable changes in daily life. Although, technology does not replace care giving and human touch, it can be a helpful tool to gain information on a possible event, save health care costs and give an added peace of mind, while staying at home.
We eagerly anticipate the many exciting ways we can take advantage of the advances in technology to provide top-notch in-home care that meets the demands of our caregiving staff, our residents and their family members.
-Stacey Pierce
Director of LIVE@HOME Technologies
About LIVE@HOME Technologies
The Methodist Oaks has more than 50 years of experience of mission and ministry with seniors giving care and services at our Faith Based Continuing Care Retirement Community (www.theoakssc.com). In the last few years, recognizing the need to expand our care giving to a greater community, the Board of The Oaks made the decision to offer our expertise in the integration of Care and Technology throughout South Carolina and portions of North Carolina and Georgia.
The Oaks created LIVE@HOME Technologies to offer the latest in rapidly changing technological advances to assist people in staying at home. LIVE@HOME Technologies constantly researches and test various technologies which are available and utilizes that which best suits the client’s situation. LIVE@HOME Technologies learned early on that the most critical step of helping people stay at home rather than moving to an Assisted Living or other living option is the evaluation of the needs and desires of the potential client and the family.
Carol Roberts with her mother Jean in Daytona Beach, FL
My name is Carol Roberts and I have been using the GrandCare System for my mother since February of 2006. In late 2005, my mom started experiencing Petit Mal Seizures during the night. The after effect would be disorientation and confusion, which worried our family and her doctors. We were advised that her only option was assisted living. Mom found that idea to be absolutely abhorrent. She was physically fit, mentally acute and a fiercely independent person. Mom was the one that found GrandCare Systems online back in late 2005 and we decided to give it a shot and see if it might help us to keep her home for a little bit longer, although we had no idea it would be 6+ years longer.
In February of 2006, 2 GrandCare team members flew into Daytona Beach to install the GrandCare System, a series of motion sensors, door sensors and action alert buttons. It was so simple for me to log in from my home computer and view the motion graphs, and set up alert parameters. I opted to receive alert phone calls if the front door opened during the night or if wandering motion was detected (a symptom of the seizures). The GrandCare staff even volunteered to be “on call” for me if I was unable to take the phone call.
GrandCare has the ability to grow with you. We upgraded mom to an Interactive touchscreen and added the blood pressure device recently. GrandCare has kept me on top of mom’s overall wellness. I recently noticed that mom’s sleeping patterns were irregular, she was agitated and exhibiting signs of sundowners. I took her vital charts and the motion graphs to the doctor consultation to figure out the problem. Thanks to the information that GrandCare had collected, the doctor saw that the time frame of the changes was at the same time he had altered her medications. He made a few changes and she started sleeping better, was in a better mood and was more mentally acute.
The GrandCare System saved our lives! Mom got to keep her independence, I got to live my own life and with some “peace of mind”. I am proud to report that 6 years later, we are still actively using and relying on our GrandCare System. The average cost of assisted living in Daytona Beach is around $3200. The GrandCare System has already saved us about $230,000 and still counting.
Mom and I consider the folks at GrandCare as a part of our extended family. They truly care about us, the quality system they provide and are genuinely good people. I highly recommend them and the GrandCare System.
Thanks,
Carol Burkhart,
Daytona Beach Florida
Watch the 2010 CBS Early Show Interview on Jean & Carol using GrandCare here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/05/earlyshow/leisure/gamesgadgetsgizmos/main6745504.shtml
Just ran across this great blog recommendation on GrandCare that we thought we would share.
Two Technologies For Aging In Place
By Katy Dodd
See the whole post by LifeWise Renovations
A team of my constituents and I were recently asked to look at the emerging technologies in aging in place and assess their feasibility for long-term use in the home. There were two technologies that caught our eye: GrandCare Systems and the Care-O-Bot.
GrandCare Systems is a company based out of Wisconsin that has integrated all the different telehealth technologies into one system. The system connects to any internet connection and communicates with “wireless” sensors throughout the residence. Caregivers can log into the GrandCare website to send communications to a loved one, view activity and tele-wellness sensor information (blood pressure, heart, weight) and customize the automatic caregiver alerts. You can also use GrandCare for socialization, entertainment and communication purposes. Family can send pictures, emails, calendar appointments, voice messages, family videos and more right to the GrandCare System. You can also play brain bender games, watch the news, listen to the weather, etc. See video.
As with most things, this technology is not for everyone. It does come with a higher price tag than most other systems on the market. GrandCare does, however, come with more options than any other we have come across thus far. It is also user friendly and does not require computer experience to operate.
The other technology that caught our eye is the Care-O-Bot. I think it will be a few more years before we see service robots in the home, but they do offer a solution to the growing problem of not having enough workers to meet the need as well helping to alleviate some of the many issues faced by long term caregivers. The Care-O-Bot can help with dish washing, the lifting of objects, walking, getting up from a chair or bed, the fetching of items, and other basic tasks. See video.
In a perfect world, I would like to see the two technologies come together and integrate themselves into one easy to use, affordable system (I will speak more on this later). The reason I mention affordable is because both are relatively high priced. The likelihood that people will be able to afford these luxuries outright is relatively slim. My suggestion would be to set up a leasing office where customers could apply a monthly payment (similar to a car leasing structure). If you ask me, this beats paying the monthly cost of assisted living. People go from owning a home outright to essentially having a mortgage again. This would be much less than a mortgage payment and would allow for one to maintain their independence longer. It will be interesting to see how this market changes and grows over time, given it is still in its infancy.
Thursday, February 2nd
2p ET – 1p CT
grandcaresystems.webex.com
Call in: 1-408-600-3600 Pin: TBA#
With guest speaker Jeff Makowka
In late 2010, AARP created a new group focused on Thought Leadership with the mission of exploring and establishing new ways in which AARP can achieve its social mission: “to improve the quality of life for all as they age”. The Innovation@50+ program is the group’s flagship campaign to engage both the investment and entrepreneurial communities to stimulate innovation to meet the needs and wants of people over 50.
Jeff Makowka, AARP, Senior Strategic Advisor, Thought Leadership
Jeff has over a decade of experience in strategic analysis, management consulting and market research. For over 5 years, he has been focused on the wants and needs of the 50+ both domestically and internationally. As Senior Strategic Advisor in AARP’s newly formed Thought Leadership group, he supports AARP’s Innovation@50+ Program which aims to spark innovation and entrepreneurial activity across public and private sectors. Anchored by AARP’s social mission – to enhance the quality of life for all as we age – the program enlists the expertise of visionary aging/technology thinkers, and builds the business case for all sectors to collaborate on meeting the needs and wants of people over 50.
Prior to this role, Jeff held the position of Senior Manager, Global Member Value in AARP’s Membership Development group. Before his work at AARP, Jeff worked in the Monetizing Knowledge Practice at Edgewater Strategy Services as a Project Manager and Senior Business Analyst. He has also held positions as a Research Associate and Web Business Analyst with Jupiter Media Metrix.
Mr. Makowka earned a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy and English Literature (double major) and received his Masters of Arts (Licentiate) in Philosophy (Magna Cum Laude).
