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The Aging-in-Place market for technology to assist seniors, families and professional caregivers for aging adults is attracting a steady stream of new vendors to a market that will exceed $20 billion by 2020, according to the newly updated 2010 report by Aging in Place Technology Watch. The emergence of caregiving as a concern to baby boomers invites new entrants into the market, according to Laurie M. Orlov, founder of the market research firm.

“With an aging demographic, growing elder caregiving responsibilities and emerging technology awareness of service providers means that more people seek and find solutions that help older family members,” said Orlov. “This is a catalyst for both new entrepreneurs like AFrameDigital and BeClose as well as new business opportunities for existing companies like Philips.”

The industry projections are part of the updated market overview report, 2010 Technology Market Overview from Aging in Place Technology Watch. The document updates about technologies to enable aging in place, including categories for communication and engagement, safety and security, health and wellness, and learning and contribution. The report explains how these tighten the connections between families, caregivers, service providers such as home care agencies and care recipients.

“Mary Furlong, founder of SeniorNet and author of “Turning Silver into Gold” commented: “A research veteran like Laurie choosing this space is an indication of the talent being brought to bear in this industry - analysts size the market, showcase the business opportunities, and shape the market space. The venture and business community are catching up with the need.”

Added Ken Dychtwald, Founder of AgeWave and author of “The Power Years,”: “Long-time Forrester and tech industry veteran Laurie M. Orlov is one of the most formidable - and knowledgeable - industry analysts describing the technology trends in the aging in place market. Her well-informed insights and innovative ideas are consistently spot-on.”

Headquartered in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Aging in Place Technology Watch provides thought leadership, analysis and guidance about technologies and related services that enable boomers and seniors to remain longer in their home of choice. In addition to her technology background and years as a technology industry analyst, founder Laurie M. Orlov is a certified geriatric care manager is a member of the Philips Think Tank on Health & Well-Being.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

There are always new and improved technological products coming out that can greatly help seniors and people with disabilities age-in-place comfortably and safely while maintaining their independence. Perhaps the most common device widely and cheaply available for seniors that can be used toward this end is of course the cell phone.

According to a recent review, the Snapfōn ez ONE is a new contender in the senior cell phone market and was specifically designed for elderly people who need an easy-to-read (and use) cell phone. It is simple to operate and has a large text display (equivalent to 28 point font) for easy reading. The Snapfōn ez ONE also has extra large keys, an emergency S.O.S. button, back-lit keypad, and it fits in one’s hand very nicely.
In addition, this phone has one feature that makes it particularly interesting—it will ‘say’ the numbers as they are dialed (called the “speaking keypad”). This would be particularly helpful to those with diminished sight. The review notes that it has not come across another senior cell phone in the market that has this feature.

Another attractive aspect of the Snapfōn ez ONE is its relatively low price. At $99.99, it is much more affordable than many other senior-friendly cell phones. Currently, these phones are being sold “unlocked” and without phone service. This means you can buy the Snapfōn ez ONE and take it to a GSM provider network, such as AT&T or T-Mobile (to name a few) and use it with one of their cell phone plans.

The Snapfōn ez ONE was created to fill a growing niche of users that want a phone just to make calls. This group includes many seniors who are aging-in-place. Plus, the Snapfōn ez ONE is far from lacking features. Snapfōn president, Phil Sieg, explained,

“We have incorporated a few unique features into our Snapfōn ez ONE product such as an S.O.S. button that calls up to four (4) emergency contacts and keeps calling in rotation until you get an answer, a high intensity LED flashlight, and even an FM radio—all of which are present for safety and convenience reasons.” He added that the company is seeing a greater focus on safety as our population ages, and a growing desire for emergency response devices.

Snapfōn ez ONE Features
•    Speaking keypad
•    Easy to see and dial buttons
•    Large and bright display
•    FM Radio
•    Vibrating ringer
•    Flashlight
•    Emergency S.O.S. button
•    Speakerphone with good volume
•    Light and easy to hold
•    Phonebook memory—200 records
•    Call record—last 10
•    6 ringtones
•    6 alarm tones
•    5 SMS tones
•    High intensity LED flashlight
•    Built-in FM radio with headset

Snapfōn ez ONE Dimensions and Details
•    Dimensions: 2″ x 4″ x 0.5″ (10.4 cm x 4.9 cm x 1.5 cm)
•    Screen: 1.6 inch amber LCD 128×48
•    Battery: 3-5 hours of talk time and up to 120 hours of standby time

Remember, technology can greatly help to complement your aging-in-place goals. Be sure to do your research and find the best technological products that can enhance your independence and also fit your individual needs and economic circumstances.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

A recent article by Ericka Pizzillo Cohen, a writer for The Bellingham Herald, discusses six ways you can make your kitchen safer as you age in place.

According to Cohen, occupational therapists have been saying that “simple changes in the kitchen can adjust for the decreased strength, vision and balance that often come from aging or illness.”

Not only can these changes preserve the overall health of seniors who are more likely to cook healthfully if they cook for themselves, but staying independent in the kitchen has many other benefits as well.

“People want to prepare the meals they like to eat,” says Ken Eastham, an occupational therapist at St. Joseph Hospital. “Cooking is good exercise, and it’s a leisure task that can help people psychologically, especially if they invite friends over to eat.”

Here are some suggestions for making your kitchen both well-used and safe.

Simple Steps: Use lighter-weight pots and pans and use less water when boiling food. This reduced weight helps protect a senior’s vulnerable joints.

Michelle Moulds, an occupational therapist at St. Joseph’s who was quoted in the piece, added that people should also pace themselves in the kitchen. “Some illnesses, such as multiple sclerosis, leave people with the potential to be overheated in a hot kitchen. And certain diseases, such as diabetes, leave people with decreased nerve sensitivity, leaving them more vulnerable to burns, a consideration when deciding how and what to cook.”

Other easy changes include buying products such as flour in smaller, lighter packages, and having the butcher trim your meat. Additionally, a wheeled cart can help move items from the kitchen to serving areas, and move heavy pots from one part of the kitchen to another.

Useful Gadgets: The Arthritis Foundation website makes recommendations for “Ease of Use” items. One such item is OXO’s Good Grips, which have built-up, rubbery handles that are easy to grip for people with weakened joints, and that stay steady in the hand for added safety.

Rocker knives, shaped like a crescent, can also help make cutting safer. Electric jar and can openers can save the time and frustration for the kitchen’s most common tasks.

Appliance Advice: Appliances can ease the task of cooking with a few key changes. For instance, Thea Stephens, a certified aging-in-place specialist with Bellingham design firm Domistyle, says that dishwashers in 42-inch-high kitchen islands can be elevated several inches, for less bending and reaching. “And refrigerators that have bottom freezers with pullout drawers mean the upper portion, which is more frequently used, opens at eye-level.”

Knobs on the front of an oven, rather than above the burners, are easier to reach, and also prevent loose sleeves from catching on burners or dipping into your pot of soup, she adds.

Light to Cook By: Recessed can-lighting is the easiest way to add new lighting to a kitchen, and task lighting can be installed under countertops to add another layer of lighting, so prep work is easily viewed.

Take a Seat: Cohen writes that sitting down while cutting vegetables and mixing food may be the best way to prevent falls and ensure you’ve got that knife secure.

Avoid stools with swivel seats or chairs with wheels, however, because they can send you flying across the kitchen when you need something quickly to brace against.

Full Remodel: If you’re thinking of living in your home for many years, consider your senior years when redesigning your kitchen. As we discussed many times before, there are certain modifications that you can make, such as: wider lanes between cabinets so you can leave room for a walker or wheelchair; touchless faucets or lever faucets; as well as cabinets with large drawers for pots.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

Here at the Home Evolutions’ Blog, we often showcase how technology can greatly assist seniors and people with disabilities make aging-in-place a realistic and attainable goal. As newer and newer technologies seem to be born constantly and quickly for our gadget-hungry culture, there appears to be a never-ending offering of electronic tools that can help people remain living comfortably and safely at home.

A recent article by Suzanne Robitaille discusses a groundbreaking partnership between Microsoft and New York City aimed at helping seniors live more independently.

According to Robitaille, New York and other cities are working with Microsoft to bring computers, Web cams, and other high-tech gear to homebound seniors. She explains, “Not even the vibrancy of the city that never sleeps could get lifelong New Yorker Milton Greidinger to leave his home. Chronic illness kept Greidinger, 86, from participating in outside activities, and as a result, loneliness set in.”

Now Greidinger, a former department store salesman, has revived some social interests with the help of a private-public partnership between Microsoft and the City of New York that introduces seniors to computer, video, and Internet technology in their homes. Greidinger happily explains, “All of a sudden, I’m wide awake and alive again. I talk to people now and I’m getting more and more involved.”

The program, known as the Virtual Senior Center (VSC), uses technology to fight social isolation and give older, homebound New Yorkers better access to community services. Working with the Benjamin Rosenthal Senior Center in Flushing, Queens, Microsoft equipped a group of seniors, aged 67 to 103, with a range of technology gadgets and assistive technology to help them function.

Robitaille believes that for New York, as with cities facing budget shortfalls across the country, a private-public partnership may be a cost-effective way to deliver higher-quality services to a rapidly aging population. “We want to make New York City the most age-friendly city in the nation,” said Marah Rhoades, Assistant Commissioner of New York’s Department for the Aging.

Microsoft’s Model for Urban Seniors

New York City is home to 1.3 million seniors and the city’s 60-and-over population is set to jump 50% in the next 25 years. In fact, the expected rise in the number of people 65 and older will outpace the total population increase in every state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Robitaille explains that Microsoft can use such city partnerships to bring its software and services to a wider range of customers. “Even in a large city like New York, people can feel alone,” said Bonnie Kearney, Director of Marketing for Trustworthy Computing at Microsoft. “This is a model that cities can use to help homebound seniors stay connected and keep contributing to their communities,” she added.

At no cost to themselves, participants received new in-home desktop computers running the Windows 7 operating system, touch-screen monitors, and broadband Internet service worth about $20,000. In addition, a small video camera and microphone lets seniors use Skype and video-chat applications to keep in touch with family and friends. Others even use the computer to attend religious services virtually or watch videos via YouTube.

And at the Flushing senior center, Microsoft also placed two-way video cameras and monitors that let homebound seniors remotely take part in activities such as tai chi and painting, while interacting with instructors and classmates at the center. For seniors with vision, hearing, and physical disabilities, Microsoft adapted the virtual centers with assistive technologies and devices.

Such technology, along with home renovations like those offered by a CAPS designated remodeler like Home Evolutions, can help you to meet all of your aging-in-place needs.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing last week titled “Aging in Place: The National Broadband Plan and Bringing Health Care Technology Home.”

This hearing focused on:

• Benefits of remote patient monitoring;
• Need for more broadband;
• Special health care needs of the senior population and the obstacles presented by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) when it comes to reimbursement of services related to telehealth and telemedicine.

Elements of e-Care include:

• Video consultation services make specialty services available to rural and other underserved areas, improving health care quality and reducing disparities while also increasing convenience for patients. Nearly 50 million people living in rural areas face challenges accessing needed health care today.

• Home monitoring can place daily metrics of patients’ health—weight, blood pressure and other vital measures—in patients’ and providers’ hands, improving chronic care management and patient engagement. Early detection of problems made possible with real time information, but not imaginable through office visits at six-month intervals, can help avoid unneeded hospitalizations for patients with heart failure and other chronic conditions.

• Secure sharing and remote reading of patient information such as radiographic images on high speed channels can improve care coordination and reduce the risk of medical errors.

The panel offered a preview of the government’s future role in health care, showing how seniors could interact with health care providers using the latest technology. Outcomes from the hearing include the creation of a position within the Office of the National Coordinator to advance the proliferation of e-Care technologies to address America’s problems with high-cost and inefficient health care delivery.

There was pressure on Don Berwick, the nominee for CMS Administrator, to examine e-Care as a top priority during his nomination proceedings that are set to begin on May 5.

The hearing also focused on how our senior population lacks access to available modern technologies that would help them age in place.  During the hearing, three senators discussed how CMS is an obstacle to modern health care technologies and is fundamentally flawed.

There were also multiple references by the senators and witnesses on broadband and wireless technologies and how they enable the delivery of care to both rural and urban populations.

We’ll continue to keep you posted on any of the latest developments!

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

The growing marketplace for technology to assist aging adults is attracting a steady stream of new vendors to a market that will exceed $20 billion by 2020, according to the newly updated 2010 report by Aging in Place Technology Watch. The emergence of caregiving as a concern to baby boomers is driving new entrants into the market, according to Laurie M. Orlov, founder of the market research firm.

“At a time when we are seeing so many business opportunities shrinking, this market is poised for steady growth,” said Orlov, in a press release. “With the slowdown in the housing market, growing elder caregiving responsibilities, and emerging technology awareness of service providers means that more people will look for solutions that help older family members. This is a catalyst for innovation and opportunity for both new entrepreneurs and new business opportunities for existing companies.”

The industry projections from Aging in Place Technology Watch are part of the updated market overview report, “2010 Technology Market Overview.” The document updates which technologies matter to inform caregiving and enable aging in place, including categories for communication and engagement, safety and security, health and wellness, and learning and contribution. The report also explains how these tighten the connections between families, caregivers, service providers, and care recipients. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Orlov is the leading industry analyst describing the trends and technologies in the aging in place market at http://www.ageinplacetech.com. Headquartered in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Aging in Place Technology Watch provides thought leadership, analysis and guidance about technologies and related services that enable boomers and seniors to remain longer in their home of choice.

She spent more than 30 years in the technology industry, including 24 years in IT and nine years as a leading industry analyst at Forrester Research. Laurie is a recognized expert advisor to organizations like AARP and her blog is widely referenced and re-published. She regularly speaks at conferences like Aging in America, Connected Health, and the UCLA Conference on Aging.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

According to a recent article by Laurie Orlov for Aging in Place Technology Watch, phone navigation will soon be a critical aging-in-place technology. Orlov believes that by 2013, phone-based navigation will be the dominant form of turn-by-turn navigation. In fact currently, more than one-third of North American consumers own or use some form of navigation services.

Today, surveys indicate that 21% of older boomers (aged 53-63) and 16% of seniors (aged 64+), are using dedicated, GPS, portable navigation devices (PNDs) for their navigation needs. “Moving forward, boomers and seniors should check for phone-based navigation capability in their cell phones when they upgrade. And enterprising vendors should consider designing applications (apps) that take advantage of it,” explains Orlov.

Here are some reasons why cell phone navigation technology can help seniors and people with disabilities age-in-place:

• Cell phone navigation is cheap—Phone navigation also offers voice recognition as well as screen capabilities that are available at multiple and very low price points. For example, the Verizon Wireless VZ Navigator and Sprint Navigation are available for a $9.99 monthly service fee. AT&T also offers the same capability for $9.95 per month.

• It’s available on nearly all cell phones and updates are immediate—Unlike PNDs, with cell phone-based navigation, updates to routes are immediate and happen over the same wireless network that becomes available when the phone is turned on. Plus, GPS-equipped phones will be largely available to the vast majority of phone subscribers by the end of this year. In addition, GPS-equipped phones can also interact with other location-sensitive applications—like current maps, real-time traffic reports, or apps that help people find gas stations or even restrooms in certain cities!

• Phone navigation can also help keep people from getting lost outside of their cars—Navigation will increasingly be as usable for walking around neighborhoods or on vacation as it is for driving. For example, the Nokia Maps application allows users to specify whether requested directions are for foot or car travel.

• FCC E-911 initiative drove vendors to incorporate location assistance—With so many people giving up landlines, the FCC insisted that carriers comply with this E-911 government regulation. Ensuring that cell phones can be located by police or firefighters is one reason that location-based services are now pervasive. For seniors and people with disabilities, this means that cell phone navigation capabilities can be used both to provide directions, as well as enabling a person with a cell phone to be located in an emergency.

Since the boomer and senior populations are swelling, Orlov states that technology vendors must continue creating new software apps that will be beneficial to people who choose to age-in-place. “Transportation apps are needed because as boomers and seniors age, they may remain longer within their own neighborhoods. As a result, they need access to services that make it appealing and feasible to leave the house, with or without a car.” So technology vendors should focus on apps that help seniors and people with disabilities find bus routes and their nearest stops, or identify available and nearby ride sharing.

She concludes that services apps are also needed. “Perhaps a medical map showing where a nearby pharmacy, emergency room, or walk-in clinic might be. Or perhaps even a ‘senior friend finder’ application that helps people participate in transportation buddy systems, helps them know what activities are in town, and who else may be going to a local event.”

Remember, CAPS designated companies like Home Evolutions can also help seniors and people with disabilities continue to live comfortably, safely, and independently as they age-in-place.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

With Christmas less than two weeks away, you may still be looking for that perfect gift to give your loved ones who are aging-in-place. Parentgiving.com suggests some great holiday gift ideas for seniors that focus on increasing their health and well-being. These gifts can help seniors stay active, sharp, safe, interested, and vital.

Chief content officer of the website, Julie Davis, explained that when it comes to picking the perfect presents for older loved ones, what truly makes the best gifts for seniors are those that enable them to maintain a great quality of life, stay engaged in things they love to do, and live as independently as possible.

“Recent research studies have pointed to very specific advice for maintaining senior health—including physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our recommendations take into account findings that range from the need to maintain muscle mass in order to stay healthy, to the need to stay socially engaged in order to prevent isolation and possible depression.”

Parentgiving.com’s gift ideas not only help to enable aging-in-place and improve quality of life, but they can also be inexpensive. In fact, many of its gift ideas start as low as $12.00. These great gifts for seniors can be broken down into the following categories:

Think Fitness First—Gifts For Staying Active

Among the lifestyle behaviors that have negative effects, being sedentary is near the top of the list. Exercise maintains muscle, and muscle enables the body to maintain a level of fitness that helps seniors resist illness, stay independent, and prevent falls. Exercise should be fun and tailored to each individual’s level. Parentgiving.com’s gift ideas for this include the Nintendo Wii and sessions with physical therapists that have expertise in geriatrics.

Maintain The Brain—Gifts For Staying Sharp

Ongoing studies are researching exactly how to keep the brain sharp in order to delay or even prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Exercising the mind can be as high-tech as playing video games or brain training programs, to being as low-tech as playing Scrabble and doing crossword puzzles every day. Many of these activities have benefits that range from improving memory to visual acuity—not to mention that they’re just plain fun and keep people engaged. Specific brain fitness software involves interactive game-like training programs that challenge the mind and attempt to boost memory as well as analytical thinking. Related Parentgiving.com gift ideas include brain training software like PositScience’s DriveSharp and the Dakim BrainFitness System.

Get Smart About Safety—Gifts For Staying Safe

For many seniors, high-tech developments in telecare are allowing those who need care and attention to age-in-place. Now they can stay in their homes under the watchful eyes of electronic monitoring and communication devices via computers, video cameras, the internet, and land or wireless telephone signals. Advances in tracking devices for wanderers, online recordkeeping, and medical reminder systems are other high-tech ways of keeping seniors safe. Other Parentgiving.com gift ideas include EmFinders EmSeeQ monitoring wrist device and the A Very Special Heart charm with USB data storage.

See Clearly—Gifts For Staying Interested

Normal vision changes occur as we age. Even natural changes unrelated to conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration can make close-up reading difficult. But the ability to read is an important part of maintaining a high quality of life—so is being able to do other hand-held activities like knitting and writing. Tools and gadgets that make it easier to stay interested in these activities are among the best holiday gifts for seniors. Such Parentgiving.com gift ideas include a lighted magnifier, a table-top newspaper stand, and a bean-bag lap desk.

Emphasize Everyday Ease—Staying Vital and Connected

Independence comes in many forms, but doctors often judge it by the ability to carry out daily living activities. These include simply taking care of oneself and one’s basic needs—getting dressed, eating properly, and moving about with relative ease. Aids and gadgets that facilitate these everyday actions make a big difference in quality of life and the ability to age at home. New devices that enable seniors to stay connected to loved ones without necessarily having to be computer savvy can also add to quality of life. Parentgiving.com gift ideas include the Pathlighter Lighted Walking Cane and POURfect kitchen tools, which are perfect for anyone with limited dexterity.

You can read the full description of each holiday gift on Parentgiving.com.

Home Evolutions would like to wish you and your loved ones much happiness during this holiday season—and many, many years of being together as you age-in-place!

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The Chicago Sun-Times recently reported on some new technologies that will be showcased in the American Association’ of Homes and Services for the Aging’s (AAHSA) Idea House in Chicago’s McCormick Place later this week.

One of those new technologies is a new therapy-based entertainment system which is designed to encourage wellness and social connectedness that can help prevent memory loss.

This is just one of the technologies being displayed in the AAHSA Idea House designed to illustrate how technology and design can be integrated to facilitate aging in place and continued participation in the community.

The house, which will be open to the public during the AAHSA Annual Meeting & Exposition, November 8-11 at McCormick Place in Chicago, will feature design elements such as modified kitchens and bathrooms as well as technologies designed to improve a senior’s and a person with disability’s quality of life, while reducing health care costs, encouraging healthy behavior change, and providing caregivers with support.

According to Larry Minnix Jr., president of the AAHSA, “The Idea House will feature the best in universal design, technologies that can improve older people’s quality of life.”

The 2,600-square-foot home will display innovations intended to make it possible for seniors and people with disabilities to stay independent in their own homes.

Some of the new products on display include:

•    A security system that replaces the traditional peephole with a DVD screen.
•    A height-adjustable kitchen cabinet.
•    A height-adjustable toilet seat.
•    A dispenser that automatically organizes, reminds, dispenses and monitors an individual’s medication use. The technology enables pharmacies to be notified when refills are needed.
•    A gaming system that provides 24/7 access to speech therapy through the television.

Sustainable or green design features in the house include carpets made from post-consumer recycled content and furniture made from recycled plastic milk jugs.

Other new innovations in the Idea House:

•    With the automatic personal emergency response system, users’ critical events are monitored, without them pressing a button, reported to EMS, and caregivers are immediately alerted.
•    Temporary robotic limbs, a wearable robotic suit (called Hal), is designed to multiply a person’s strength by reading bioelectric signals that the person generates. The suit uses those signals to guide the movement of robotic limbs strapped to a person’s arms and legs. With Hal’s help, the AAHSA hopes that even stroke patients may be able to walk.
•    A robot is designed to serve as a substitute for live animal therapy.

The Idea House will be at the McCormick Place Lakeside Center, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Admission is free, but visitors must register and receive a AAHSA House badge. The registration area will be in the lobby on Level 2. Visit www.aahsa.org.

Business Week recently published a special report on how today’s innovative technology is helping seniors and people with disabilities age in place, and how it’s also saving billions in health care costs.

The report discusses technology like the Intel Health Guide, a device that let doctors monitor his health remotely.

According to the report, which features Ronald Lang, a 63-year-old patient who suffers from congestive heart failure and multiple sclerosis, who was pilot-testing the Intel Health Guide, a device that let doctors monitor his health remotely:

“Each day after he woke up, he’d step on a scale and strap on a blood-pressure cuff that were attached to the Health Guide. The device collected his vitals and zapped them to his doctor’s office. From there, nurse Marie DiCola scoured the data, and if she noticed anything amiss, she dialed up Lang and chatted with him over Health Guide’s videophone.”

Aging-in-place equipment like this is placed in a person’s home, monitors symptoms on the spot, and sends reports to doctors and family members in real time. This device can drastically cut the rate of medical complications that force seniors into hospitals and other intensive-care facilities. “That, in turn, could shave millions of dollars a year from U.S. health-care bills—a tantalizing proposition at a time when health reform is at the top of the political agenda.”

This past spring, both Intel and General Electric announced they would spend $250 million over the next five years to co-develop products that will help seniors manage chronic conditions from home. The overall market for technology to assist older patients is expected to grow to $20 billion by 2020, according to consultancy Aging in Place Technology Watch.

Besides Intel, the aging-in-place market has attracted the likes of General Electric, Philips Electronics, Honeywell, Bosch, and dozens of technology startups are also leading the way by developing technology that can watch over senior homeowners, spot signs of trouble, alert doctors, and even teleconference physicians into the living room when there is a problem.

Read more about some of these exciting new technologies that will allow you to age in place, such as beds that can monitor patients’ vital signs as they sleep, stoves that can turn themselves off when their owners forget, and video games that can detect early signs of dementia.

Let us know what you think about some of these new devices in place to help you age in place.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.