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So what will 2010 bring in terms of Aging-in-Place? Laurie Orlov, founder of Aging in Place Technology Watch, recently listed her top ten aging-in-place trends for 2010 that we’d like to share with you.

1.    Location-aware tech enables more info, greater safety. GPS became even more useful in 2009. Verizon replaced its Chaperone service with Family Locator, The Alzheimer’s Association introduced its ComfortZone (powered by OmniLink), several other tracking technology vendors launched.

2.    Home automation technology vendors see possibilities. Just as home remodelers see possibilities in aging-in-place retrofits (70% of NAHB builders in 2009), in a bad economy, home automation vendors also saw possibilities in the market.

3.    Mobile health app possibilities grow. Mobile web usage during 2009 got a growth spurt from boomers and seniors — and spawned new apps like LiveNurse from Jitterbug. According to Gartner, mobile health applications (along with location-based apps) are in the top 10 application growth areas for consumers.

4.    Virtual doctors’ visits and other health innovations. Orlov says that a quiet revolution is happening in health care delivery, from shared doctor visits, the video doctor ‘virtual visit’, and health care without the doctor — tracking and transmission of self-test results — like blood coagulation levels.

5.    Touch screens and eReaders. Touch screens became ubiquitous during 2009 for product demonstration computers used to demo software — like the Asus EEE, for example. And eReaders – particularly well-suited to the boomer/senior population saw the impressive Sony with touch screen as alternative to the Kindle.

6.    Big companies invest in monitoring and telehealth technologies. GE acquisition of QuietCare, Intel and its $250 million partnership with GE, and Bosch (VitelNet), all added to Philips as big firms intent on roles in the aging/health monitoring arena — limited impact in 2009, but validation of market importance in 2010.

7.    Broadband access and Internet use among seniors grows. According to Forrester’s research, 63% of 64-73-year-olds are online at least monthly. And Nielsen noted that 6 million more seniors are online today than five years ago — most likely because their broadband adoption has grown from 19% to 30% in the past year.

8.    Caregiver portals and tools blossom. 2009 saw the merger of Caring.com and Gilbert Guide, forging the market’s first million-views-per-month usage profile.

9.    Personal emergency response systems get a makeover. In 2009, we saw the emergence of Halo Monitoring’s fall detection chest strap and belt clip, mobile PERS entrant, Medical Mobile Monitoring, and then reflect on Jitterbug’s acquisition in the Mobile PERS arena.

10.    VCs show interest in aging in place technology. During 2009, there were several VC investments in the aging in place tech arena, including a $7.5 million investment in WellAWARE Systems from Valhalla Partners and .406 Ventures; Menlo Ventures made an investment in Wellcore; Shasta Ventures invested $10 million in Caring.com; Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Kleiner Perkins, and Physic Ventures are all examining the health, boomer markets.

Read more at Aging in Place Technology Watch.

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.

For years, many people have invested in long-term care (LTC) insurance to help meet the financial healthcare needs they may face as they age. A recent article by Laurie Orlov explores whether such insurance investments will effectively cover other types of aging-in-place necessities.

According to Orlov, LTC insurance seems to be a smart strategy. She uses the personal story of AgeWave founder, Ken Dychtwald, as an example. “His parents bought it [LTC insurance] in their 70s and it has given them flexibility and care. In their late 80s now, they are in Florida (thousands of miles from either of their sons) with good care coordination and an aide caring for them six days a week.”

But she then acknowledges that her purpose is not to argue the benefits of LTC insurance or other types of long-term care. Rather, Orlov explains that LTC insurance does not guarantee a thriving situation for aging-in-place. “First of all, your own home can be a terribly isolated place with only the aide, the television, and perhaps a non-communicative spouse in the home. Even in the described situation, what happens on day six in terms of meals, bathing, and safe navigation around the home?”

As it is well known, much of how people successfully age-in-place depends on the home itself and how it was originally designed or later appropriately remodeled by a company like Home Evolutions. Orlov adds, “[A home] can be a frightening place if there are obstacles, unsafe bathrooms, stairs, etc. I particularly worry about this in Florida, where such a large percentage of the aging population resides with no family members within thousands of miles.”

She also notes that monitoring and managing the service for in-home care are a stressful long-distance challenge for family members. “Like any service, it can be done well, or not so well.” Orlov’s response to this challenge is to thoroughly check and see if your LTC insurance plan covers home monitoring technology (which can include motion sensors, web cameras, environmental designs, etc.). In addition, she suggests asking if it includes the post-Medicare coverage for telehealth monitoring as well as communications technology (video phones, personal computers, and internet plans).

If such aging-in-place technology considerations are not covered by LTC insurance, Orlov asks how children or loved ones of those who age-in-place will be able to monitor caregiving, communicate with their family members, and help make a determination that their home will continue to be a great place for safety, socialization, or obtaining care expertise.

Finally, Orlov reminds us that vision decline, stroke, Parkinson’s, or even Alzheimer’s diagnoses can turn a home into an obstacle course and make aging-in-place difficult. But with a little financial and care planning, along with some advice and help from loved ones and a remodeling company like Home Evolutions, seniors and people with disabilities can continue to live comfortably, safely, and independently as they age-in-place. Orlov concludes, “So let’s make sure that those with LTC insurance and home care also are linked in to family or friends.”

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.

Most of us can relate to some of the following situations: Your mother is recovering from a stroke and needs help in the home. Your uncle was just diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and he lives alone. Your elderly neighbor is rapidly losing weight and wants you to take him to see the doctor. Your grandmother, who has dementia, needs to be placed in an assisted living facility, but you have no idea which places are good for a person living with dementia.

If you are like most people, you have no idea where to begin to look for services.  Many people call agencies listed in the telephone book.   But, how do you know if you have called a good agency?  Will they be able to help your loved one right away or do they place people on a waiting list?  Are they reliable?  Hiring someone who can answer those questions and any others you may have can make your life less stressful and can link your loved one to the best quality services.

Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) may be the solution you are looking for.  A GCM is a licensed Social Worker or nurse who can visit someone in a private home or apartment, a nursing home or assisted living facility,or a hospital.  The GCM will visit your loved one and do an assessment to find out their needs.  Family members and friends may also be consulted to provide information about how a person has been functioning and what their needs are.

The GCM will use the information from the assessment to devise a plan for your loved one. Some of the services she can assist with are: accompanying people to appointments; arrange, screen and monitor in home help; suggest referrals for financial, legal, mental health, or medical issues; arrange to move an older person to or from a nursing home, assisted living, or a private residence; and assist with daily money management and other financial concerns. Counseling and emotional support to family members is another service offered by some GCMs.

Family members are kept informed about all issues that arise. This helps them to continue with their family and community responsibilities, maintain their own physical and mental health, and still make sure their loved one is being well taken care of.

GCM’s charges a fee for their services. Medicare or other types of insurance do not cover a GCM’s fee. Many of the services suggested are covered by Medicare or other private insurance, free, or the fees are based on a sliding scale.

More information about GCMs can be found on the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers website- www.caremanager.org.  There is a link to a listing of all the GCMs in the Greater Pittsburgh area.  The national chapter can also be reached at 520-881-8008.

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.

Another survey, this one recently conducted by the Home Safety Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing home-related injuries, found that most seniors prefer staying in their home instead of moving to a senior living community.

According to this article by the New York Times, staying in your home is not only more comfortable it also makes economic sense.  The average annual fees at an assisted living facility are $34,000. In more expensive metropolitan areas, like New York, it’s closer to $70,000.

While your home environment can be a great support to aging-in-place, Jon Pynoos, professor of gerontology at the University of Southern California, warns that it could be a health care hazard. Each year, nearly 7,000 seniors in the U.S. die from home-related accidents, and millions are seriously injured. Falls are the leading cause of injuries, but seniors and people with disabilities are also at risk for being burned by the stove, scalded by hot water, or drowning in the tub.

If you want to make your own home or an older relative or friend’s home a safer, more comfortable place to live, here are some basic guidelines to the most efficient and cost-effective approaches.

Reduce House Hazards
Learn where your potential hazards are and how you can reduce them. Go to the Home Safety Council’s site, MySafeHome.net, and take the house tour, which points out possible dangers room-by-room. Many of the recommended changes are simple and inexpensive, like removing area rugs and installing brighter light bulbs.

Professional Assessment
If you have multiple medical issues, ask your doctor for a referral to an occupational therapist (O.T.) or contact a company like Home Evolutions that specializes in home modifications. The O.T. or Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) from Home Evolutions can analyze your potential challenges and your home’s shortcomings and offer improvement suggestions. An O.T. can supply you with an invoice that lists the medical necessity of each improvement—a document that you might need to get reimbursed from a long-term care insurer.

Long-Term Care Coverage
If you have a plan, ask your insurance agent whether home modifications are covered under your plan and what documentation you need to be reimbursed. A policy will not pay for upgrades if you’re still healthy.

Home Equity/Reverse Mortgages
If you want to make substantial modifications to your home, but don’t have the cash on hand, consider taking out a home equity loan. For information on how you can tap into your home equity, go to LongTermCare.gov.

If a bank won’t give you a home equity loan, consider a reverse mortgage. Available to people over 62, a reverse mortgage lets you convert the equity in your home into cash. But the fees can be substantial, so be sure to speak with a financial planner before taking out this type of mortgage.

No Money?
Contact your local department of aging and inquire about home modification loans and services available to seniors. Use the federal government’s elder care locator — www.eldercare.gov — to find your local office, or call 800-677-1116. Some government agencies make low-interest loans to those with low or moderate incomes.

Finally, get in touch with Rebuilding Together (www.rebuildingtogether.org, or 1-800-473-4229), a national nonprofit organization that helps people with low incomes improve their homes. The organization’s Safe at Home program was created specifically to help seniors stay safe as 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.

Many of Home Evolution’s blogs have discussed how Baby Boomers can be instrumental in planning and assisting their parents and other loved ones to age-in-place.

But studies have shown that members of this particular group may also need to consider their own health statistics and personal care requirements as they age. In fact, an article in the Washington Post extensively discussed studies that show a trend in which Baby Boomers appear to not be as healthy as their parents.

A growing body of evidence suggests that Baby Boomers may be the first generation to enter their golden years in worse health than their parents. While nothing is definite, the data sketches a startlingly different picture than the popular image of this health-obsessed group.

It does seem true that Baby Boomers are healthier in some important ways, like being much less likely to smoke. But larger, sweeping surveys are consistently finding that Baby Boomers describe themselves as being less healthy than their parents were at the same age. For example, they are more likely to report difficulty in climbing stairs, getting up from chairs, and doing other routine activities.

In addition, Baby Boomers are more prone to chronic problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Mark D. Hayward, a Sociologist at the University of Texas, elaborates, “We’re seeing some very powerful evidence all pointing to parallel findings. The trend seems to be that people are not as healthy as they approach retirement as they were in older generations.”

Although such data is just beginning to emerge, researchers say the findings track with several unhealthy trends, notably the obesity epidemic. In fact, two-thirds of Americans are overweight, which cause joints to wear out quicker, boosts cholesterol and blood pressure, and raises the risk of a host of debilitating health problems.
Surprisingly, despite all of those gym memberships, Baby Boomers tend to be less physically active than their parents and grandparents because their daily routines are often dominated by desk jobs and long drives to and from work.

The assumption has always been that the more educated people are, the healthier their lifestyles and the better access they have to healthcare. But this belief may be skewed because not all Baby Boomers are well educated or health conscious. David R. Weir, an Economist at the University of Michigan, noted, “Not everyone went to college, and not everyone is engaging in these healthful activities.”

Also, Baby Boomers tend to report more stress than earlier generations—from their jobs, from their commutes, and from taking care of their parents and their kids. Lisa Berkman of the Harvard School of Public Health, offered some explanations. “People are working two jobs and not sleeping as much. They’re experiencing more job insecurity and they have less time to take care of themselves. This all could add up to a huge crisis and really calls for us to examine the things that perhaps we’re not doing so well.”

One of the most alarming red flags was raised by the federally funded Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which is tracking more than 20,000 U.S. adults as they move through middle age toward retirement. After examining the first wave of Baby Boomers to enter the study (5,030 adults born between 1948 and 1953), researchers were shocked to discover that they appeared to report poorer health than groups born between 1936 and 1947.

The HRS showed that Baby Boomers were much less likely than their predecessors to describe their health as “excellent” or “very good,” and were more likely to report having difficulty with routine activities, such as walking several blocks or lifting 10 pounds. They were also more likely to report pain, drinking and psychiatric problems, and chronic problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

These findings are consistent with a number of other studies, including one that found that American adults have poorer health than their British counterparts. Robert Hummer, a Sociologist at the University of Texas, added, “Overall it looks like there’s been some recent declines in overall health among younger adults compared to the cohorts of previous decades.” In addition, one of Hummer’s colleagues produced similar findings in a survey of 2,500 adults between 1995 and 2001.

Some experts believe that if the findings are confirmed and continue to worsen, we may be on the verge of a social change where we’ll have an increasing proportion of seniors needing assistance, and even possibly a decline in life expectancy.

In response to this possible trend, companies like Home Evolutions can assist with helping Baby Boomers and others prepare themselves for their future aging-in-place needs. Contact us today for an assessment of your 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.