Aging and Health Technology Watch

Startups targeting the older adult market segments continue to emerge.  The oldest baby boomer has reached age 80 and many will live well past that age. Reports are emerging that assess this longevity phenomenon.. Many live alone, and some may be in need of the emerging technologies to help preserve quality of life and independence. These could appear in the caregiving space, offer check in calls to older adults living alone, strategies for aging in place, or assisting the hearing impaired. Here are five new technologies for older adults that have emerged in recent weeks and months.  The text is derived directly from the websites of the companies themselves.

The new Senate report signals fear and caution…Released last week, the report, Artificial Intelligence and Older Adults, cites worrisome statistics about fraud and older adults (aged 60 and older), climbing to $2.4 billion by 2024. Examples are compelling – use of AI-generated images,  deep fakes, chatbots, and voice cloning.  Ironically, it turns out all ages are being scammed, particularly 35-44 year-olds.

...And lack of government action. And the report could be even more depressing if looked at in detail, it cites numerous legislative actions that have not been implemented. And no date has been offered for when they may be considered. Among legislation stuck at starting gate: Preventing Fakes, Combatting Scams, the just-introduced Aging with AI (about Chatbots), Reporting scams, and tax relief for scam victims.  

Back in the day – 2009.  Seems like, uh, 17 years ago.  Long before the arrival of AI.  Long before smartphone ownership by seniors took off.  One year before the introduction of FaceTime. Back in the day of a new wearable chest strap or belt clip from Halo monitoring that could detect a fall. Back in the introduction day of Healthsense eNeighbor for environment monitoring.  The question that blog post raised was whether it was more important to monitor the person (with a wearable) or the place (in the environment).

Looking back to see the future.  Tech for older adults has been a market category for a long time.  It is documented in a 2009 Market Overview as ‘Tech for Aging in Place’ and is accompanied by a categorized list of tech companies that fit the needs of older adults at that time.  What is striking about this report? It’s basic assertions are unchanged – people want to remain in their own homes, as independent as possible.  The cost of long-term care was daunting and largely out of reach in 2009.  Assisted living cost was $36K/year in 2007 and was projected to grow to $51K by 2015.  Actually, it exceeded $75,000 in 2026, still largely paid out of pocket from savings and social security income – today only 3% of Americans have long-term care insurance.

Living alone and fall risk.  Today 43% of women aged 75+ live alone – that is, in their own home versus a senior living community. They are more likely to live alone than in other countries.  However, only 9 percent use a personal emergency response device, with no change over the past few years. And for those devices, the key customer is the adult child. And this is despite fall risk which grows with age, though the recent Senate initiative does not differentiate among older age groups.

How important is a smart watch?  Last year the Apple Watch turned 10.  By then it was in use by 23% of the smartwatch market worldwide.  And (likely many) more than 17% of US Internet households own an Apple Watch. Imagine – it is the only watch that has outsold the Swiss watch industry! It is increasingly used by many (particularly younger people) for health-related encouragement… ‘STAND! You exceeded your last week’s steps!’  And who previously had such an easy way to check your resting heart rate, know the outside temperature and UV, all at a glance?

An email from a startup founder offered this observation about older adults’ comfort with technology: “The user experience gap between what a product promises in a press release and what a 78-year-old will actually pick up and operate is where most elder care technology quietly fails.”  Not true. If it provides a much-wanted experience like a chat with a grandchild, most older adults will deal with the hassle factors of downloading and using any software. If it involves an app to enable signing up for a desired exercise class, most will deal with the hassle. Long ago, one tech provider told her mother that if she didn’t use the check-in software, she would have to move her to assisted living. She got the message and provided regular updates.

You would think that women were playing a sizable role in tech by now.  You would be wrong.  And historical trends underpin the delta between men and women in tech. Despite early interest in the 1970s, including computer programming, by the mid-1980s women were disappearing from computer science programs.  Consider reasons that are offered, including the possibility that recently introduced personal computers were more likely to be bought for boys than girls. Note the reinforcement from Apple ads (no kidding) about what these computers could do for the career dreams of boys.

Water aerobics – an exercise beloved by older women.  There may be some men that enjoy it too, though classes in a nearby gym I see largely attended by older women.  Many (most?) of whom are likely Silver Sneakers members with free gym membership – with the gym reimbursed by Medicare Advantage programs.  Looking around a large class, most women appear to be older than 65, some arriving with a walker, some getting into the pool with some difficulty.  But once they are in the water, they are all smiles.  The water and the atmosphere are both perfect temperatures – welcoming to all. And the bonus?

Flipping the script on aging – an interesting concept.  No surprise that Dolly Parton and Cher, both now age 80, exemplify the script flip. That flip includes the substantial cosmetic work that each has had to produce a new (and then newer) face.  Both are still performing – as are numerous other 80+ rock stars like Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney.  Good for them. I guess.  Is this an aspiration to be shared by the millions of baby boomers headed toward or arrived at 80?  Is playing pickleball the standard by which 80-year-olds want to be measured?  How about drug-facilitated weight loss?