Can anyone make money with designs that are just for seniors?

Your second paragraph addresses the issue for me. Thanks for saying it.

Good post, and very true. But even companies like Great Call still have the usual Achilles' heel of senior-unfriendly components-- the micro-USB charger plug on my mother's Jitterbug phone, for instance. Try using that with failing eyesight and arthritis! Kindle-- tha same problem. As an old standards person, I think we need to begin developing on a set of design and manufacturing standards for "senior tech". Europe, I understand, is already doing so. Is anything happening in North America? ANSI? IEEE? I've not heard of anything but would very much appreciate any information along these lines.

Speaking of design, I came across a very good article posted in February on Smashing magazine, FYI (http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/02/05/designing-digital-technology-...).

Again, great post, as usual. Thanks!

The answer is yes. You can make money selling to seniors if you create products they actually need. Are these senior products something the seniors want or just technologies chasing a market??

What I've been amazed at is that the individuals that are creating these products and the executives / management at the senior living communities think that seniors need "dumbed down" childlike interfaces to be able to use and enjoy technology. As an organization that shows seniors how to use mainstream devices and encourages them to embrace change, the independent seniors that we teach want the exact devices their children and grandchildren use. Just because they are older - doesn't mean they aren't able to learn. Laurie's point about TRAINING is huge. They do need high touch, relevant and practical training to show them how to use the functions that are important to them to stay connected to family, friends and life as it is lived today.

One final comment....did I mention training. There are a couple of us out there that are focused on delivering training on mainstream devices. Tom Kamber, the Executive Director of Senior Planet in NYC...fabulous organization and training facilities. The folks at Generation Connect out of York Pennsylvania. Bluehair Technology Group - Jane Ratliff - our of Atlanta, GA. San Diegos Futures organization whose mission, in part, is to provide information technology to underserved populations by providing technology equipment, training, to low-income households, people with disabilities, and seniors.

Jane Ratliff
ED - Bluehair Technology Group
770-696-9808

Congratulations on not drinking the proverbial Kool-Aid. I commend this post on two fronts, one as a senior citizen myself and second as someone working for a company in the elder care space that has actually made a tremendous impact in the four years since it was launched. While CareLinx has never aggressively chased the media limelight, it is admittedly a head-scratcher to see those that got the "halo" you mention come and go with no product, no progress, no track record to show for it. Next time you find yourself in the San Francisco area, I would welcome the opportunity to introduce you to our founder, Sherwin Sheik, who quietly built our online marketplace to connect families in need of caregivers with professional providers who are not only screened and vetted, but covered with $1 million in insurance for peace of mind. Well, maybe not too quietly -- we've got more than 100,000 caregivers and we're helping thousands of families across the top 50 metro areas and elsewhere. More than just an idea, Sherwin's proof of concept is in the field, every day, helping seniors. Thank you for your blog!