Caring for an Aging Parent? There's An App for That, Too! Elder Care Goes Mobile with New iPhone Apps from Presto and Doctor Marion

Gerontologist/Elder Care Expert Teams With Expert in Senior-Friendly Technology to Offer Proven Caregiving Advice When and Where It's Needed Most

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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Baby boomers and others caring for an aging parent or loved one can now turn to their iPhones for expert advice. Doctor Marion (www.doctormarion.com), a.k.a. Marion Somers, Ph.D., a lifelong gerontologist and elder care expert, has teamed up with Presto Services Inc. (www.presto.com), developer of the award-winning Presto computerless email service, to launch a pair of elder care applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. The apps, Elder 411 and Elder 911, offer convenient mobile access to a wealth of caregiving insights, checklists, and support -- from how to deal with financial and housing concerns, to what to do in an emergency, and more.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091201/NY18624 )

The first caregiving apps to go beyond a simple audio book or information tracker, Elder 411 and Elder 911 are based on the proven Doctor Marion Method(TM) -- offering best practices for all things elder care gleaned from her 40+ years of experience.

Elder 411 is an information-rich resource for accessing on-the-spot caregiving information, and for planning ahead. More than 500 pieces of practical advice are organized according to Doctor Marion's ten steps to make elder care easier. Elder 411 helps you care for an aging loved one, covering the full spectrum of caregiving issues -- talking about tough subjects, keeping the home safe, managing financial and legal needs, considering housing options, and more.

Elder 911 is specifically for emergency situations like a fall or sudden illness, putting critical tips and information in hand to help immediately navigate the complexities of a crisis. Topics include questions to ask the doctor, what to do at the hospital, planning hospital discharge, preparing for recovery, and much more.

Both elder care iPhone apps feature:

• Expert advice formatted in a practical manner
• Content that can be emailed to yourself and others
• Ability to add personal notes to content
• Fully embedded video and audio -- no network connection required
• Fully searchable content (Elder 411)
• Interactive checklists (Elder 911)

Elder 411 and Elder 911 break new ground for the iPhone, bringing a high-tech spin to an industry not always considered to be high-tech. Yet 53 percent of iPhone and iPod users are over the age of 35 (1) -- and with the 65-and-older population in the US expected to more than double to nearly 89 million by 2050 (2), any one of these users, from the Baby Boomers to Generation X, may soon need to provide some form of care to an older loved one.

"So many are overwhelmed with the challenges of caring for someone older, while others are hit with a crisis overnight. Both are desperate for resources and support, and it has been my mission to provide that to as many people as I can reach," said Doctor Marion. "The elder care apps allow anyone with an iPhone or iPod touch to access the knowledge and tools they need to care for our aging population."

"With Presto computerless email, we quickly found that our customers were not just using it for family communication, but as a tool to help their parents stay independent as they got older. Our Elder 411 and 911 apps address a similar need, equipping those caring for aging parents with quick and expert guidance," said Peter Radsliff, CEO of Presto Services, Inc. "Doctor Marion's advice is perfectly suited to a mobile application -- expertly organized, easily accessible, and truly useful."

Pricing & Availability

Elder 411 is available today from the iTunes App Store for $1.99, with Elder 911 soon following as a $0.99 download. Both are compatible with iPhone and iPod touch. Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later. For information, visit www.elder411.net.

Demo & Interview Opportunities

Media can request a demo unit of the iPod touch pre-loaded with both Elder 411 and a pre-release version of Elder 911 for review. Interview opportunities are also available with elder care expert and author Doctor Marion and technology expert and Presto CEO, Peter Radsliff, separately or together. Please contact Jesson Burnam, 609-279-0050 x104 or jesson@resoundmarketing.com.

About Doctor Marion

A recognized visionary and thought leader in her field, Doctor Marion (Marion Somers, PhD) has over 40 years of experience as a geriatric care manager, caregiver, author, speaker, and teacher of all things elder care. After decades of working directly with seniors and their caregivers, Doctor Marion launched a public effort to provide practical tools, solutions, and advice to those struggling to care for our aging population. She has helped millions of Americans through her book, Elder Care Made Easier, and her web site, www.doctormarion.com, as well as cross-country speaking tours, syndicated column, media appearances, and more. In addition to the Elder 411 and Elder 911 iPhone apps, Doctor Marion is currently working on a series of elder care technologies and software designed to better educate and empower America's caregivers.

About Presto Services Inc.

Presto was founded in 2004 to help families and friends stay better connected by making it easier to share digital content between those with different technology skills. Presto's first consumer solution launched in November 2006: the Presto Printing Mailbox (jointly developed with HP) coupled with Presto computerless email service, which delivers email, photos, PDF documents and ad-free subscription content from publishing partners Meredith Corporation and Tribune Media Services. In 2008, Presto launched the PrestoConnect, a suite of caregiving tools allowing Presto subscribers to help their elder loved ones age in place. With Elder 411 and Elder 911, Presto continues to provide solutions for family caregivers.

(1) Nielsen, June 2009 iPhone users...are older than you think

(2) U.S. Census Bureau, 2008, U.S. Population Projections

Media Contact:
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Jesson Burnam
Resound Marketing
609-279-0050 x104
jesson@resoundmarketing.com