January 2015


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


Making Technology Work for Elders in the New Longevity Economy


BY LIZ SEEGERT


WASHINGTON, D.C.--Aging isn’t only a health issue. It’s also a lifestyle issue. Rapid advances in technology are changing the way we care for older adults – and how older adults care for themselves.


amazing new startups that


lives people,” said


innovation to improve the


“We’re seeing are bringing of older


Venture capitalist Stephen Johnston, co-founder of Aging 2.0, is shown speaking at the recent Gerontological Society of America conference on new tech for older Americans.


cognitive Stephen Johnston,


co-founder of the San Francisco based technology venture-capital “accelerator,” Aging 2.0.


An “Ecosystem of Innovators”


It’s vital to involve older adults in what Johnston called “the ecosystem of innovators” along with entrepreneurs, technologists, designers, investors and long-term care providers. “It’s all about making really good products that solve the needs of individuals and their individual issues,” he added.


As the youngest baby boomers turn age 50 this Dec. 31--and the oldest reach 69--there is both need and opportunity to help them age at home, rather


than being forced to


move prematurely due to manageable health conditions, and to help them live healthier lives.


More than a source of investment


funds, Aging 2.0 offers business mentorship and support for top startups in aging and long-term care. They connect entrepreneurs with senior care executives, long-term care distributors, industry influencers, investors and end users – older adults and caregivers.


At it’s best, the venture capital process results in well-designed and useful technologies that enhance an older person’s life, whether it’s a new type of debit card to help prevent financial abuse or assisting families in finding qualified, vetted caregivers and process the necessary paperwork.


“Human-Centric” Respect Johnston explained, “We’re


seeing new technologies that are really human-centric,


person-centric--and


innovators that are thinking, ‘How can we give somebody independence, keep their self-respect and dignity, but also use technology in a way that actually makes it more efficient and improves care and keeps families


closer and


more connected.” One such example is a new type


of movement sensor placed around the home, and connected to a web or mobile application. Because the product is stylishly


well constructed, it’s more about a communication


experience


designed and than a


“big brother is watching” experience, Johnston said. “However, it allows a person to live independently while alerting family members to concerns, such as if a pillbox hasn’t been opened in a couple of days.”


Similarly, “smart” clothing might


have a wandering prevention system to alert a caregiver if somebody with


with Dignity, impairment has left the


house or it might have some tracking system to be able to track heartbeat or vital signs.


market


But there is more to the aging than


just health. A 2013


Bloomberg conference estimated that the


“longevity economy” accounted for some $3.5 trillion in economic growth.


$7.1 Trillion a Year A report from Oxford Economics


and AARP estimates that the 106


million people over age 65 in the U.S. generate at least $7.1 trillion in economic activity each year. Oxford expects that figure to grow to $13.5 trillion by 2032.


Only about a third of these expenditures are health-related, said Johnston. The longevity economy, which also includes travel, financial services,


housing, and consumer


products, is fertile ground for entre- preneurial and innovative companies to address the needs of this powerful demographic.


“The really smart companies are doing this in a way that requires little or no effort on the part of the user; these are products really particularly suited for the older population,” he said.


It’s not about creating a separate


niche – there’s no one product for those over 65 any more than there is one product for those under 65. Johnston finds that the most successful efforts to enhance quality of life for older adults connects them with young entrepreneurs and investors, to create simple,


useable still behind products in tech that are


also well designed and relevant. Age becomes secondary.


Older adults in the United States lag


adoption


according to a recent Pew Internet study. However, that is slowly changing.


user-friendly


Johnston said lower-cost, technologies are being


designed for every possible use to meet increasing demand.


Access for Ethnic Elders


That’s especially important given the growing diversity of the older population. The proportion of ethnic elders will double in the next 30 years, experts say, when more than four in 10 seniors in the U.S. will from minority groups.


Shifting demographics mean “it


will be important to consider cultural dynamics of minority groups in the design, selection, and use of any new tool,” said researchers in a 2010 study


from Oregon State University. The study examined emerging


The Hampton Roads Messenger 15 elders,


the


needs of older Korean and Hispanic women in the U.S. that might be aided by technologies ranging from devices that help manage multiple medications to wearables developed to track such functions as heart rate or sleep, to make life easier and safer for an older person – and for their family caregivers.


But in focus groups with the Restoration of Rights FROM PAGE 1 Last May, Governor McAuliffe


announced significant changes to the


get


restoration of rights processes, including moving all drug-related offenses into the non-violent category and reducing the waiting period for more serious offenders to


their


rights restored from five to three years. Virginia


is one of twelve


states that have the most restrictive restoration


of rights processes and


prohibits voting and civil rights even after a person has served his or her sentence and is no longer on probation or parole, unless approved by the Governor.


has taken this


The steps Governor McAuliffe year aim to reduce


recidivism and felony disenfranchise- ment in Virginia, which currently ranks the fourth highest in the nation.


Sports


NFL Wild Card & Divisional Playoff Schedule


NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND Saturday, January 3


NFC: 4:35 PM (ET) Arizona at Carolina (ESPN) AFC: 8:15 PM (ET) Baltimore at Pittsburgh (NBC) Sunday, January 4


AFC: 1:05 PM (ET) Cincinnati at Indianapolis (CBS) NFC: 4:40 PM (ET) Detroit at Dallas (FOX)


NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS Saturday, January 10


AFC: 4:35 PM (ET) Baltimore/Cincinnati/Pittsburgh/Indianapolis at New Eng- land (NBC)


NFC: 8:15 PM (ET) Detroit/Arizona/Carolina at Seattle (FOX) Sunday, January 11


NFC: 1:05 PM (ET) Dallas/Carolina/Arizona at Green Bay (FOX) AFC: 4:40 PM (ET) Cincinnati/Pittsburgh/Indianapolis at Denver (CBS)


In the Divisional Playoffs, the division champion with the best record in each conference will host the lowest seeded Wild Card survivor. Once teams are seeded for the playoffs, positions do not change:


American Football Conference 1. New England (12-4, AFC East champion) 2. Denver (12-4, AFC West champion) 3. Pittsburgh (11-5) (AFC North champion) 4. Indianapolis (11-5, AFC South champion) 5. Cincinnati (10-5-1) 6. Baltimore (10-6)


National Football Conference 1. Seattle (12-4, NFC West champion) 2. Green Bay (12-4, NFC North champion) 3. Dallas (12-4, NFC East champion) 4. Carolina (7-8-1, NFC South champion) 5. Arizona (11-5) 6. Detroit (11-5)


The NFC (FOX, 3:05 PM ET) and AFC (CBS, 6:40 PM ET) Championship Games will be played on Sunday, January 18.


The 2015 Pro Bowl (ESPN, 8:00 PM ET) will be played on Sunday, January 25 and Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, February 1 (NBC, 6:30 PM ET), both at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.


Oregon researchers


contrasted these positive potentials with negative themes, mainly financial concerns, language


barriers for


usability, and concerns about possible physical effects of electronics.


Aging 2.0’s Johnston emphasized


that the most successful technologies will go well beyond creating a good product – they will fill a real need by providing a well-designed solution.


However, according to the Virginia Department


of Elections, 71% of


Virginians who have had their rights restored this year are already registered to vote.


Speaking about the


announcement, Delegate Peter Farrell (R-Henrico) stated, “I am glad to see restoration remains a strong focus of the administration. This is important work for our commonwealth. We want people to rejoin society and participate in a positive manner and this step can help in that process.”


(D-Hampton)


Senator Mamie added,


Locke “Today’s


announcement represents a positive step forward for the Commonwealth of Virginia.


McAuliffe for his hard work, dedication, and leadership.


I commend Governor He is a


strong believer in the idea that once you've paid your debt to society, you should be able to participate in the civic process, including voting.”


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