GCM TECHNOLOGY-RIGHT CHOICE FOR A CLIENT?

July 26, 2021

GCM Job -Help Seniors use Technology

Your job as an aging life or geriatric care manager is to make sure that the technology device like an tablet or e reader device really works for the older client . Does it work at their level of care -or work well at all.

Why- because aging clients need technology to help with both the isolation and lonliness of aging, to increase their quality of life, connect with their family- But the device has to be easy to use for this non- native group

Features of Senior Tech That make it Easy to Use

So what do you do when you recommend a technology like a tablet or e book?? .You are not a tech geek- so how will you choose the right tech product?

Features to consider when recommending an e-book reader to a client include size of screen, ability to magnify font, type of display, including contrast, glare, and backlighting, ease of navigation, ease of downloading (e.g., wireless, wifi, or computer connection with decreasing preference), and battery life. E-book readers are now available from Amazon (the Kindle), Sony (Sony Reader Digital Book), Barnes and readers? and Apple (iPad)

But many seniors need hands on help is using these tech devices.

A recent survey from AARP, conducted last September and October, highlights the quandary. It found that older adults boosted technology purchases during the pandemic but more than half (54%) said they needed a better grasp of the devices they’d acquired. Nearly 4 in 10 people (37%) admitted they weren’t confident about using these technologies.

A group in Philadelphia created Generations on Line to help seniors learn to use technology. During COVID this became to such more important to reduce the isolation and lonliness of seniors during shutdown. But they also developed a program to help families teach an older adult how to use tech devices

To learn more about GCM’s and technology, look at Dr. David Lindeman and Julie Menack’s new aging technology chapter in the 4^th Handbook of Geriatric Care Management

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Great Tech Ideas For Long Distance Care Providers

July 22, 2021

Technology for the Long-Distance Family

Remote Technology to Help Long distance Care Providers

Remote technology like wearables, robotics, videoconferencing,are what an ALCA member or geriatric care manager need always and a way to navigate long distance clients to good choices for aging parents at a distance. Laurie Orlov’s blog, a fellow Geriatric Care Manager now very well known in the field of aging for her expertise in aging technology. This is what Orlov has to say about long-distance technology post pandemic. She can help with robotics , wearables such as smart watches and hearing aides . When these long distance care providers call you you might suggest one of the high-tech items expert Lori Orlov suggests a part of an older family member’s life. This is especially during the post pandemic when many restrictions are actually now coming back with the spread of the Delta variant among the unvaccinated.

These gero-technologies can help an older parent or relative shelter safely in place, avoid loneliness and isolation through connecting with others, age in place, and improve communicating with loved ones.

Videoconferencing

Videoconferencing is a great way to keep elderly parents connected and less lonely and isolated. It can also be a good tool for adult siblings who live apart to have chats or meetings about Mom or Dad. Free programs like Skype or another parent-friendly plus easy choice Facetime and the built-in webcams on many computers, make this easy on elders. Zoom has become the number one way that families communicate, during the pandemic. . For the holidays, birthdays or even a crisis, it is how we virtually gather now and has a free version.

Amazon Echo Show uses Alexa, by activating Amazon’s voice and can make calls to adult children or anyone, making it easy for seniors to talk to anyone including family. An older standard telephone conference service is still highly rated and still free, as well. Freeconferencecall.com

Med Dispensers

Here is a review of several med dispensers on the market

A device that is very appropriate for elders who have medication abuse problems is Hero Electronic Pill Dispenser

Alexa has a new pill reminder feature

A more modest choice is Electronic Pill Box with Flasing Reminders

Caregiver Video Cameras

Cameras like Google Nest can monitor an individual’s activities of daily living and provide caregivers with direct video feed on a smartphone, tablet app, or the Web to check on the status of a family member.

Monitoring sensors

Wireless systems. Cameras can be viewed remotely from a smartphone or computer. You may be able to get video motion alerts and the ability to pan and zoom

GCM Laurie Orlov at Aging Tech suggests many new 2020 sensor programs among them. Caregiver Smart Solutions

Canary Care. lets you place wireless sensors around the house to monitor the activity of an elderly parent who is declining, while the family is long distance. The information is sent to your Canary Care portal. The sensors are battery powered and the hub uses mobile data to send the information, so no need for a landline or broadband.

TruSense – can alert long distance or even local adult children if a probable fall occurs. An alert is triggered when TruSense detects that your loved one has not moved from high-risk fall areas (such as a stairwell or restroom) in an unusually long time. Other alerts include doors where the older person could wander.

Other Sensor Products

Sensor products can check a number of items within a house: motion patterns, stove on/off status, carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide levels, air quality, and presence of smoke or fire. They can also lock doors and control other items in the home remotely.

Daily activity monitoring. Activity sensors can be placed on the refrigerator, stove, door, and other objects around the home. Your relative may also wear a watch that monitors activity. You can allow caregivers and physicians to access the data. Set up notifications to be delivered by e-mail, text, or mobile app.: Live!y is a good choice

GCM Technology Guide

Technology moves in nano-seconds and changes almost as fast. Give clients and their families the updated information. For a totally overhauled technology chapter,” Technologies That Support Aging in Place “, by GCM Julie Menack and Berkeley’s head of the Center for Aging and Technology, David Lindeman Ph.D. Get the new Handbook of Geriatric Care Management 4th edition

Join me in my newest FREE Webinar August 25th

6 Smart TECH Solutions to Wire Your Care Management Business for Profit

WHEN Wednesday, August 25^th, 2021

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Critical software programs that make care management information flow

with 1-1 interviews with CEO’s of 3 major care management software platforms Caretree ,IHealth Home My Junna,

What you need in a website

Why you need content marketing

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What is Long Distance Technology — How & What Way to Evaluate?

July 21, 2021

The Challenge For The Right Aging in Place Technology

Aging life and geriatric Care managers must challenge themselves to think about a new paradigm of caregiving for elders that includes technology-based tools. especially with long-distance care providers In order to be able to recommend products for a client, the care manager should be aware of and be willing to experiment with currently available products. It is also important for the care manager to have a process based on specific criteria to evaluate the technology. David Lindeman PHD GCM Julie Menack co-authors of the chapter Technologies That Support Aging in Place, in the Handbook of Geriatric Care Management suggest you use these benchmarks. Lori Orlov , another titan in the field of Senior technology recommends these new senior long distance guidelines

Benchmarks for Technology Tools for Long-Distance Care Providers

· Efficacy—Does the technology perform substantially according to expectations?

· Return on investment and cost-effectiveness—Does the end result justify the means?

· Ease of use—Do the care providers, family members, or elders using the technology day to day find it intuitive and user-friendly?

· Low maintenance—Does the solution require significant time and resources to maintain?

· Improved accountability—Does the solution help the care provider to improve accountability and quality of care?

· Connection, Contribution, or Legacy? – Does the technology support the client’s feeling of contribution and connection to their family, community, or society? Does the technology allow the client to transmit their experiences to future generations?

Monitoring sensors

Daily activity monitoring. Activity sensors can be placed on the refrigerator, stove, door, and other objects around the home. Your relative may also wear a watch that monitors activity. You can allow caregivers and physicians to access the data. Set up notifications to be delivered by e-mail, text, or mobile app.

Example: Live!y, $50 plus $28 per month.

Video monitoring

Cameras can monitor an individual’s activities of daily living and provide caregivers with direct video feed on a smartphone, tablet app, or the Web to check on the status of a family member.

Wireless systems. Cameras can be viewed remotely from a smartphone or computer. You may be able to get video motion alerts and the ability to pan and zoom.

Example: Netgear VueZone, $130 and more plus service that costs up to $100 monthly.

Join me in my newest FREE Webinar

6 Smart TECH Solutions to Wire Your Care Management Business for Profit

WHEN Wednesday, August 25^th, 2021

WHAT TIME_2 PM-3:30 PM Pacific Standard Time

SIGN UP

Presented by Cathy Cress MSW – Handbook of Geriatric Care Management

We will Cover

Critical software programs that make care management information flow

with 1-1 interviews with CEO’s of 3 major care management software platforms Caretree ,IHealth Home My Junna,

What you need in a website

Why you need content marketing

With interview with Natasha Beauchamp who develops both websites and content marketing forALCA members

What are easy-to-use social media sites

Find out More

Sign -up

Biden Care Infastructure Bill Includes M edicare Dental, Vision & Hearing

July 18, 2021

Who Knows Care Infrastructure Is Important?

I believe my readers, being geriatric care manager nurses, social workers, know why the caregiver infrastructure is important. But the republican Senate and House do not>

Care Fuels’ Our Economy

Despite overwhelming evidence that care fuels our economy and that American families desperately need this help, care has somehow been tagged as “social” or “human” infrastructure and been omitted from the bipartisan infrastructure agreement.

Medicare To Cover Dental, Hearing Vision in Care Economy

But a new bill Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said late Tuesday the Budget Committee’s $3.5 trillion plan would include a historic expansion of Medicare to cover hearing, dental and vision care for the first time.

Although there’s no certainty that everything in the budget blueprint will make it through the full congressional process , Medicare advocates are hopeful that coverage of the extra benefits will come to fruition.

They’d also like to make permanent expanded marketplace subsidies and find a way to get Medicaid to low-income people in a handful of GOP-led states that still refuse to expand the program.

Some of this could be paid for by including a provision allowing the federal government to directly negotiate lower prices for drugs in the Medicare program — a provision that would actually save the government $345 billion, according to the CBO.

Is That Infrastructure Says the Republicans?

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union”

“One of the areas that I am working on right now is the need to expand Medicare in order to provide dental care and hearing aids and eyeglasses for millions and millions of seniors who need these services but can’t afford it.”

“Is that infrastructure? I think it is,” he added.

“Look, Jake, the truth is, in so many ways, we are behind many other countries throughout the world in providing for working families and the elderly and the children. And I think now is the time to begin addressing our physical infrastructure and our human infrastructure. I want to see that happen as soon as possible.”

Call Write Go To Meet Your Congressman

Care may wait a long time if folks in health care and older constituents do not contact their congressman and tell them to support this bill. They control the votes for the bill and you have to let them know you will only vote for them if they do. Common Cause has this easy way to find and contact your congressman If you believe in Medicare and senior’s right to to not have their teeth rot, not hear their grandkids or be unable to read a book- do it now

How to Make a Profit Starting an Aging Life /Geriatric Care Management Business?

July 9, 2021

Do You Want to Make Money As a Private Care Manager ?

If you want to start a Geriatric care management or ALCA business you have to learn how you will make money. How??? It must be VIP clients.You may start it to reach seniors in need. However if it is a business and you are an entrepreneur , you need to understand” profit” and how to handle money and “like it”. Many GCM’s do not understand this. They end up going out of business

Do You Know the Customers You Want to Serve?

To make money you must choose to go after the right customers. To start a Geriatric Care Management business PLUS to write a major section of your GCM business plan,

you must describe ” that customer” you intend to serve -your market assessment or opportunity. It tells you and investors whether you will have enough customers to make money.

The customer you want is a VIP or Concierge client in the upper 10% financially. Why – Medicare does not pay for Geriatric Care management or ALCA services or Home Care it’s natural companion as people age. Only the top 10% can afford to pay you privately at 4-6 K a month for home care

Do a GUT CHECK

To make money you must choose to go after the right customers. To start a Geriatric Care Management business PLUS to write a major section of your GCM business plan,

you must describe ” that customer” you intend to serve -your market assessment or opportunity. It tells you and investors whether you will have enough customers to make money.

Start with a definition of your ideal client. Example: Woman, 85 years old with chronic care needs who has an income or liquid assets of $500,000 or more. In other words, you must serve the top 10% to make money and thrive. Are you comfortable with this as entitled demographic as social worker or RN? Do a gut check now

You want to list the customers who will reward you the most financially.

How many of these ideal clients are in the area you wish to serve to make a profit? You

need do an analysis of the age and income levels. Generally, geriatric care management customers are over age 85 or are disabled younger people with incomes in the range of the top 10% in your community. Your customers are also the local overstressed adult children of clients, long-distance caregivers with family members who need help and live in your community, and third parties like Trust Officers who may hire you as a GCM such as trust officers, attorneys, conservators, or guardians.

Know how you can make money by doing market research hot mapping & the census

You need to do market research to define the size of the market in the area where your business will be located (e.g., how many people over age 85 live in, Modesto, California, how many third-party target markets such as trust departments are in the town)?

This type of demographic information may be available from U.S. Census Bureau reports, local Area Agencies on Aging, local chambers of commerce, local hospitals, and even members of the local media who have done their own surveys. You can use the Internet to retrieve U.S. Census data in your area, and in addition you can Google your State Department of Aging or Department of Finance and then find all senior services that may have data on older people in your area.

What is hot mapping?

You can also do hot-mapping .A zip code heat map outlines the boundaries of each zip code in your data set and helps you see the insights buried deep inside your numbers like where people with the highest income live in an area