Current issues, quotes and statistics regarding technology’s part in aging:

A baby boomer enters their 60’s every 7 seconds. By 2010 there will be over 40 million seniors

“Connecting human expertise with technological tools helps us move outside of care centers and assisted

living to serve people where they most want to be—their own homes. Human connections and technology

complement each other. It opens up a whole new option for consumers and their families.”

Kathy Bakkenist, Commissioner for the Center for Aging Services Technologies 

Current health care systems cannot handle the cost of health care, coverage issues and demographic

pressures. So, we need technology to shift from our current situation to in-home care and self-care.

Forrester Study 

From his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who continued living in the same Honolulu apartment where he

had been raised, Obama learned important social and economics lessons about long-term care. “What I’ve

learned from watching my grandmother is that with some modest help she’s able to remain independent,”

he told the Bulletin shortly before she died. ”And that costs the system much less than if she’d gone into a

long-term care facility. The problem we have is that so much of our system is built around institutional care

that we end up spending more money than we need to and probably with worse outcomes in a lot of

cases.” With the approaching retirement of 78 million boomers, reining in health care costs and

strengthening the core safety net are crucial to stabilizing the nation’s finances and establishing an

upgraded and rational system of health care.

President Obama’s article in March 2009 AARP Bulletin 

The Ecumen “Age Wave” Study of Baby boomers in Minnesota found that 0% want to live in nursing

homes, even if they have a spouse with a debilitating illness. 89% wanted to stay in their own homes and 9

out of 10 anticipated technology would allow them to live longer and more independently.

When asked what they fear most, seniors top four responses were: Loss of Independence (26%), moving

out of home into nursing home (13%), giving up driving (11%) and loss of family and friends (11%) Only 3%

said that death is what they fear most. 65% said they are open to or would like to use new technology. 54%

said they would be willing to consider the use of ambient (non-invasive) technology like sensors to monitor

their health and safety. Boomers—79% concerned about their parents’ ability to age in place and live

independently. Most concerned about their emotional and physical well-being if they have to leave their

homes. In their own homes, they were concerned about the aging parents’ health, mobility and safety.

Clarity report prepared by Prince Market Research Study Aug. 2007

Both seniors and caregivers agreed (more than 80% of each group) that home safety devices, including

monitors, would be an enabler of feeling safer and having more peace of mind.

2008 AARP Healthy@Home survey of 907 seniors age 65+ and 1,023 family caregivers.

The time is here when you can live 2,000 miles away from your dad (or down the street) and get a text

message if he’s not out of bed by noon.

“Baby boomers are now seeing their parents wanting to stay independent, and getting much more in tune

with how this technology can enhance people’s lives and ultimately their own.  That change is going to

dramatically change the marketplace and how we approach aging.”

Kay Harvey, writer for Eldr magazine.

“We have health care that’s already unaffordable—millions of uninsured Americans and 45 million seniors,

with 67 million waiting in the wings of retirement. That’s going to put a huge burden on the health care

system.”

Eric Dishman, general manager for health, research and innovation for Intel Corp.

 “The challenge is how to increase services for three times as many seniors while reducing health-care costs.”

Dr. Michael Magee, Director of Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative

“Aging has so long been viewed as a problem in our society. It is, in fact, an incredible opportunity…….by

shaping solutions together that help people live where they want to live and how they want to live.”

Kathryn Roberts, CEO and President, Ecumen