New Technology Aims to Connect Older Adults and Families

With the Baby Boom generation coming of age and many of the some 75 million of the group entering their 60s, a new technology called Lively has emerged as a way to connect older adults living alone to their loved ones. A few months ago, the San Francisco start-up unveiled its activity-sharing products aimed to solve the dilemma for up to 40 million older adults living at home throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe who want to stay independent and the 100+ million loved ones that worry about their health and well-being in a dignified way.

Lively’s activity-sharing products are expected to launch in North America and Europe by next month.  

Sound a little big-brotherish, spying on people inside their own homes? Lively disagrees. It doesn’t trigger any kind of emergency response, and the aim of the technology is to cultivate the emotional connection which they say it “essential” as folks age and yearn for safety and well-being without having the sense of being “baby-sat” or monitored. Lively lauds its technology especially its focus on social connection versus the “fear of death” connotation associated with such devices.

“Studies have shown that living independently encourages successful aging for older adults through improved self-esteem, health and life satisfaction,” says Dr. Laura L. Carstensen, the founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity and Lively board member.

How does it work? Its hardware uses cellular technology to communicate with passive sensors placed around the home that blend into the background in order to learn and share an older adult’s normal daily routine, such as when medications are taken, time spent out of the house, or eating and drinking activity in the kitchen. Notifications and cursory looks displayed virtually can be seen by those who users choose to share their activities with. Lively gets creative and is also a place where memories and short messaged can be submitted.  

Co-founder and CEO Iggy Fanlo, says participants in a pilot test of Lively complained that products for the 75-plus set often are not nicely designed. “We want something that’s beautiful that doesn’t stigmatize you as old and frail,” he tells MobiHealthNews.

According to Mobilehealthnews.com, a basic setup to measure medication compliance, food and drink intake and general activity outside the home, will cost $149 up front with a monthly service fee of $19.95, though the company is taking pre-orders on crowdfunding site Kickstarter beginning Tuesday for $99, including one month of free service. (Like stress sensor startup Zinc, Lively is also is participating in a business accelerator from PCH International, an Irish-Chinese firm specializing in the launch of consumer electronics accessories.)