Baby boomers would spend up to $100 each month on technology
to ensure healthier living and independence as they age.
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In a series of focus groups with people age 50-65, the
Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) found that most participants
would be willing to pay $50 each month for electronic monitoring technologies
such as medication reminders to enable their aging parents and themselves
to live independently in the community. About
half of the participants said they would pay $100 per month. In addition, participants were extremely interested
in owning a device that maintained their medical records and provided them
with control over this information.
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The focus group results were presented at the Healthcare
Unbound conference by Kari Miner-Olson, chief information officer of Front
Porch and leader of the CAST research team that conducted the focus groups.
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“These findings should be a wake up call for technology
corporations, who are missing a tremendous potential market for services,”
Miner said. “Every seven seconds a
Baby Boomer turns 50. The need for
technologies to help these individuals age in place, on their terms, is tremendous.
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Some of the study’s other key findings include:
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Boomers believed it was important to maintain
personal and financial independence, remain healthy and not become a burden
to their children.
Technologies that are easy to use, integrated monitoring and sensing solutions and included visual and audio
capabilities impressed participants.
Boomers are impressed by the possibilities that technology could enrich
and preserve social connectedness.Participants are eager to have access to reliable
information and choices about care
options.
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“Improvements in
technology for the aging could not only improve their quality of care and
life, but also reduce our nation’s ever-growing healthcare costs,” said Helen
Higgins, Business Development Manager of Hewlett-Packard and co-chair of the research group. “In
particular, electronic medical records can provide a foundation for transforming
how health care and aging services are delivered in the U.S."
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CAST held 10 focus groups in five states during March
2005. Each focus group was led by the same CAST trained moderator and videotaped
for analyses by researchers. Additionally, participants also completed a written
questionnaire about their background and experiences with technology.
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After completing the study, researchers recommend that
companies, federal researchers, policy makers and consumers investigate the
role technology can play in improving efficiency and effectiveness in the
health care field.
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“There is tremendous opportunity for public policy to
help move important innovations to the marketplace,” said Russell Bodoff,
executive director of CAST. “Recent
legislative and Administration initiatives are a start, but we look forward
to helping to achieve a bold agenda that will revolutionize options for seniors.”
Established in 2003, The Center for Aging Services
Technologies (CAST) has brought together researchers from universities,
technology companies, aging services organizations and government
representatives. CAST is focusing on the application of technologies that will
help identify potential solutions to the aging services challenge faced by the
global community. CAST is a program of the American
Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA). The members of the American Association of
Homes and Services for the Aging (www.aahsa.org) serve two million people every day through
mission-driven, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to providing the
services people need, when they need them, in the place they call home. ; AAHSA’s
commitment ;is to create the future of aging services through quality
people can trust. CAST’s
web site is www.agingtech.org AAHSA’s Web site is www.aahsa.org.
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