Posts Tagged ‘FamiliLink’

Study on Exercise is First to Focus on Older Adults

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

By Inger Rarick, Co-Founder FamiliLink

A new study this month posted by the AMA (American Medical Association) shows that older adults who continue or begin to do ANY amount of exercise appear to live longer and have a lower risk of disability. The study spanned over 15 years and included almost 2000 participants. Some findings included: “Physical activity may delay the spiral of decline that begins with inability to perform daily activities and continues through illness and death by improving cardiovascular fitness, slowing loss of muscle mass, reducing fat, improving immunity and suppressing inflammation.” Click here to see the study.

seniorwithweightWhat I find most significant is that institutions are FINALLY investing money and resources into doing studies on older adults. Almost all of the studies in the past conducted on the benefits and/or harms of exercise have focused on people under the age of 65. This is the first significant studies about how exercise can impact the well-being of older adults.

Certainly this is a step in the right direction. As our population ages (by 2020 there will be 54M older adults…compared to today’s 35M older adults) it is clear that resources must be spent TODAY on learning more about our aging population and what we can do to improve health and well being as we age. The next step is to start investing in technologies and services that will truly impact older adults. At FamiliLink, we know that staying physically active, socially connected, and cognitively stimulated are key success factors to happy aging. With FamiliLink, it is easy to have your older loved one “digitally connected” so you can provide support using the computer and internet. Imagine what you can do once your loved one is “connected”… share digital content (photos and videos), help them with reminders for medications, exercise schedules, important appointments, play brain games together with them and so much more.
I hope institutions continue to do age-specific studies such as the one above, then perhaps investors and corporations will begin to focus on this generation.

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Center for Technology and Aging Brief Reviews Technologies That Improve Chronic Care and Help Older Adults Maintain Independence

Monday, August 24th, 2009

By Inger Rarick, Co-Founder FamiliLink

Just came across this organization called SCAN. The SCAN Foundation is an independent charitable foundation focused on finding innovative solutions to the healthcare needs of California seniors. It is one of the nation’s largest foundations dedicated to the needs of the elderly. The organization’s vision is a society where seniors receive medical treatment and human services that are integrated in the setting most appropriate to their needs and with the greatest likelihood of a healthy, independent life.
SCAN supports and funds The Center for Technology and Aging, which just released a brief titled “Technologies To Help Older Adults Maintain Independence: Advancing Technology Adoption,” that describes seven technology areas with significant potential of improving chronic health care and increasing the independence of older adults, while reducing health care costs.
The center’s mission is to support the adoption and diffusion of technologies that help seniors lead healthier lives and enable them to remain in their communities. The briefing paper focuses on areas that are ready for expansion, including two technology areas for the Center’s first round of grant making — remote patient monitoring and medication optimization. The Center will release its first request for proposals in September.
We commend The Center for Technology and Aging for tackling such an important undertaking. We look forward to participating in the September RFP process as we feel FamiliLink’s technology plays a significant role in helping older adult remain independent and feel part of the “digital loop”.

Click HERE to see the brief.

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Senior Loneliness…It is a Real Issue

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

By Inger Rarick, VP of marketing and co-founder FamiliLink

It is well documented that older adults are more likely to experience loneliness than any other demographic group and therefore suffer a number of different negative health and medical effects as a result. One of the most eye-opening studies show that seniors who described themselves as lonely were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer-type dementia. Other studies have shown with loneliness also comes increased incidences of depression, heart disease, and stroke.
Of course, feeling alone is understandable as older adults who may have once lived very busy lives working, raising children, volunteering in the community, etc later have their children grow up and move away, retire from their jobs, have decrease in mobility, and may experience a death of a spouse. As we get older, our social circle becomes more limited, making social engagement more and more challenging. However, loneliness and being alone are two very different things.
In the studies, seniors who said in general they “felt lonely” were not necessarily spending more time “alone” than the group who said they did not generally feel lonely. So feeling lonely has little to do with the actual time you spend alone. Loneliness has more to do with your “social connection” you feel with your loved ones.
This is where the internet can be invaluable to the health and social well-being of older adults. The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project surveys taken from 2006-2008 show that older generations are online now more than ever before with email being their most popular online activity. The reason they say they use the Internet and email, is so they can stay “connected” with their family and friends. Recent studies even show how internet use in older adults improves their well-being. Well this is a no brainer…if you are socially engaged and connected, you will feel less lonely and you will therefore have a better chance of avoiding age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, heart conditions, and more.
At FamiliLink, we believe social engagement and feeling socially connected to the ones you love is KEY to living a vibrant and happy life. Using a service like FamiliLink makes it easy for family to include older adults in the digital family experience while also making it fun and simple for older adults to feel included in the family loop.

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