Americans are getting older. As each year goes by, U.S. adults 65 and older will represent an increasingly large proportion of the population. In 2016, 49 million U.S. adults represented 15% of the population, according to the CDC. That number is expected to double by 2060 when the CDC projects there will be 98 million U.S. seniors or 25% of the population. Several of the technologies we cover on Health Tech Insider have potentially significant roles in senior healthcare: wearable sensors, telemedicine, remote monitoring, and artificial intelligence, among others.
We’ve written about several companies developing platforms and services for older adults who want to continue to live independently in their own homes. Technology can help these seniors (and their caregivers and families) cope with the challenges of aging-in-place, such as the Electronic Caregivers’ Addison Care augmented reality virtual caregiver and LifePod’s eponymous smart speaker billed as a “Proactive Voice-First Caregiving Service.”
Another example is Quil Engage that was launched in 2019. Consumers use the Quil Engage platform to access and find what they need with healthcare providers that support the program. Earlier this month, Quil announced Quil Assure, a new platform designed to support aging in place. Quil Assure will help family and caregivers monitor and connect with seniors who are living independently. The Assure platform will include ambient sensors, voice-activated technology, and integrated emergency assistance, as well as tools and resources for caregiver coordination. The platform will monitor family member behavior with the ambient sensors and send alerts when the subjects deviate from normal activity patterns. Also, the design will coordinate with multiple caregivers and family members who work together to manage their loved one’s health and activity.
Quil plans to begin a series of Assure pilot programs this December and launch the platform in the third quarter of 2021. The need for support for aging in place is here and will grow rapidly. We look forward to hearing about the rollouts and outcomes of Quil Assure and other programs that support aging in place.
