Many traditional businesses are undergoing dramatic changes. Two probably the biggest modern phenomena discussed lately have been Airbnb and Uber. Airbnb has revolutionized accommodation business and Uber has done the same for transport and taxi area. Who will do the same in senior care business?
Uber offers on-demand transportation service. The way this works is that people simply tap their smartphone and have a cab arrive at their location in the minimum possible time. Uber has optimized the service by lowering the waiting time as well as the cost the customer needs to pay. At the same time it has offered income for a large number of single drivers working as entrepreneurs.
Rapid aging population throughout the world, especially in Europe is a fact. By 2021 there is expected to be 107 million over 65 year olds in Europe and 63 million in USA. These seniors have a desire to “age-in-place”. Some studies show that approximately 89% of seniors want to age in their own homes for as long as possible, and 80% believe their current residence is where they’ll always live.
This is also the desire on the social services side. The delivery of healthcare and social care services is one of the world’s biggest economic challenges and keeping seniors home for as long as possible is seen as an answer to this.
Could there be a way to provide safer, more efficient, and cost-effective care than today’s way of operations? Could there be Care on demand? Enabling seniors to stay where they desire for as long as possible and still live safely, and being able to get care immediately when they need it. And only when they need and want it. Not just routinely when scheduled – whether they need it or not.
Technology is there
We are finally in a situation where anyone can easily install the needed sensors to any home in a few minutes and start getting defined data and alerts immediately. The cost of the sensors is not a barrier any more either. The service provider just needs to define the data and alerts needed to serve the seniors and their family members in the best possible way.
Would it be alerts on open windows or doors? The senior not returning to his/her bed within certain time during the night? No movement in the apartment after certain morning hours after night? Shower not ending after 10 minutes? Humidity rising or temperature dropping outside defined parameters? And then when the sensors send an alarm, the closest care giver would give a call to the senior to check if everything is ok or if help is needed.
Help would be available 24/7 and the senior would only pay for the care he needs and wants. The threshold for using the service would be the lowest possible, exactly as with Uber transportation services. And both seniors and their families would be able to have piece of mind.
So – who wants to revolutionize senior care?
