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Senior Housing Forum Review: Independa for Senior Living

What’s the story behind Independa?

How does Independa help senior living communities improve their top and bottom line benefits?

How do we deliver on our promise to increase senior living occupancy, staff efficiency and resident engagement while creating a more connected environment?

Shannon Ingram of Senior Housing Forum shares her personal, exasperating account on caring for her octogenarian parents in their home and eventually in a community, and the breath of relief Independa brings to communities and families caring for aging adults.

Read the full story here.





People praying at Swayambhunath

Aging in a Disaster-Sticken Nepal

By: Richard D. Della Penna, MD
Chief Medical Officer at Independa, Inc.

I am currently in Nepal, an economically poor but culturally-rich country still badly wounded by last April’s devastating 7.8 earthquake. Six months later, hundreds of thousands of displaced people remain without proper basic housing. If that were not enough, Nepal is now struggling with another disaster; a border blockade from India, resulting in progressively worsening shortages of gasoline, life-saving medicines, non-perishable food staples and many other items. Nepal’s people live with a chronic shortage of electricity as well which further compounds the problem.

There is a silver lining: these terrible hardships are bringing out the best in people, especially as two major Hindu festivals approach:

  1. Dashera, which marks the victory of good over evil
  2. Tihar, a joyous time of thanks for past blessings and prayers for continued blessings in the new year

The exuberance and joy associated with the festivals is subdued in comparison to usual times but remains strong.

I am currently staying with a large family in the heart of Kathmandu. It is a joined family, whose members span three generations. Aama, an 83-year woman with multiple chronic conditions and significant self-care limitations lives in her home with the families of five of her six sons. This includes five daughters-in-law and nine grandchildren whose ages range from 6 months to 22 years. As Aama’s need for physical assistance increased over time, her family provided it, allowing her to remain as independent as possible and central to family life.

In the days leading up to Dashera and Tihar, Aama is consulted on just about everything, from the menu and it’s traditional dishes to reminding her eldest daughter-in-law of the ritual items needed. She has played a key role in the rituals.

I continually compare and contrast aging in Nepal with aging in America. While there are exceptions, key observations about aging in Nepal include:

  • Family ties are strong and go well beyond the nuclear family
  • Elders are valued and respected across generations
  • Aging is not a process to be resisted or feared
  • Elders are not an out group disconnected from mainstream society
  • The concept of being a family caregiver is non-existent – people do what comes naturally
  • Senior living settings are almost non-existent
  • Aging and age related conditions are not medicalized but rather seen as a phase of life and a period of changing roles





    • Independa Selected as 2015 100 Brilliant Company by Entrepreneur

    When tech industry veteran Kian Saneii began helping to care for his aging grandparents, he was shocked to discover a dearth of technological solutions catering to seniors. That all changed in 2009, when Saneii began brainstorming what would become IndependaTV™, a software platform that allows seniors to use their own TVs to connect with loved ones and access a variety of services.

    Recently, Entrepreneur magazine recognized Independa as one of its “100 Brilliant Companies.” Senior living executives, too, are recognizing IndependaTV™ as technology they can’t afford to be without for the vast array of benefits it brings to residents and staff alike.

    The dangers of isolation

    As anyone who works with seniors knows all too well, being around other people doesn’t always ward off feelings of loneliness and isolation. Psychologists have found loneliness is an interior experience that’s subjective to each individual, as New Republic notes.

    And a pervasive sense of loneliness and isolation can lead to all manner of health problems, notes A Place for Mom. Seniors who are socially isolated have twice the risk of early death, studies have found, with a mortality rate that rivals smoking and that’s almost twice as deadly as obesity. Isolation can damage the immune system and worsen inflammation, which can contribute to a range of ills including heart disease, arthritis and diabetes.

    Staying connected with IndependaTVe™

    Even in the setting of an active residential community, seniors can feel lonely and isolated, experts say. With limited mobility, they may have trouble making new friends or pursuing their interests. Having no loved ones nearby can worsen the situation.

    Around the country, senior living communities are installing IndependaTVe™ in residences. With just a familiar TV remote and the friendly software interface named Angela, seniors can enjoy video chats with loved ones, see messages and pictures, and view their medication reminders and appointments.

    Giving a hand to staff

    In addition to providing a user-friendly way for seniors to stay in touch with their loved ones, IndependaTVe™ also acts as an extra hand for busy senior community staff members. Through the system, seniors or senior living staff can input health measurements so that family or other staff members can view the information from their dashboards.

    IndependaTVe™: The senior living solution

    With all the benefits of IndependaTVe™, senior living communities can’t afford to be without it. For more information about bringing IndependaTVe™ to your community, contact Independa.

     





    Independa Launches the Caregiver Mobile App, Announces Apple Watch and HealthKit Integration

    Mobile app delivers critical remote visibility and management to senior living organizations and professional caregivers, and peace of mind to friends and family

    LAS VEGAS – January 6, 2014 – At the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, Independa, the leader in integrated community engagement and remote care technologies, today announced the launching of its mobile app solution on Apple iPhones and iPads, including integration with Apple Watch and the Apple HealthKit platform. As an early adopter of Apple Watch and HealthKit, Independa further expands its market leadership into consumer health and remote care management for the older adult generation.

    “Using the most pervasive yet most simple to use technology is vital to our mission of enhancing the lives and independence of those aging in place, and those who care for them from a distance,” said Kian Saneii, Founder and CEO of Independa, Inc. “Apple solutions play well with our target customers, and we believe Apple has cracked the code in having easy to use technology solutions become a part of a person’s everyday life.”

    The Independa Mobile App will perform the same functions as the award winning Independa Caregiver Web Application – the cloudcare platform designed specifically for organizations and individuals providing care for seniors – right from the mobile phone.

    Integrating the Independa Mobile App with Apple Watch and HealthKit will bring the power of Independa social engagement and integrated remote care to the wrists of caregivers and recipients alike. The full integration of Independa allows family members to remotely monitor the activity and wellness of aging loved ones, regardless of location or time of day.

    “Independa’s use of Apple Watch is a big step in the right direction, using new technology to help the elderly and their caregivers who provide support from a distance,” said Laurie Orlov, Industry Analyst at market research firm Aging in Place Technology Watch. “The attractive design and features enable independence and engagement, boosting adoption and benefits to both caregivers and care recipients.” 

    Independa solutions will be demonstrated at the 2015 International CES® in The Digital Health Summit in booth 72940, which runs Jan. 6-9, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Independa was recently recognized by CES as a “Tech for a Better World” recipient as well as by the leading industry publication, Senior Housing News, as the #1 Technology in Senior Care at CES 2014.

    For more information about Independa, please visit www.independa.com.

    # # #

    About Independa, Inc.
    Independa, Inc., the leader in integrated community engagement and remote care technologies, offers senior care providers cloud-based software solutions that add value to each member within the circle of care, from the organization and professional care providers to the care recipient, and their family members and friends. In strategic partnership with LG Electronics, care recipients enjoy social and community content and important appointment and medication reminders, all through the world’s first and only TV with embedded remote care services. Independa improves remote care services, creating staff efficiencies for senior living communities, CCRCs, nursing homes (rehab and long-term care), and homecare organizations.

    Independa, its name and mark, and Angela are registered trademarks of Independa, Inc.

    Media Contact:
    Coltrin & Associates
    Mark Beck
    212-221-1616
    mark_beck@coltrin.com





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    • Our guests use the video chat and photo and message sharing features of Independa to stay connected with their families. In fact this week we admitted a guest who has a daughter in Georgia and another in Italy. I spoke with the daughter about how to share photos and messages and to make video calls from her Independa device, and later went to see the guest about how it was going. She said to me “Kelly this video chat is so cool! I don’t care how long I have to be in here now because I can see my daughters!” It’s just amazing to see one of our guests be able to connect with a loved one all the way from Italy!

      Kelly Miles, Director of Rec Therapy

    • You don’t need to keep calling me now to remind me, my TV just told me to take my medication!

      93 Year Old Independa User

    • I love that Dad can get digital photos now. He didn’t want a Facebook account so the only time he would see any photos was when we came over to visit and we’d show him on our iPhone. Now he gets them himself on the TV all the time, and when people come to visit him he proudly shows them his photo album on the TV.

      USA Properties

    • I’ve been using video chat and it has opened up my world – my family who live close by still visit once a week, but now I get to see them every day. I also get to see the rest of the family who live interstate and can’t come to visit. I also video chat with old friends who I haven’t seen for years. It has made such a big difference to my life, I don’t feel isolated anymore. I highly recommend this to other people; it really does change your life.

      USA Properties

    • I live in California, my 80 year-old dad lives in Texas and my 21 year-old daughter lives in Colorado. My daughter spends all her time on social media using her smart phone, whereas my dad spends all his time watching TV, he doesn’t understand social media and doesn’t have a smart phone. Independa is great because not only does it bring us closer despite the geographical distance between us, it bridges the gap between the generations because it uses the technology they are most comfortable with.

      USA Properties

    • We use the video chat feature in the resident’s TV to get the entire circle of care together at once; we will have the nurse and the physical therapist in the room with the resident, and we will then video call their family. That way everyone who is involved in their care gets the same message at the same time and can ask questions while we are present so there is no confusion. One time when we were working with a deaf resident, we were able to arrange for her daughter to sign via video chat and translate what we were saying and the questions her mother had; it made such a huge difference.

      Wellbridge at Brighton

    • My dad was on the Honor Flight to DC today. An amazing trip for a veteran. I was able to meet him at the Korean War Memorial. He is a Korean War veteran. I was able to send pictures of the entire experience to my mom at home throughout the day. Mom was thrilled, and when my dad gets home he has all the pictures from his trip on his TV and can even play a slideshow. Amazing!!! Thank you!

      Kendal At Home

    • Video chat on the TV is great! I was using FaceTime on my iPad to see the grandkids and I thought that was the greatest thing, but seeing them all on the big TV is truly incredible, it’s like they are in the room with me. I love it!

      USA Properties

    • When Lillian broke her hip a week before her Grandson’s wedding, she and the family were broken hearted because they thought she would have to miss this very special day. Thankfully, she had chosen Wellbridge of Brighton for her short-term rehab. “I’m going to my Grandson’s wedding” she proudly told the staff as she received the video call through her TV and was instantly ‘seated’ in the front row for the ceremony!

      Wellbridge of Brighton

    • I travel a lot for work. I used to worry myself sick about not being able to be there if Mom needed me. She says the smartphone I got her is too small, too complicated, and hard to see, but she loves using Independa. Now she can see all her shows and we can video chat so I can make sure she’s taking her medicine. It’s such a relief to check in anytime and know she’s OK.

      Laura P.
    © Independa, Inc.