Most Americans see themselves living an independent and fulfilling life in their own homes and communities as they age. However, for far too many Americans, this vision and desire do not translate into a practical reality.
With a burgeoning aging well tech market, estimated at $2 billion annually and growing, it would appear that several key ingredients are in place to help more Americans continue to live in their own homes as they age. However, consumers do not readily envision how new technologies can help them remain in their homes. This gap between the promise of innovative technology and the perceived benefit to consumers needs to be bridged.
Philips and the Georgetown Social Enterprise Initiative (GSEI) at Georgetown University, in collaboration with Georgetown’s urban and regional planning division and the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) set out to explore how technology can be used to connect people from inside their homes to their external communities, especially as they get older.
96% of respondents say it's important to be as independent as possible as they get older Source: Aging Well: Creating Connected Communities for Aging Well
Creating connected communities
Philips/GSEI surveyed Americans ages 50-80 and interviewed residential and commercial developers to understand their thoughts and expectations around using technology to connect people from homes to resources in the community to stay independent as they age.
About the Aging Well initiative
Through a collaborative partnership and joint research, Philips and the Global Social Enterprise Initiative (GSEI) at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business conducted a multi-year, three-part study on aging. Experts and industry leaders came together to examine the results and explore solutions to help people age at home, or age in place, for as long as possible.
2014 Roundtable attendees
Majd Alwan, Senior Vice President of Technology and Executive Director, Center for Aging Technology Services (CAST) Elizabeth Blazevich, Director, Center for Design and the City; Program Director, Sustainable Cities Design Academy, American Architectural Foundation Ron Bogle, President & CEO, American Architectural Foundation Uwe Brandes, Founding Executive Director, Georgetown’s Urban and Regional Planning Graduate Program Mae Carpenter, Commissioner, Department of Senior Programs and Services, Westchester County, New York Cindy Crump, Founder, Aframe Digital Vicki Davis, President, Urban Atlantic Dennis Domer, Professor, New Cities; Long Life Communities, University of Kansas Mark Emery, Innovation Program Director, Philips Graham Evans, Vice President, New Markets, Relay Foods Elinor Ginzler, Director, Cahnmann Center for Supportive Services, Jewish Council for Aging
Ron Goldberg, Communications Director, Z-Wave Alliance Scott Hall, General Manager, Zip Car David Hoglund, President & COO, Perkins Eastman Jamie Huffcut, Southeast Regional Health & Wellness Leader, Gensler Robert Karen, Managing Director, Symphony Development Group Jeffrey Kaye, ORCATECH Director, Oregon Center for Aging & Technology (ORCATECH) Bill Kelly, President and Co-Founder, Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future(SAHF) Nancy Leamond, EVP, State and National Group, AARP Tony Lee, Senior Manager, Sr. Manager, Federal Government Relations, Home Healthcare Solutions, Philips Liddy Manson, President, BeClose Ladan Manteghi, Executive Director, Georgetown’s Global Social Enterprise Initiative Maureen McAvey, Bucksbaum Family Chair for Retail, Urban Land Institute Ellen McCarthy, Director of the DC Office of Planning
John McLindon, President, Streetscape Development Robert McNulty, President, Partners for Livable Communities Lindsey Mosby, Executive Director, Innovation Strategy Group, frog design Bill Novelli, Founder, Georgetown Global Social Enterprise Initiative and Professor of Practice Laurie Orlov, Founder, Aging in Place Technology Watch Kathleen Penny, Vice President, CH2M Hill Bill Prenovitz, Senior Product Manager, Philips Kian Saneii, CEO, Independa Brent Shafer, CEO, Philips North America Mark Stephenson, Head of Integrated Brand & Communications, Philips North America Kathy Sykes, Senior Advisor for Aging and Sustainability, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Laurel Sweeney, Senior Director, Health Economics and Reimbursement, Philips North America Robert Wray, President & CEO, Blue Star Service Solutions, Inc.
