REVOLUTIONIZING CARE: THE TECH-DRIVEN TRANSFORMATION IN THE SENIOR CARE INDUSTRY
By J.J. Sorrenti, Best Life Brands
As the aging population continues to grow, the demand for innovative solutions that enhance the quality of life for seniors and provide peace of mind for their families has become increasingly crucial. Innovation has emerged as an essential cornerstone in the senior care industry, redefining the way we approach care for older adults and creating an even greater opportunity for franchising within this space.
The nation is aging at rates never seen before. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “the number of people age 65 and older in the United States has grown from 35 million in 2000 to approximately 55 million in 2020.” And for the first time ever, we are on the brink of a demographic shift where there will be more older adults than children in the coming decades. “By 2034, the bureau projects that there will be 77 million people aged 65 and over, compared to 76.5 million under the age of 18.” This transformation underscores the pressing need to embrace innovative solutions within the senior care industry to ensure that this growing population receives the attention and support it needs and deserves. Encouragingly, giant strides are being made in this direction. A March 2023 survey conducted by U.S. News & World Report stated “53 percent of U.S. adults age 55 and older use some type of assistive or health-related technology,” meaning the majority of this population has begun adopting technology-driven solutions into their daily lives, leaving space for an even greater integration and continued adoption of tech-enabled innovations in the realm of senior care.
With the rate at which the population is aging coupled with senior’s openness to embracing healthcare technology, now more than ever is the time to break into the senior care franchising space. Only a select few companies are providing cutting-edge, compassionate and personalized services that cater to the evolving needs of this expanding demographic. Best Life Brands, a franchised organization that includes Blue Moon Estate Sales, CarePatrol, ComForCare, At Your Side Home Care and Boost Home Healthcare, is paving the way for a new era of care with technology driven solutions. In May of 2023, our franchised provider of in-home caregiving services brand ComForCare, partnered with Connected Home Living, the leader in remote patient care, to introduce a groundbreaking solution — Connected Care. The Connected Care remote patient monitoring (RPM) program creates a secure environment for older adults to comfortably reside at home while receiving proactive, continuous assistance. The RPM technology embedded within Connected Care enhances care with fall detection, wellness monitoring, daily virtual calls, chronic disease management and recognizes other potential concerns, bolstering agency teams to become even more effective care partners.
The early identification of declining health conditions plays a pivotal role in enabling seniors to sustain their independence and well-being within their own homes. As technology continues to evolve, this ally holds the promise of further innovations that will empower seniors to lead fulfilling, active and enriching lives during their golden years to come.
J.J. Sorrenti is the CEO of Best Life Brands and the president of ComForCare. For more information about IFA franchisor member ComForCare, please visit franchise. org/franchise-opportunities/comforcare-home-care.