All Articles Tagged Aging In Place

Julie Jacobson | 01/16 12:49 PM, 1 Comment

Livewire used to partner almost exclusively with home builders during the boom years. But these aren’t the boom years. These days, the Richmond, Va.-based integration company is “cutting a wide swath of business because we really got burned in 2007 when we were so reliant on the new construction world,” says owner Henry Clifford. “It almost killed us.” A wide swath indeed! Livewire has found an unlikely new partner in Mobility Supercenter, purveyor of stair lifts, wheelchair lifts, ramps and other products that help people get around. With a full-time… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 10/18 07:51 AM, 4 Comments

Steve Saling escorts me to the house he shares with nine other people, chatting along the way, as he takes me up the elevator and through the motorized front doors of his pad. He shows off the entertainment system in his bedroom, streams some Pandora radio through the in-wall speakers, and adjusts the lights, shades and thermostat just so. His home automation system is pretty typical, but Saling is not: He has ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Like most of his housemates, Saling has no… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 03/04 08:16 AM, 0 Comments

We keep pointing to Cybermation’s Tom Ardolf, who has successfully chased down private and public funding for his new Cyber Health division. We noted recently that Cybermation’s home state of Minnesota just made $187 million available for technologies that facilitate aging in place. Now we’ve learned about funding from the VA that could be tapped for helping disabled soldiers live more comfortably in their homes. Aging in Place specialist Stephanie Borden reports: Recently, I’ve discovered that some veterans will qualify for programs such as the VA’s Specially Adapted Housing grants,… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 02/23 11:56 AM, 1 Comment

I just returned from the ProSource Summit in Florida, where I did a presentation on technology for seniors. In the presentation, I referred to Tom Ardolf, who has doggedly pursued public and private funds to help his company Cybermation (St. Cloud, Minn.) launch an aging-in-place business. Lo and behold, this morning the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports, "Minnesota wins $187M health care grant." The grant is specifically to help elderly Medicaid recipients avoid nursing homes and other institutions: Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's push to involve Minnesota in the federal health… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 12/16 09:30 AM, 7 Comments

Lighting controls and proper illumination aren't just for busy families seeking convenience, aesthetics and energy savings. They can be vital for senior citizens and those suffering from Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Mark Warner, an “architectural gerontologist,” is an authority on modifying living environments to accommodate the needs of seniors suffering from age-related illnesses and conditions. A registered Architect, Warner is the author of The Complete Guide to Alzheimer’s-Proofing Your Home and In Search of the Alzheimer’s Wanderer. Warner explains that “good, uniform lighting in the home should not be underestimated… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 11/19 09:20 AM, 0 Comments

What will be the most compelling new opportunities for CE Pros in 2011? Every year, we narrow the list down to five technologies and markets that we believe hold promise for traditional residential integrators. We glossed over seven such technologies during CE Pro Live earlier this month. (Download the presentation; registration required: Live Presentation, .pdf presentation) In the January 2011 issue of CE Pro, we are featuring these 5 Technology Opportunities for CE Pros. Consumer videoconferencing/telepresenceRecurring revenue for remote home monitoring, managementOne-wire Cat 5 technology for whole-house audio, video, controlStreaming… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 11/09 08:21 AM, 0 Comments

Which new technologies will change the CE pro business landscape in 2011? We’ve highlighted seven of them, and will explain what they mean for integrators during CEProLive this Thursday, Nov. 11. The day-long virtual event is free for registered pros. And the game-changers are: 1. 3D TV Stop rolling your eyes. 3D TV has only just begun, and CE pros already are complaining about it. But you complained as well during the rollout of HDTV, which was just as painful – and ultimately less exciting – than the rollout of… View this story