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Elder Care News
New Company Has New Ideas on Helping Elderly Stay at
Home Longer
Private company, Dovetail, joins national efforts
to extend living at home
 January 25, 2007 A major goal of many new
government programs, senior citizen advocates and seniors themselves is
to find better ways that will allow the elderly to stay in their own
homes longer, rather than moving to a care facility. Late last year a
private company, using new technology, introduced a program in the
Boston area for older people to stay in their homes through better ways
to monitor and manage their health and medication requirements.
Long-term care has traditionally consisted of two
options for older adults move in with a family member, or move into a
nursing home, said Leslie Hoyt, Chief Care Officer, Dovetail Health.
But todays seniors are living longer and they want the same level of
choice and independence that theyve had all their lives. This is what
Dovetail Health will help provide.
By the year 2030 there will be 70 million people
over the age of 65, many with health challenges that could become
serious or costly to treat if not managed and monitored on a regular
basis. Even managing their medications is a concern for older adults,
with medication errors accounting for nearly one-fourth of nursing home
admissions and one-third of hospitalizations for seniors.
To help meet these growing needs and fill in the
care gaps for older adults, Dovetail Health has developed a service
offering that combines personal care with easy-to-use technology.
Starting with a thorough in-home assessment by a registered nurse,
Dovetail creates a comprehensive, personalized care plan for the
clients health and medication management.
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Challenges Ahead |
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New Generation of Older Adults
By the year 2030 approximately
70 million people will be over the age of 65.
Nine out of 10 Americans age 60
and older wish to remain in their own homes and communities as
they age.
The 85+ population is projected
to increase from 4.2 million in 2000 to 6.1 million in 2010 (a
40% increase) and then to 7.3 million in 2020 (a 44% increase
for that decade).
Approximately 8,000 people
turned 60 everyday in the United States in 2006.
Chronic Health Conditions
Today, 45% of the American
population, or approximately 135 million Americans are affected
by one or more chronic health conditions.
Almost 75% of adults 65+ have
at least one chronic condition, and 50% have at least two.
By 2010, an estimated 80% of
healthcare spending as much as 17% of the Gross Domestic
Product will be devoted to the chronically ill.
Injuries
More than 33% of adults 65+
fall once per year. Of those who fall, 2030% suffer moderate to
severe injuries that reduce mobility and independence, and
increase the risk of premature death.
Falls account for 10% of
emergency room visits and 6% of urgent hospitalizations for the
elderly.
Medication Management
Almost 50% of older adults do
not follow their medication management properly.10 Thirty
percent of hospitalizations among the elderly can be attributed
to mistakes managing his or her medication.
Twenty-three percent of nursing
home admissions result from medication mismanagement.
Individuals aged 65-69 have an
average of 14 prescriptions written per year. Those who are age
80-84 have an average of 18.
Telemonitoring
Home telehealth has been shown
to reduce:
>> Hospitalizations by as much
as 90%
>> Hospital re-admissions
within 30 days by as much as 60%
>> Hospital bed days by as much
as 80%
>> Emergency room trips by as
much as 80%
Telemonitoring has been shown
to reduce medical expenses by 18% in heart failure patients.
Eighty-four percent of American
consumers say they would pay for services or equipment to help
them stay at home as long as possible.
Use of telehealth for remote
monitoring by nurses can be more effective than standard
outpatient care following hospitalization for heart failure,
with a documented 32% lower readmission rates and 25% lower
costs. |
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The nurse remains at the heart of the Dovetail care
team throughout the year, calling clients regularly and performing at
least six in-home follow up visits. Dovetail clients also work with a
licensed pharmacist, who comes to their homes and is available by phone
to help them understand their medications.
Personal assistants are available to clients by
phone to coordinate these services and to provide health and lifestyle
referrals that help seniors live safely and well at home.
Dovetail clients and their assigned care team are
also supported by simple technology from Philips Electronics, which
monitors clients weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar. This
information is reviewed by the Dovetail nurse every day, helping her
assess client progress and detect problems before they become
emergencies. The in-home device is also tailored to send messages,
health and wellness tips, and reminders to each client about their
medications, exercises, and other health-related needs.
Dovetail Health offers seniors an opportunity to
fulfill their desire to live independently in their later years, despite
certain health conditions, said Stever Aubrey, CEO and Managing Partner
of Dovetail Health.
What we want for them is the same thing we want
for our own parents and ourselves as we age to live with hope and
dignity, and in our own homes. For many, it can defer the need, worry
and expense of moving into a senior care facility. Dovetail is excited
to bring its unique offering to this new generation of seniors.
The company does not take the place of older
adults physicians or caregivers, including their adult children.
Instead, through personal contact from the care team and telemonitoring,
Dovetail strengthens these relationships by collecting and summarizing
valuable information about a clients health needs and status. With
client approval, Dovetail shares this information with designated
providers and caregivers, helping them to both remotely and confidently
monitor the older adults well-being.
Editor's Notes:
About Dovetail Health
Dovetail Health believes that living in ones
home has a positive effect on the body, mind and spirit. That is why
Dovetail Health helps older adults live independently in their own homes
as long as possible by combining extraordinary care with easy-to-use
technology to help them personally monitor and manage their health needs
at home. For more information, please visit
www.dovetailhealth.com.
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