
Emeritus Senior Living Kicks off 90 day Pilot with VitalLink
VitalLink is pleased to announce the rollout of a 90 day pilot with Emeritus Senior Living. As a leader in the assisted living industry, with one of the largest networks of assisted living, retirement and Alzheimer's care communities in North America, Emeritus' primary goal is to provide the support residents need to live full and satisfying lives, while helping them maintain their independence and dignity.
Mar 29, 2011 by SFGate

Keith Savell of VitalLink is interviewed by Fred Davis
Feb 22, 2011 by executive mINDSHaRe

Masonic Homes of California Selects VitalLink to Help Residents
The Continuing Care Retirement Community will use the all-in-one communication and entertainment center as a way for its residents to stay in touch with family and friends, as well as enjoy daily activities such as reading the news, browsing photos, watching movies, playing games, and connecting with loved ones via video calling.
Feb 14, 2011 by LosAngelesNews.net

How Mobile Phone Technology Helps Patient Care
Moreover, commercial firms are making their own evolutionary strides in telemedicine and personal health monitoring and several military-run treatment trials are testing the mobile phone reliability and online apps in patient care. VitalLink is a touch-screen based computer system, that allows real-time video chatting, using the phone line and webcam can be used to keep in touch with parents or any relative that are unable to come out of their homes.
Jan 28, 2011 by TechWeek.org

New technology can be the best medicine
Homebound parents can stay connected online using VitalLink, a touch-screen based computer system that allows real-time video chatting using the phone line and webcam. The New Jersey-based company created online software that can be used with touchscreens, no mouse or keyboard required. "We're keeping it easy to use for the elderly who are computer-phobic and don't have the skills," says company president Rich Brown.
Jan 17, 2011 by Mike Snider, USA TODAY

Notable by its scarcity -- 2011 CES tech for an older audience
Nominated for 'Last Gadget Standing', VitalLink offers a "friendly shell that runs on a touch-screen Windows PC, the company has made it simple for an elderly person to use a PC, including making video calls, cycling through family photos, watching video, reading news (in any size type), playing games, and even watching Netflix movies." At $4.99/month, available now.
Jan 9, 2011 by Laurie Orlov, Aging In Place Technology Watch

Assisted Computing for Senior Citizens
For many older adults, increasing frailty, limited mobility and the trend for younger families to relocate towards employment opportunities (and away from their aging parents) contribute to social isolation. And isolation has been found to have an effect on overall health. VitalLink provides an innovative and intuitive Internet-based solution to help overcome these challenges.
Dec 16, 2010 by Robin Raskin , Technologizer
Emeritus Senior Living Kicks off 90 day Pilot with VitalLink
Selects All-in-One Communication and Entertainment Center to Help Residents Enjoy
Daily Activities, Stay in Touch with Family and Friends
LAS VEGAS, NV, March 29, 2011— VitalLink is pleased to announce the rollout of a 90 day pilot with Emeritus Senior Living. As a leader in the assisted living industry, with one of the largest networks of assisted living, retirement and Alzheimer's care communities in North America, Emeritus’ primary goal is to provide the support residents need to live full and satisfying lives, while helping them maintain their independence and dignity. In support of this goal, Emeritus will use VitalLink as an all-in-one communication and entertainment service for residents at Emeritus at Carmel Valley located in San Diego, California.
For many older adults, increasing frailty, limited mobility and the growing trend of long-distance caregiving from family members can contribute to the experience of social isolation. VitalLink offers computer challenged older adults the opportunity to bridge this distance, by offering an easy to use solution that puts the ability of an active, healthy life back into their hands with little more than the touch of an icon or the click of a mouse.
“Staying connected with others and being engaged in daily activities, such as reading the news, playing games, or watching movies, has a tremendous impact on psychosocial well-being as well as cognitive abilities later in life,” said Keith Savell, Ph.D., Chief Gerontologist at VitalLink. "We're pleased to be working with Emeritus Senior Living to provide residents with a senior friendly resource that will enable them to remain face-to-face connected with friends and family worldwide as well as to remain mentally engaged in enjoyable activities such as playing games, reading the news and viewing family photos and videos."
By simplifying the computer experience, VitalLink effectively transforms the computer into a user friendly device – where face-to-face social interaction, cognitive (mental) stimulation, games, family photos and videos, and local, national and world news are all accessible. Essentially, VitalLink enables the elderly user to access the best of all that the computer offers to mainstream society.
“We are thrilled to bring VitalLink into our community, and look forward to the contribution that it will make to the quality of life of our residents. VitalLink provides an easy to use all-in-one resource for long distance social interaction and mental stimulation that will not only encourage residents to remain more engaged in the life around them, but will also enhance their overall well-being,” said Dale Boyles, Vice President of Operations – California Division. “We’re excited to be moving into the future by providing a new level of options to seniors that embrace the advancements in technology commonly used in today’s digital lifestyle. This will enable Emeritus a competitive advantage in the already large, yet ever expanding senior housing industry.”
VitalLink is currently available worldwide in over seven languages, including Spanish, Japanese, German, French, Swedish, Serbian, and Korean. For more information or to download for personal use visit www.VitalLink.net. For more information on the institutional capabilities and/or to evaluate use of VitalLink in your facility, contact info@vitallink.net.
Click here to download this article in pdf formatMasonic Homes of California Selects VitalLink to Help Residents Stay in Touch with Family and Friends
VitalLink Bridges “Other Side” of Digital Divide; Provides Easy to Use Network and Entertainment
Center for Older Adults
LAS VEGAS, NV, February 14, 2011— VitalLink is pleased to announce the arrival of Masonic Homes of California as a customer. The Continuing Care Retirement Community will use the all-in-one communication and entertainment center as a way for its residents to stay in touch with family and friends, as well as enjoy daily activities such as reading the news, browsing photos, watching movies, playing games, and connecting with loved ones via video calling.
For many older adults, increasing frailty, limited mobility and the growing trend of long-distance caregiving, often by an adult child, can contribute to the experience of social isolation. Often, isolation can affect their physical health and cognitive well-being, turning an active older adult into one that is withdrawn. VitalLink is breaking the walls that make interaction between older adults and their family and friends difficult, by offering an easy to use solution that puts the ability of an active, healthy life back into their hands.
“We’re excited to offer VitalLink to our residents. Not only is it an easy to use service that will help residents achieve a greater quality of life, but also allow family members to have greater involvement in their care process,” said Dixie Reeve, Executive Director, Masonic Homes of California. “With more adult children caring for aging parents, often from long distances, the ability to see and connect with a loved one daily not only provides peace of mind for the caregiver themselves, but the older adult as well.”
The visual and auditory experience of video calling that allows older adults to see and hear other family members, such as grandchildren, not only reinforces family relationships, but can also support a healthy mental well being and stimulate mental functions in those experiencing early stages of memory loss.
“When looking at ways to provide a new network and entertainment resource for residents, finding a solution that enables active lifestyles and better emotional well being was as important as one that supports cognitive development,” said Barbara Patterson, Director or Nursing, Masonic Homes of California. “With VitalLink, we’ve found an ideal solution that can fit the needs of all our residents, while putting Masonic Homes at the forefront of a new generation in senior living where network and entertainment services are as important as the facility itself.”
Through an innovative, intuitive and user friendly internet based solution, VitalLink eliminates the complexity of both the computer and the internet, allowing even the most fearful, computer challenged older adult to enjoy the many benefits of contemporary technology. Similar to the support residents receive in assisted living facilities, such as cooking, cleaning or laundry, VitalLink assisted computing supports the senior in much the same way, in the sense their caretaker can remotely pre-determine the entertainment and network options required, without the elder person having to be involved.
Housed within one’s own computer, or a commercially available touch screen computer, with the touch of a picture on the screen, users can interact face-to-face, with family and friends, cycle through digital family photos, view videos shared by friends and family, read up to the minute local, national and global news, weather, sports and politics (in any size print imaginable), play games and even watch NetFlix movies!
“VitalLink is an ideal resource for older adults who want to maintain an active and engaged lifestyle, whether they are living independently, in assisted living or continuing care communities,” said Keith Savell, Ph.D., Chief Gerontologist at VitalLink. “Staying connected with others and being engaged in daily activities, such as reading the news, playing games, or watching movies, has a tremendous impact on psychosocial well-being as well as cognitive abilities later in life.”
Following the initial rollout, Masonic Homes of California intends to roll-out VitalLink into its other housing communities, including skilled nursing and in-home care services.
VitalLink is currently available nationwide. For more information or to download for personal use visit www.VitalLink.net. For more information on the institutional capabilities and/or to evaluate use of VitalLink in your facility, contact info@vitallink.net.
Click here to download this article in pdf formatLars Graf
CEO
Lars Graf, Chief Executive Officer, oversees the company's strategic direction and product development for VitalLink’s flagship product. His 20+ year career includes leadership positions in product management and marketing, business development and sales for companies in the enterprise, consumer and technology markets. Lars brings a diverse background to VitalLink, including experience in mobile financial services, healthcare, security, advertising, social networks, network management and security, and web services and SOA. Prior to VitalLink he was CEO and Founder of security management/SOA platform provider EventGnosis, Inc. and CEO, Founder and CTO of venture backed network and security management software company OpenService, Inc. Lars holds a B.S.E. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science with honors from Princeton University.
Rich Brown
President
Rich Brown, President, oversees business development and day-to-day operations. A technology industry veteran with more than 30 years experience, his expertise includes an unparalleled understanding of how to build companies that develop solutions to meet the demands of today’s consumers and businesses, shepherding them through their life cycle – from founding, to IPO, and major acquisition. Rich brings a wealth of industry experience to VitalLink, including most recently, role as Founder and Vice President of Operations of ICON CMT Corp., a venture backed Internet solutions provider that provides major corporate customers with strategic consulting, creative development and tier-1 communications infrastructure. He was instrumental in ICON’s IPO and successful acquisition by Quest Communications in 1998 for $185 mil.
Keith Savell, Ph.D.
Chief Gerontologist
As Chief Gerontologist, Dr. Keith Savell lends his more than 20 years experience as a health care expert within the long term care industry to the product development of VitalLink. He is driving both the clinical applications of VitalLink as well as the unique user interface requirements for the geriatric user base. Additionally, Keith is the Executive Director of Geriatric Healthcare Consultants, LLC, a company providing dementia care, social service and therapeutic recreation consultation to skilled nursing facilities. Keith also directs the Behavior Management Response Team, a consulting resource that assists skilled nursing and assisted living communities in their efforts to reduce and resolve acute dementia / delirium based behavior problems among residents. He has delivered multiple presentations at international, national, regional, state and local conferences, and has authored numerous publications within the areas of psychosocial assessment, gerontology, self-efficacy, self determination and psychological well-being, as well as collaborative research methodologies. Keith has held faculty positions at Rutgers University, San Jose State University and San Francisco State University, and received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois.
Strategic Advisors
Scott Kiepen
Scott is a partner in one of the premier health care law firms in the country, Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, P.C. He has specialized in representing senior housing, assisted living and skilled nursing companies for 15 years. Currently Scott represents some of the largest and most prominent long term care companies in the country in all aspects of their regulatory, business, and legal affairs.
Susan Ayers Walker
Susan is founder and managing director of the SmartSilvers Alliance, an organization founded to promote the awareness, development and deployment of innovative, consumer friendly products and technology-leveraged services that cater to the unique needs of the expanding senior population. For the past three decades, she has been involved with implementing strategies leading to successful business partnerships and technology developments in emerging and high tech systems companies.
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