GeriJoy: With elements of gaming, social sharing and information technology, this startup has created Buddy, a virtual companion for the elderly. Buddy can read out news, weather or tweets from family members and talk back to users when prompted. The program is designed to work on a tablet and mimic the benefits of having a pet.
Insta Compounding System: Being developed by Patients’ & Consumers’ Pharma, this technology would be used by healthcare professions to convert commercial tablets and capsules into custom-flavored liquid medications for patients with difficulty swallowing pills.
Connected for Life: The Research Triangle Park health IT firm Family Health Network eases seniors into computer technology while connecting patients with caregivers, family members and healthcare professionals so that they can all share important health information. It’s intended for independent seniors, but may also be useful in assisted-living settings.
[1] Pogorelc, Deanna. “Bed sensors, virtual pets and 3 other innovations for the nursing home.” Med City News. Web.14 August 2012.
