The COVID-19 pandemic acutely highlighted the difficulties experienced by many senior citizens. Older individuals represent a population with a significantly elevated risk of developing severe illness requiring hospitalization, and care facilities were particularly susceptible to widespread outbreaks. Alongside the challenges posed by COVID-19, the elderly also encountered obstacles in maintaining access to ongoing medical attention for pre-existing health conditions during periods of lockdown and social distancing.

Many of these concerns are expected to persist even as the pandemic subsides. Data from the United Nations indicates that the global population of individuals aged 65 and older is expanding at a rate exceeding all other demographic groups. Simultaneously, there is a substantial and growing deficit in the availability of caregivers, particularly for seniors who prefer to remain in their own homes rather than transition to institutional care.

Technology offers numerous potential solutions: by supporting caregivers and mitigating burnout, enabling remote health monitoring for seniors, and developing tools to alleviate feelings of isolation. The recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) featured several presentations focused on “age-tech.” A prominent example was the AARP Innovation Lab, the organization’s startup accelerator program, which showcased nine different companies at the virtual event.

A recurring theme among the companies highlighted by AARP was technology designed to facilitate “aging in place,” allowing seniors to remain in their homes and communities instead of requiring relocation to care facilities. For instance, Wheel Pad creates adaptable living and working spaces that can be integrated into existing buildings and properties. Mighty Health provides an application that connects users with health coaches, certified fitness instructors, and customized nutritional guidance, while Zibrio offers a scale that assesses balance to identify individuals at risk of falls, suitable for use within a home environment.

Several startups from the AARP Innovation Lab also concentrate on assisting caregivers. FallCall Solutions, for example, develops Apple Watch applications that automatically send alerts upon fall detection and enable family members to check on their loved ones. Another application, Ianacare, streamlines the coordination of caregiving responsibilities and facilitates requests for support. Addressing end-of-life planning, often a sensitive and challenging process for families, Cake provides a platform with tools for estate and healthcare planning, along with resources to aid relatives in coping with caregiving demands and bereavement.

Additional startups are focused on improving medical care. For individuals managing chronic illnesses, Folia Health assists in tracking treatment progress. On the research front, Embleema’s software enables clinical researchers to share data and design studies, thereby enhancing the efficiency of pharmaceutical development.

Other noteworthy age-tech startups showcased at CES included Nobi, an intelligent lamp that illuminates automatically when a user rises and sends notifications to family members in the event of a fall. Nobi is applicable in both private residences and care facilities.

Caregiver Smart Solutions is a comprehensive platform designed to support seniors remaining at home, featuring a machine-learning-based application for early detection of potential health concerns, fall sensors, monitoring devices, and emergency alert systems. For individuals experiencing incontinence, DFree, a wearable device, can reduce anxiety by monitoring bladder fullness using ultrasound technology and tracking typical intervals between bathroom visits. It is available for both individual consumers and healthcare providers.

For elderly individuals residing in care facilities, Rendever is a virtual reality platform aimed at reducing social isolation. It can be utilized with reminiscence therapy, guiding individuals with dementia through experiences that evoke past memories, and also enables virtual travel to various landmarks. Cutii, a companion robot, also strives to combat loneliness. While companion robots have been a regular feature at CES for several years, Cutii distinguishes itself by offering entertainment options such as music, games, and live events, as well as video calling and nighttime monitoring capabilities.