In an effort to lower costs, senior care providers are focused more than ever on providing quality care through technology in an effort to reduce costs. The benefits of using technology to reduce hospital visits and monitor changes in health and behaviors for seniors has been previously trumpeted but a new study is backing up those beliefs. The new study commissioned by Courtland HT in collaboration with its technology partner Healthsense and the NewCourtland LIFE Programs shows that moving 33 elderly residents from nursing homes and into NewCourtland Square, a supportive housing complex, resulted in savings of $1.85 million annually through the use of monitoring technology.
“The results in this study affirm that Healthsense’s technology allows seniors to continue living safer and more independently in less expensive, less resource-intensive housing with a high quality of life,” said Brian Bischoff, President and CEO of Healthsense. “The cost of our technology is a minimal investment when compared to the expense of nursing home care – $125 per month per person versus $6,000 per month per person. At a time when state and federal healthcare budgets are under severe pressure, technology-supported independent living is a viable and much less-expensive alternative to nursing home care.”
The study, written by Laurie Orlov, founder of Aging in Place Technology Watch, found that the combined cost of technology and staff support for the 33 residents was $288,600 for one year in supportive housing, compared to the $2.14 million total annual cost of nursing home care. The annual cost of the sensor technology provided by CourtlandHT was $39,000. The cost for using monitoring technology in private homes was $11,100, compared to $82,125 for nursing home care.
For a copy of the study, visit Benefits of Technology in Philadelphia PACE Program
