WHCOA: Celebrating Aging and Inspiring Action

Many of us began this week glued to our computer screens as we watched the proceedings of the White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA). 

Every 10 years, the WHCOA brings together a group of Americans, including the President, who care deeply about the nation’s older population and are working each day to improve the services and supports available to this growing cohort. 

The conference helps to focus our attention on the need for concrete change to improve the lives of older Americans. Hopefully, the event also inspires us to continue working for that change. To me, the WHCOA has always been a powerful symbol of how, working together, we can build a nation in which age is celebrated and every American can grow old with dignity and independence.

This year, the WHCOA was also an occasion for several announcements of interest to CAST and LeadingAge members:

HackFest: CAST used the occasion to announce that participants in this fall’s LeadingAge HackFest will have the opportunity to use HP Sprout, an immersive 3D computer technology from CAST Supporter Hewlett Packard (HP), to create a technology-driven tool aimed at improving the lives of older adults and their families. As you will read in our article, the announcement about HP Sprout was included at the top of WHCOA’s Fact Sheet, which positions LeadingAge and CAST as leaders when it comes to aging services technologies.

AgingWell Hub: Philips, a LeadingAge Silver Partner and CAST Supporter, announced that it is creating a new research center to examine and share solutions for aging well. Read about the AgingWell Hub in this issue of Tech Time.

Proposed Nursing Home Rules: Finally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services unveiled a proposed rule for nursing homes in conjunction with the WHCOA. The 403-page proposed rule updates the requirements that skilled nursing facilities must meet to participate in Medicare and Medicaid. As I suggest in our article, the rule could open the door for nursing homes to gain the support they need to adopt electronic health records (EHR).

We plan to continue advocating for increased public support to help nursing homes adopt EHRs. We’ll keep you posted on our progress.

August in Australia

I hope you are planning to attend the Technology Forum that CAST and the International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA) are sponsoring on Aug. 31 in conjunction with the joint conference of IAHSA and Aged and Community Services Australia in Perth, Australia. 

See our article for updated information about the Technology Forum agenda, which will include the sharing of CAST’s practical, hands-on tools for planning, selecting and implementing appropriate technologies and very exciting provider case studies. 

Updating CAST Tools 

Speaking of CAST tools, be sure to read our article about CAST’s updated telehealth selection portfolio. The updated portfolio includes:

LeadingAge President and CEO Larry Minnix recently shined a spotlight on another CAST tool—our Strategic IT Planning Workbook. 

“Simply put, it’s an in-depth guide that helps you incorporate technology into your strategic planning process,” wrote Larry in a letter to LeadingAge members. “And whether you realize it yet or not, this is an absolute must for you to be working toward as you map out your next steps.”

I hope you’ll read the full letter from Larry and check out all of our Strategic IT Planning Tools.

Also in This Issue 

This issue of Tech Time is filled with great news from CAST Partners, Supporters, Patrons, Business Associates, and LeadingAge Members. 

Be sure to read about updates to the Practitioner Engagement solution developed by CAST Partner PointClickCare. The platform now allows physicians and nurse practitioners to electronically prescribe from a mobile device.

You’ll also be interested to learn how our members are using engagement technologies to improve quality of life among residents with dementia. 

Read about an exciting new research project through which CAST Patron Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay will evaluate the impact of computer systems from CAST Supporter It’s Never 2 Late on residents with dementia.

Don’t miss our article about how CAST Patron Front Porch is evaluating 2 technologies that use music to stimulate memory and improve well-being. 

I also hope you will read our article about a recent webinar featuring a CAST Case Study of CAST Business Associate Western Home Communities. The case study and the webinar explore how engagement technologies can help reduce the use of antipsychotic medications among nursing home residents with dementia.

Finally, don’t miss the achievements that are landing CAST Business Associates in the media. We have good news to share about Collain Healthcare, Keystone Technologies, American HealthTech, BAM Labs, and Independa.

I hope you enjoy these and other articles in this issue of Tech Time. Please contact me with any comments or questions.