For aging services technologies to succeed, they must be supported by robust infrastructure. Majd Alwan, Ph.D., CAST executive director and senior vice president of technology and business strategy at LeadingAge, appeared on two recent podcasts to discuss LeadingAge’s push for better infrastructure and to predict where aging services technologies could go from here.

Why Invest in Tech Ahead of the Pack

On the TEConnect Podcast! on July 8, 2021, Alwan discussed the need for upgrades as even more older Americans enter senior living facilities. For example, he said that senior living organizations that invested in social connectedness and engagement technologies early got double the reward for investing ahead of time. They used those technologies during the pandemic to keep residents’ quality of life high, and the organizations leveraged their existing technologies to cope with COVID. For example, some used Chromebooks for telehealth rather than more-expensive telehealth carts.

Alwan also estimated that as the number and power of devices increase, the need for bandwidth would grow 60% or more year or year starting now. That number is even higher than the 50% year-over-year exponential demand that has occurred in past years, according to Neilsen’s law. The need for bandwidth is especially a concern in rural areas where broadband is unavailable and/or unaffordable.

LeadingAge Blueprint for a Better Aging Infrastructure

Alwan appeared on VoiceAmerica on July 7, 2021, to explain LeadingAge’s initiatives on technology in aging services. Watch SeniorsSTRAIGHTTalk with Phyllis Ayman to learn more about the LeadingAge Blueprint for a Better Aging Infrastructure adopted in April 2021.

The blueprint is a series of recommendations that address the economic, social and racial inequities older Americans face by doing the following:

• Expanding access to long-term care at home and in our communities.
• Increasing affordable housing for older adults.
• Investing in the physical and technological infrastructure of aging services—including high-speed broadband access.
• ​​​​​​​Addressing the fundamental need to better support and grow our aging services workforce.

LeadingAge Advocacy

In both podcasts, Alwan emphasized that LeadingAge is advocating for internet access and availability—for older adults who have low incomes and who live in rural areas and in affordable housing. LeadingAge also advocates for adequacy of speed and bandwidth and affordability. LeadingAge is pushing for internet connectivity to be considered a utility, available both within individual units and public spaces within the building and the staff network.

Alwan said he is encouraged by a recent Federal Communication Commission (FCC) program that uses funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This program would subsidize the cost of a device up to $100 and is the first program in U.S. history to do so. That is in addition to the discount that is already available through the FCC Lifeline program, which subsidizes an internet connection for low-income families or a phone line.

LeadingAge is advocating for Congress to make more funding available through the FCC, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other agencies that manage resources for affordable housing providers. Alwan said he is also encouraged by interest from Congressional leaders and the administration in improving the internet infrastructure across the country.