The Health Technology Center (HealthTech) and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) are leading a small group of national organizations to better understand and prepare for how new technologies can improve the lives of the aging and people with disabilities. The initiative – Emerging Technologies for Independent Living – brings together experts from across the country to help identify technologies that will affect the ability of people to live independently – across all forms of disability and aging-related functional limitations.
We are bringing together experts from across the country and representing many different disciplines to share their view of what innovations and technologies will be important for independent living. Their contributions will be summarized in a series of trends and detailed "roadmaps" of current and near-term innovations. We believe that leaders armed with this information and an ongoing source of shared research and learning will do a better job of incorporating emerging technologies into their programs, and improve the lives of their clients.
Over the past few months, HealthTech, in collaboration with UCP and its sponsors, researched and discussed the future of important innovations and emerging technologies in supporting the independent living needs of older adults and persons with disabilities. This research culminated in an Expert Panel discussion of HealthTech-generated forecasts focused on key developments and technologies in aging and disabilities services over a 10-year period. The following webinars provide contextual information on the research, construct a framework for understanding the forecasts, and highlight key trends and forecasts.
Technologies for Independent Living: Introduction Webinar
This webinar gives an overview of the research project, "Emerging Technologies and the Future for Independent Living." The webinar highlights the needs of persons with disabilities and older adults, gives key characteristics of both populations, and explains Health Tech's research methodology and approach to answering the critical question "How can we use technology to promote independent living for older adults and persons with disabilities?"
Technologies for Independent Living: Project Update Webinar
This webinar reviews the needs assessment and research methodology employed by Health Tech and its partners, introduces a framework for the forecasts, and walks-through the logistics of the then upcoming Expert Panel event.
Highlights Webinar: Emerging Technologies and the Future of Independent Living
This webinar reviews major trends from the Expert Panel on Emerging Technologies and the Future of Independent Living, presents supporting forecasts spanning the next ten years, and discusses key technologies to consider. The Expert Panel consisted of a carefully selected group of national experts representing diverse viewpoints and from various disciplines and includes researchers, clinicians, service providers, policy makers, developers, and workforce experts from around the country. The discussion focused on various potential uses of technology and how that technology could best be used to promote and improve the quality of independent living for the aging and persons living with disabilities. The Expert Panel discussion focused on seven areas: Consumer Experience, Service, Information & Communication Technology, Workforce, Settings & Facilities, Business Models, and Regulations & Standards.
HealthTech and UCP are joined by Front Porch, Lutheran Services of America, SCAN Health Plan, Via Christi Health System, Volunteers of America and the Center for the Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT).
