The global COVID-19 pandemic is hitting the older adult population the hardest, not only from a risk and mortality perspective, but also in the way it is exacerbating isolation and loneliness due to social distancing. 

The Global Innovation Search, co-hosted virtually in September by Aging2.0 and The Louisville Healthcare CEO Council (LHCC), provided an opportunity for innovators around the world to showcase their products and services to help keep older adults connected to their communities, families, healthcare providers and vital information. 

Six companies presented in front of investors, healthcare executives and other industry experts at the CareTech2.0 pitch during the Summit, focusing on how they could address barriers associated with social determinants of health (SDOH). The CareTech Finalists include:

Amava has built the first scalable solution to combat the growing epidemic of social isolation, a key determinant of health. Leveraging decades of research on the interdependencies among social engagement, purpose and health outcomes, Amava’s unique combination of tools, content and services is already helping more than 185,000 households stay active and engaged. Designed for easy integration and customization, Amava programs can be rapidly deployed as part of existing programs or as a new benefit.

Famileo is a program that helps communities make sure their residents remain socially engaged with their family and their community.

With Famileo, kids and grandkids edit every week a family newspaper from their mobile. Then, the “gazette” is printed out and delivered to their grandparents in the community.

The paper format makes it available for everyone and encourages discussions with other residents and staff about their family news. Already 1,700 communities have subscribed to Famileo, with nearly one million family users.

Famileo is a pragmatic solution to tackle loneliness and social isolation in older adults.

Technology can be challenging for older adults who did not grow up using computers, smartphones and the internet. myFamilyChannel runs on a device that is familiar and comfortable:  the TV. myFamilyChannel is a private TV channel that allows residents to interact and engage through their television, solving for social isolation and loneliness by making connectivity accessible without the use of small screens, apps or passwords.

Roster Health, a social determinants of health company, combines decades of front-line expertise in healthcare and SDOH services to solve the hardest social and functional challenges and achieve positive health outcomes for individuals, populations and communities.  Roster Health provides a non-clinical, consumer-centered SDOH data collection platform and framework to improve data collection and data quality.  Partnered with Camber Systems, Roster Health brings together new data collection, secure data sharing, robust analytics, and operational expertise to help consumers, payors, and providers measure and manage the impact of social determinants on health outcomes and costs.  Roster Health and Camber Systems are both part of the Hangar portfolio of companies.  Hangar launches high-growth technology companies to address problems that government and its partners cannot solve alone in areas that include public health, education and disaster response.  

Soundmind is the easiest way for older adults to video chat and access vital information, simply by speaking. Their voice-activated care platform allows families and caregivers to securely manage appointments, share memories, provide important information and engaging content all accessible through a voice assistant. Soundmind is proven to reduce depression by 44 percent. Devices are fully configured when shipped. No setup required.

Tombot makes robotic animals that transform the daily life of individuals, families and communities facing health adversities. Originally designed to provide physical and mental health benefits to seniors with dementia, Tombot Puppies have also been preordered by healthy seniors and hospitals to provide companionship and to combat loneliness, anxiety, and social isolation.  Additionally, Tombot puppies have been pre-ordered by people subjected to social isolation due to COVID-19.  Peer-reviewed studies show that robotic animals positively affect some users’ ability to cope with stress, anxiety, loneliness, depression and pain, reducing their need for psychotropic and opioid medications.  Tombot Puppies will be the first robotic animals to be both FDA medical devices and a remote patient monitoring platforms.