Senior tech helps baby boomers come of digital age

Older people, as a group, continue to lag behind in adopting new technology, but an increasing number of elders are interested and involved in using technologies that allow them to stay more connected socially, with family and friends.

Worldwide revenue generated by home healthcare devices and associated services are expected to soar to $12.6 billion in 2018, up 121 percent from $5.7 billion in 2013, according to numbers released by market researcher IHS. Companies nationwide are tapping into market opportunities pegged "connected aging," a term in which the growing array of Internet-based technologies and mobile devices will increasingly support older adults to age in place by taking well-known technology modalities, such as social networking, e-mailing and Internet browsing to address a comprehensive range of medical, health, social and functional needs -- making them "old people friendly." With technology changing daily and new gadgets quickly becoming a standard rather than a luxury in the most competitive senior living communities, the big conundrum for these vendors is providing technology that is drop-dead simple to use -- doesn't need a ton of charging or resetting, and has long-lasting battery charge.