A trio of healthcare heavyweights are testing the theory that today's consumer-facing health and fitness monitors are not doing seniors any favors.
The AARP is joining forces with UnitedHealthcare and Pfizer in what's expected to be the first of several projects to test mHealth devices for the 50+ crowd. This first project, dubbed Project Catalyst, focuses on six popular sleep and activity trackers.
“Technology that is designed well – designed for all – can be used by a 5-year-old and a 95-year-old alike," Jody Holtzman, AARP's senior vice president of thought leadership, said in a news release. “The goals of Project Catalyst are in direct alignment with the mission of AARP – to identify challenges and determine solutions to improve the quality of life for people as they age.”
According to the AARP, the senior population is well over 100 million people and growing, particularly as the Baby Boomer bubble hits that plateau, and is responsible for roughly $7.1 million in annual economic activity.
But many of the consumer-facing health and wellness market's leading products, such as wrist-worn fitness monitors and smartwatches, are not senior-friendly, with small viewing surfaces and complicated functions.
The study is based at the Georgia Tech Research Institute's HomeLab, where as many as 80 seniors plucked from a network of some 550 candidates will evaluate the safety, efficacy, usability and accessibility of the Withings Pulse, Misfit Flash, Lumo Lift, Spire, Fitbit Charge and Jawbone Up24.
Officials said they won't rate the trackers, but will "determine where the technology is serving the needs of older consumers and areas where the users want improvements."
This isn't the first time that the AARP and UnitedHealthcare have joined forces to study the appropriateness of healthcare technology for seniors. The two organizations launched www.longevitynetwork.org, which identifies "areas that are ripe for investment and invention" for healthcare vendors looking to serve the 50+ community; in addition, the AARP's Innovation Team has been hosting "LivePitch" events for the past three years around the country to entice entrepreneurs.