Overview

AMWA is the fiscal agent for SeniorFusion.

As the population of older adults in the U.S. grows, so too does the technology designed to serve them. Yet, many older adults still do not fully embrace technology solutions that could improve their lives—due to lack of knowledge, information overload, uncertainty about where to start, or perceptions of cost-prohibitive design. According to research from AARP, nearly two-thirds of adults age 50+ say technology enriches their lives by making daily life and aging easier. Meanwhile, adoption of certain “age-tech” tools which help enable aging in place remains slow.

SeniorFusion was established in 2018 to help close this gap. Its primary goal is to improve older adult health and safety and reduce social isolation through increased adoption of both high-tech and low-tech solutions that support aging-in-place.

Demographic pressures make this work increasingly urgent. The World Health Organization predicts that the 60+ age population will nearly double between 2015 and 2050. Given the anticipated shortage of home-care workers and increasing pressure on long-term-care systems, there has been a growth in smart technologies that could help maintain independence and support aging in place.

This is a Women’s Health Issue

Women make up the majority of older adults, and the gender gap widens with age. About 33% of women age 65+ live alone, compared with 22 % of men. Among women ages 75+, that figure rises to 43 %. Roughly 60 % of family caregivers in the U.S. are women, often providing 20–25 hours of unpaid care each week.

Senior Fusion offers demonstrations, expertise, and customized services. Projects have been funded by the Joseph and Vera Long Foundation and the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency