WASHINGTON, DC /Marketwire/ -- Known as the "sandwich generation," millions of middle-aged and older workers are being squeezed by the needs of dependent children and aging parents. In fact, 9% to 13% of U.S. households with two or more people, aged 30 to 60, have two earners and care for both elders and children, according to a report by researchers at Portland State University in Oregon. Now, BeClose, a new wireless home monitoring system, offers help to all caregivers who are trying to balance the needs of aging parents, either close by or far away.
The BeClose system allows families to keep an eye on mom or dad, as well as to proactively monitor health trends over time through a system of wireless sensors that link to a Web site, where caregivers can view activities of daily life, learn the habits and routines of their loved ones, and set parameters to receive alerts when something is amiss. Being able to reach out to physicians in advance or share ideas for intervention keeps the families connected and involved in the day to day of their distant parent. "Our approach of using technology to connect families proactively—before a crisis occurs—is a new mindset," said Liddy Manson, BeClose President, "one we think is positive with regard to aging in place, as well as worth rewarding," added Manson. To honor Mother's and Father's Day, the company is offering one month free ($79 value) for any orders placed on line between May 3 and June 20, 2010.
With many families postponing retirement due to the recession, BeClose provides an affordable alternative to assisted living that can cost $200 per day on average. BeClose, in comparison, provides real-time data on routines and activity in the home with on-going monitoring and insight into a senior's health trends over time, all for roughly $3 per day. While it is not the same as personal caregiving, it does offer an alternative to millions of families who may be living at a distance with aging parents or simply have limited time or means to provide care for them. To view the BeClose savings calculator, visit the company's Web site.
BeClose was designed to be fully customizable and tech-friendly. Once ordered on line, the system arrives in a simple box and requires no tools for installation. It takes about 20 minutes to set it up, plugging in the main unit and placing the wireless sensors (no hard wiring or screws needed) around the house. Then, the customer logs on to a simple, private dashboard that can enable customization around times for bed, comings and goings, movement in the house, bathroom activity, eating meals, or taking medication. Family members can log on at any time to get real-time data or can have alerts sent by text to their cell phone or email when something is out of the ordinary, all for the cost of a monthly plan. The systems are based on a research and development partnership with Alarm.com, the "nation's leading in-home wireless monitoring system," serving hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses nationwide.
According to the National Center on Care Giving, unpaid family caregivers will likely continue to be the largest source of long-term care services in the U.S. and are estimated to reach 37 million caregivers by 2050, an increase of 85% from 2000. For this group, BeClose provides peace of mind to these caregivers and independence for seniors, with an economic benefit for those who continue to remain living alone.
About BeClose
BeClose is a breakthrough remote home monitoring system designed to allow people to age in place independently while giving their family members and caregivers the peace of mind of knowing that they're safe. The company is privately funded and a technology partner with Alarm.com. By leveraging the patented alarm.com technology platform, BeClose can scale usage on a proven system that processes more than 25 million security and safety events every month. BeClose headquarters are outside of Washington, DC.