The West Wireless Health Institute is committed to helping older adults 'age in place' and remain independent – and ultimately, stay in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible.

Aging in place encompasses health and wellness; psychological wellbeing; social connectedness and safety; optimized disease management; and, easy access to healthcare. Wireless solutions are being developed in each of these areas.

Chronic disease prevalence increases dramatically with age, and one-third of seniors in the U.S. suffer a fall each year. By 2020, nearly 55 million Americans will be 65 years or older. Long-term care is extraordinarily expensive, with the annual cost of a private room in a nursing facility exceeding $70,000 and in an assisted living facility exceeding $33,000. Costs are forecast to increase at 6.4 percent per year, a rate far higher than GDP or inflation.

The Institute will explore significant wireless health opportunities to limit unnecessary and avoidable hospitalization, assisted living scenarios and long-term institutionalization. Rapidly aging populations in the Japan, Europe and the U.S add urgency to finding cost-effective solutions – to offer older adults significantly more choice in how and where they live, and add a sense of empowerment, freedom and control to daily life.