The Caregiver Innovation Show
The Caregiver Crisis Podcast
For family caregivers juggling it all — work, kids, aging parents — this podcast is your lifeline.
We cut through the overwhelm to bring you real stories, practical tips, and tech tools that help you care smarter, not harder.
Hosted by The Caregiver Crisis Initiative, each episode explores simple ways to reduce stress, keep loved ones safe at home, and restore your peace of mind. No fluff. No guilt. Just real help.
🎙️ Featuring expert guests, product spotlights, and caregiver voices.
🧠 Learn what works, when to use it, and why it matters.
🔒 Save the “how” for when you're ready to go deeper inside our private community.
Free Starter Toolkit →
Tech Partner: Electronic Caregiver
Subscribe and join the movement to make care easier — one episode at a time.
🎧 Become a supporter of the show!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2408853/support
The Caregiver Innovation Show
Electronic Caregiver Transforms Home Care with AI
The home care industry stands at a pivotal crossroads, and AddisonCare might just be the revolutionary turning point we've been waiting for. This AI-powered virtual caregiver from Electronic Caregiver promises to deliver round-the-clock support for just $8 daily, potentially solving some of the most persistent challenges facing home care providers and families alike.
What caught our attention immediately was the stark contrast in support hours: 640 monthly hours of virtual oversight compared to the typical 80 hours of traditional part-time care. That's eight times more coverage at a fraction of the cost. But the implications go far beyond just extended monitoring. The technology aims to transform how agencies acquire and retain clients, open untapped markets, and address the critical caregiver shortage that's plagued the industry for years.
The numbers tell a compelling story. With only 6% of initial inquiries converting to full home care services, providers leave enormous potential revenue on the table. Meanwhile, 53 million family caregivers struggle without adequate support, and agencies battle a staggering 77% annual caregiver turnover rate. AddisonCare's approach could be the answer to these interrelated challenges, offering an accessible entry point for those not ready for comprehensive in-person care while providing relief to overwhelmed family members.
Perhaps most fascinating is the Addison Aware feature that transforms a home's existing Wi-Fi network into a sophisticated monitoring system without cameras or wearable devices. The technology passively tracks movement patterns, sleep habits, and activity levels, alerting caregivers or family members to concerning changes through a smartphone app. This non-intrusive approach preserves dignity and independence while still providing the oversight needed for peace of mind.
As we explore this technological frontier, important questions emerge about how we balance human connection with artificial assistance in such deeply personal aspects of life. Will AI complement human caregivers or eventually replace them? How might these technologies reshape our very understanding of care itself? The trajectory seems clear – digital innovation in eldercare isn't just coming; it's already here. The question is: are we ready to embrace it?
Welcome to the Deep Dive. Today we're taking a close look at a pretty big announcement. It's all about the future, really, of private duty home care.
Speaker 2:That's right, we're working from. A press release from Electronic Caregiver Came out March 3rd 2025, and it details their new thing, AddisonCare.
Speaker 1:AddisonCare, and this is basically an AI-powered virtual caregiver right. That's the core idea they're introducing into home care.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and the claims are. Well, they're pretty broad. They're talking about things like 247, client oversight, boosting revenue for the providers, opening up completely new markets and even tackling those tricky issues like keeping caregivers and clients sticking around.
Speaker 1:And the cost figure they mentioned really jumps out something like $8 a day for the consumer.
Speaker 2:Yeah, which sounds on the surface very accessible.
Speaker 1:Right. So our mission today is to really unpack this. What is AddisonCare? How does this tech claim to well transform home care, like they say?
Speaker 2:And maybe more importantly, what are the implications, you know, for the people needing care, but also for those providing it?
Speaker 1:Exactly. I think we might uncover some real aha moments about how technology might solve some current headaches.
Speaker 2:Definitely. So where should we start? Maybe with the problems Addison Care is actually trying to solve?
Speaker 1:Good idea. The press release does spend some time on the struggles home care providers face Competition, finding new clients.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, it's tough. Yeah, competition's fierce. Getting new clients is a constant grind. Keeping them engaged between visits is hard and well, the finances are always a challenge.
Speaker 1:Definitely a demanding field. So Addison Care comes in, promising this 247 virtual support. They put a number on it too, didn't they?
Speaker 2:They did. They talked about potentially 640 hours of client support a month, which is, I mean, a huge contrast to typical part-time live care.
Speaker 1:Which they put it around, what 80 hours.
Speaker 2:Around 80 hours. Yeah, so you can see the potential difference in just sheer contact time. Even if it's virtual, it really highlights the gaps it could fill.
Speaker 1:It's about bridging those times when a human caregiver isn't physically there fill.
Speaker 2:It's about bridging those times when a human caregiver isn't physically there. Precisely the core concept is this always-on support system, Offering that constant virtual presence. The idea is it strengthens the bond, keeps clients feeling connected between visits.
Speaker 1:Right and that they hope, leads to more loyalty, more peace of mind for everyone involved the client, the family. It's adding that extra layer.
Speaker 2:A layer of consistent virtual support.
Speaker 1:Okay, so that covers the retention and maybe the added value side. But what about these new revenue streams and market opportunities they mentioned? That sounds key.
Speaker 2:It really does. It seems like virtual care could unlock well whole new pipelines for clients.
Speaker 1:How so.
Speaker 2:Well, the argument they make is that referral sources think clinics, maybe other agencies, insurers, senior living places they often have way more leads for virtual care needs.
Speaker 1:OK.
Speaker 2:They're estimating something like 10 to 20 times more virtual leads compared to people specifically looking for, you know, hands-on live-in care right now.
Speaker 1:Wow, 10 to 20 times. That's a massive difference.
Speaker 2:It is and it suggests there's this huge pool of potential clients out there whose needs aren't being fully met by the traditional models alone. A big untapped opportunity.
Speaker 1:That kind of makes sense, though, doesn't it? I mean, logically, there must be more people who could use some level of remote support or monitoring than those needing full-time in-person care immediately.
Speaker 2:Exactly, it's a broader spectrum of need, and they also talk about converting more leads from, say, advertising.
Speaker 1:Right, because not everyone who inquires is ready for full home care.
Speaker 2:Apparently not. They quote a figure something like only 6% of initial inquiries are from people actually ready and able to afford extensive live care straight away. Only 6%.
Speaker 1:Huh of initial inquiries are from people actually ready and able to afford extensive live care straight away? Only 6% Huh.
Speaker 2:So AddisonCare being cheaper could be that first step, that more accessible option. It might capture leads that would otherwise just fizzle out.
Speaker 1:So you cast a wider net, basically reach people who aren't quite there yet for the full package or maybe can't afford it.
Speaker 2:Precisely. And then there's this other group. They highlighted the family caregivers. That really caught my eye too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the underserved market they called it, and the numbers were pretty staggering.
Speaker 2:Weren't they just Growing by 10 million in five years, up to 53 million family caregivers. That's a huge number of people.
Speaker 1:And these are people juggling work, their own families plus the stress of caring for someone. It's intense.
Speaker 2:So intense and often you know they feel completely overwhelmed, unsupported. It's a tough gig.
Speaker 1:And maybe the traditional home care model didn't always see them as the primary customer.
Speaker 2:That's a good point, but ECG is positioning this virtual care as like a lifeline for them, offering some relief oversight tools to help organize things.
Speaker 1:And just that around the clock backup.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that safety net feeling, helping the caregiver maybe avoid burnout while also benefiting the person needing care Peace of mind all around potentially.
Speaker 1:Okay, this idea of scaling up using AI, you know, without needing thousands more human caregivers, that's a powerful concept.
Speaker 2:It is they use this really striking phrase deploying thousands of income-generating caregivers overnight, without the payroll costs.
Speaker 1:Wow, that paints a picture, doesn't it? Rapid scalability.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Using AI means providers could, in theory, reach way more homes than they ever could, just relying on recruiting and managing human staff.
Speaker 1:And recruitment and management is a huge challenge, especially with turnover. They mentioned that too right, the turnover rates.
Speaker 2:Up to 77% annually. That's incredibly high. Think about the disruption, the cost. It's immense, it really is. So the argument here is that the extra revenue from virtual care could give providers more breathing room financially.
Speaker 1:To maybe invest back into their human staff, like better pay or benefits.
Speaker 2:Potentially yeah, To help attract and keep good human caregivers.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So it's not necessarily framed as AI replacing humans, but maybe supplementing them, supporting the whole operation.
Speaker 1:That's an interesting angle. And then they brought up the no liabilities point, which is well quite a contrast to the human element.
Speaker 2:It is stark, isn't it? No-shows, deaf concerns, potential mistreatment, background checks, all those complexities that come with managing a human workforce.
Speaker 1:The AI doesn't call in sick.
Speaker 2:Exactly. It's presented as a way to reduce risk. The AI offers theoretically a perfectly consistent, standardized service without those human variables. Operationally, that's appealing.
Speaker 1:Okay, let's switch gears slightly. Addison Aware this specific feature using Wi-Fi sensing. That sounds different. No wearables needed.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's quite innovative. The discreteness is a big selling point. It uses tech from a company called Cognitive Systems Right and it essentially reads tiny disturbances in the home's existing Wi-Fi signals to figure out movement and activity. No cameras, no pendants, nothing for the person to wear or actively use.
Speaker 1:So it just uses the Wi-Fi that's already there, like turning the whole home into a sensor.
Speaker 2:Kind of yeah, it's passively monitoring activity levels without being intrusive.
Speaker 1:And what sort of things can it tell you?
Speaker 2:Things like did mom get out of bed around her usual time, or maybe she didn't get up? It can track sleep patterns over the week, okay, and spot significant changes in activity in key zones. You know bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, and caregivers or family can see this info. Get alerts on an app.
Speaker 1:An iOS or Android app. They said that's right, that kind of non-intrusive awareness. I can see how valuable that could be for families, just knowing remotely that things seem okay or getting a heads up if routines change.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. It's about that sense of connection, that oversight, without making the person feel constantly watched or, you know, taking away their independence.
Speaker 1:Being able to just check in on general activity levels on demand. That's got to offer some real reassurance, a huge amount.
Speaker 2:I'd imagine.
Speaker 1:Okay, shifting focus again. They also talked about PR, public relations, saying this AI stuff can be a media magnet.
Speaker 2:Right. The idea is, if an agency adopts this kind of cutting edge tech, it makes them look innovative, forward thinking. Get some notice Exactly. Builds credibility, Attracts media attention, Especially now with everyone focused on the aging population and the need for better home care solutions. It helps them stand out.
Speaker 1:Makes sense. Being an early adopter could be a real differentiator in a crowded market. They even suggested virtual care is becoming the new industry standard.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's bold. It's a very strong claim and the message behind it is pretty clear Providers who don't get on board with AI and digital tools well, they risk getting left behind.
Speaker 1:Losing market share.
Speaker 2:Yeah, market erosion falling behind the competition, they're saying this isn't just about tech, it's about the actual quality and scope of service you can offer and, ultimately, your bottom line.
Speaker 1:And the final word on that was pretty blunt Go Addison Care or lose relevancy.
Speaker 2:Oof, yeah, no pulling punches there. They're positioning it as almost essential for survival, for staying relevant in the future.
Speaker 1:So before we wrap up, maybe just a quick bit about the company itself Electronic Caregiver. Just for context.
Speaker 2:Sure ECG. They started back in 2009,. Based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, they bill themselves as a digital health tech and services company.
Speaker 1:Focusing on aging and chronic illness care.
Speaker 2:That's their niche, yeah, and Addison, this AI caregiver, is kind of their flagship telehealth product, so they've been in this space for a while.
Speaker 1:Not brand new to remote care then?
Speaker 2:No, not at all. They talk about their integrated approach mixing, monitoring, medication help, personalized support all focused on the patient.
Speaker 1:And they mentioned partnerships too, didn't they?
Speaker 2:Big names, they did Samsung Intel AWS, which suggests they're serious about the tech side, about building things that can scale. They also provided their website and a sales number for people wanting more info.
Speaker 1:Okay, good to know. So, wrapping this all up, AddisonCare really looks like a significant move, pushing AI much deeper into private duty home care.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it feels like a potential inflection point. The benefits they outline for clients, families, providers they target a lot of the big pain points in the industry.
Speaker 1:Continuous support, new ways to deliver care, new revenue possibilities, maybe even helping with staffing issues. It's a compelling package they're presenting.
Speaker 2:It definitely paints a picture of a different future for home care.
Speaker 1:So for you, listening as you think about all this, consider where this might lead Technology getting more and more involved in really personal areas like caregiving. What possibilities does that open up? What feels exciting?
Speaker 2:And, just as importantly, what questions does it raise for you? What are the considerations as we blend human support with artificial intelligence more closely?
Speaker 1:Yeah. How might these technologies evolve and what impact could they have, maybe on your own life or the lives of people you care about down the road? Definitely something to mull over.
Speaker 2:Food for thought.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Thanks for joining us for this deep dive.
