How Innovation is Revolutionizing Aging in Maryland
 Sec. Roques and members of the Maryland Commission on Aging recently met at the Maryland Durable Medical Equipment Re-Use headquarters where they explored how virtual reality and computer simulations are revolutionizing the lives of older adults and offering expanded training opportunities for Certified Nursing Assistants.
Emerging technology continues to be a driving force behind improvements in the health and wellness service sectors for older adults and people with disabilities in Maryland, and a key priority area for Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM).
Governor Moore’s Executive Order implementing the state’s multisector plan for aging called for contributions from the tech industry to help establish coordinated systems of service delivery for all Marylanders. LRM Work Groups have begun developing strategies and recommendations to support independence, health, and longevity through innovation, and participation from innovators like Marie Brodsky are ensuring that Maryland will be prepared to capitalize on the innovative opportunities that lie ahead.
“There is so much opportunity for private-public partnerships to enable more progress in this deeply intertwined space,” said Brodsky, Co-Founder & CEO of WISE Cities, a social impact technology startup connecting older adults to their communities to enable healthy aging in place. Her work involves developing close relationships with county commissions on aging, villages, and businesses to create age-friendly communities by identifying the needs of older adults through an AI-generated service-delivery platform. "By participating in LRM's Longevity Ready Ecosystems Work Group, it's my hope and honor to help create a Maryland that all of us will look forward to spending our older years in, with connected communities and systems in place to support the journey of aging.”
With older adults particularly vulnerable to the risks associated with social isolation, investments in reliable internet and digital literacy increased significantly since the pandemic. Today, more than 96% of Marylanders aged 65+ rely on a broadband internet in ways they hadn’t just a few years ago. It’s an infrastructure necessity that is crucial for independent living—allowing older adults to shop, work, and access health care services from the safety of their own home. With advances in smart home, transportation, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, there are more ways than ever to support aging in place.
“Maryland’s aging population is growing rapidly,” said Tim Sherno, Chief Marketing Officer of Nomo International, Inc. “Assistive technology is critical for helping seniors live safely and independently at home, enhancing their dignity and quality of life. The real power of AI in this space lies in its ability to observe and alert based on patterns and data, moving beyond simple detection. With innovations in AI development, we’re entering a future where technology actively safeguards and improves the lives of older adults and their families.”
Maryland is making great strides in adapting tech to the needs of older adults and people with disabilities through a spectrum of services, equipment, and platforms. But advancements in technology need to take into account that all Marylanders are different, as are Maryland communities. Technology must be robust and expandable, coordinating across many social determinants of health including health care, government, social, nutrition, financial, transportation, and government service sectors. Platforms that exist in silos will not be as useful in the long-term. Intuitive AI means information can evolve as the user's needs change or additional services and supports become available.
Most experts agree that incorporating AI to tailor services to each user's personal needs and circumstances is where the future of independent living is headed. Nishant Shah, Senior Advisor for Responsible AI, leads the State of Maryland’s work to build out and execute its AI strategy. “Generative Artificial Intelligence is an incredibly powerful tool that can be leveraged for a wide variety of tasks and workflows relevant to service-provision for aging adults and disabled individuals," says Shah. "The State is focused on enabling adoption across our agencies in ways that are both responsible and productive.”
“These advancements in integration and AI are not just beneficial for the user,” explained Brodsky. “They can also be used to inform sectors about local needs and gaps in services, or predict potential issues before they happen. This technology is going to support the organizations, the non-profits, the businesses, the government services that are working to serve [older adults] to help them do their jobs better.”
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