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?
Episode Transcript
Welcome to the Deep Dive.
Today we're taking a close lookat a pretty big announcement.
It's all about the future,really, of private duty home
care.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
That's right, we're working from.
A press release from ElectronicCaregiver Came out March 3rd
2025, and it details their newthing, AddisonCare.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
AddisonCare, and this is basically an AI-powered
virtual caregiver right.
That's the core idea they'reintroducing into home care.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Exactly, and the claims are.
Well, they're pretty broad.
They're talking about thingslike 247, client oversight,
boosting revenue for theproviders, opening up completely
new markets and even tacklingthose tricky issues like keeping
caregivers and clients stickingaround.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
And the cost figure they mentioned really jumps out
something like $8 a day for theconsumer.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, which sounds on the surface very accessible.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Right.
So our mission today is toreally unpack this.
What is AddisonCare?
How does this tech claim towell transform home care, like
they say?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
And maybe more importantly, what are the
implications, you know, for thepeople needing care, but also
for those providing it?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Exactly.
I think we might uncover somereal aha moments about how
technology might solve somecurrent headaches.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Definitely.
So where should we start?
Maybe with the problems AddisonCare is actually trying to
solve?
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Good idea.
The press release does spendsome time on the struggles home
care providers face Competition,finding new clients.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Oh yeah, it's tough.
Yeah, competition's fierce.
Getting new clients is aconstant grind.
Keeping them engaged betweenvisits is hard and well, the
finances are always a challenge.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
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 (01:42):
They did.
They talked about potentially640 hours of client support a
month, which is, I mean, a hugecontrast to typical part-time
live care.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Which they put it around, what 80 hours.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Around 80 hours.
Yeah, so you can see thepotential difference in just
sheer contact time.
Even if it's virtual, it reallyhighlights the gaps it could
fill.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
It's about bridging those times when a human
caregiver isn't physically therefill.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
It's about bridging those times when a human
caregiver isn't physically there.
Precisely the core concept isthis always-on support system,
Offering that constant virtualpresence.
The idea is it strengthens thebond, keeps clients feeling
connected between visits.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Right and that they hope, leads to more loyalty,
more peace of mind for everyoneinvolved the client, the family.
It's adding that extra layer.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
A layer of consistent virtual support.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Okay, so that covers the retention and maybe the
added value side.
But what about these newrevenue streams and market
opportunities they mentioned?
That sounds key.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
It really does.
It seems like virtual carecould unlock well whole new
pipelines for clients.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
How so.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Well, the argument they make is that referral
sources think clinics, maybeother agencies, insurers, senior
living places they often haveway more leads for virtual care
needs.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
OK.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
They're estimating something like 10 to 20 times
more virtual leads compared topeople specifically looking for,
you know, hands-on live-in careright now.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Wow, 10 to 20 times.
That's a massive difference.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
It is and it suggests there's this huge pool of
potential clients out therewhose needs aren't being fully
met by the traditional modelsalone.
A big untapped opportunity.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
That kind of makes sense, though, doesn't it?
I mean, logically, there mustbe more people who could use
some level of remote support ormonitoring than those needing
full-time in-person careimmediately.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Exactly, it's a broader spectrum of need, and
they also talk about convertingmore leads from, say,
advertising.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Right, because not everyone who inquires is ready
for full home care.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Apparently not.
They quote a figure somethinglike only 6% of initial
inquiries are from peopleactually ready and able to
afford extensive live carestraight away.
Only 6%.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Huh of initial inquiries are from people
actually ready and able toafford extensive live care
straight away?
Only 6% Huh.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
So AddisonCare being cheaper could be that first step
, that more accessible option.
It might capture leads thatwould otherwise just fizzle out.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
So you cast a wider net, basically reach people who
aren't quite there yet for thefull package or maybe can't
afford it.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Precisely.
And then there's this othergroup.
They highlighted the familycaregivers.
That really caught my eye too.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah, the underserved market they called it, and the
numbers were pretty staggering.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Weren't they just Growing by 10 million in five
years, up to 53 million familycaregivers.
That's a huge number of people.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
And these are people juggling work, their own
families plus the stress ofcaring for someone.
It's intense.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
So intense and often you know they feel completely
overwhelmed, unsupported.
It's a tough gig.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
And maybe the traditional home care model
didn't always see them as theprimary customer.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
That's a good point, but ECG is positioning this
virtual care as like a lifelinefor them, offering some relief
oversight tools to help organizethings.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
And just that around the clock backup.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yeah, that safety net feeling, helping the caregiver
maybe avoid burnout while alsobenefiting the person needing
care Peace of mind all aroundpotentially.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Okay, this idea of scaling up using AI, you know,
without needing thousands morehuman caregivers, that's a
powerful concept.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
It is they use this really striking phrase deploying
thousands of income-generatingcaregivers overnight, without
the payroll costs.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Wow, that paints a picture, doesn't it?
Rapid scalability.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Absolutely Using AI means providers could, in theory
, reach way more homes than theyever could, just relying on
recruiting and managing humanstaff.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
And recruitment and management is a huge challenge,
especially with turnover.
They mentioned that too right,the turnover rates.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Up to 77% annually.
That's incredibly high.
Think about the disruption, thecost.
It's immense, it really is.
So the argument here is thatthe extra revenue from virtual
care could give providers morebreathing room financially.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
To maybe invest back into their human staff, like
better pay or benefits.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Potentially yeah, To help attract and keep good human
caregivers.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
So it's not necessarily framed as AI
replacing humans, but maybesupplementing them, supporting
the whole operation.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
That's an interesting angle.
And then they brought up the noliabilities point, which is
well quite a contrast to thehuman element.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
It is stark, isn't it ?
No-shows, deaf concerns,potential mistreatment,
background checks, all thosecomplexities that come with
managing a human workforce.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
The AI doesn't call in sick.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Exactly.
It's presented as a way toreduce risk.
The AI offers theoretically aperfectly consistent,
standardized service withoutthose human variables.
Operationally, that's appealing.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Okay, let's switch gears slightly.
Addison Aware this specificfeature using Wi-Fi sensing.
That sounds different.
No wearables needed.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Yeah, that's quite innovative.
The discreteness is a bigselling point.
It uses tech from a companycalled Cognitive Systems Right
and it essentially reads tinydisturbances in the home's
existing Wi-Fi signals to figureout movement and activity.
No cameras, no pendants,nothing for the person to wear
or actively use.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
So it just uses the Wi-Fi that's already there, like
turning the whole home into asensor.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Kind of yeah, it's passively monitoring activity
levels without being intrusive.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
And what sort of things can it tell you?
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Things like did mom get out of bed around her usual
time, or maybe she didn't get up?
It can track sleep patternsover the week, okay, and spot
significant changes in activityin key zones.
You know bedroom, living room,kitchen, bathroom, and
caregivers or family can seethis info.
Get alerts on an app.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
An iOS or Android app .
They said that's right, thatkind of non-intrusive awareness.
I can see how valuable thatcould be for families, just
knowing remotely that thingsseem okay or getting a heads up
if routines change.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Absolutely.
It's about that sense ofconnection, that oversight,
without making the person feelconstantly watched or, you know,
taking away their independence.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Being able to just check in on general activity
levels on demand.
That's got to offer some realreassurance, a huge amount.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
I'd imagine.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Okay, shifting focus again.
They also talked about PR,public relations, saying this AI
stuff can be a media magnet.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Right.
The idea is, if an agencyadopts this kind of cutting edge
tech, it makes them lookinnovative, forward thinking.
Get some notice Exactly.
Builds credibility, Attractsmedia attention, Especially now
with everyone focused on theaging population and the need
for better home care solutions.
It helps them stand out.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Makes sense.
Being an early adopter could bea real differentiator in a
crowded market.
They even suggested virtualcare is becoming the new
industry standard.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Yeah, that's bold.
It's a very strong claim andthe message behind it is pretty
clear Providers who don't get onboard with AI and digital tools
well, they risk getting leftbehind.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Losing market share.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, market erosion falling behind the competition,
they're saying this isn't justabout tech, it's about the
actual quality and scope ofservice you can offer and,
ultimately, your bottom line.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
And the final word on that was pretty blunt Go
Addison Care or lose relevancy.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Oof, yeah, no pulling punches there.
They're positioning it asalmost essential for survival,
for staying relevant in thefuture.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
So before we wrap up, maybe just a quick bit about
the company itself ElectronicCaregiver.
Just for context.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Sure ECG.
They started back in 2009,.
Based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, they bill themselves as a
digital health tech and servicescompany.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Focusing on aging and chronic illness care.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
That's their niche, yeah, and Addison, this AI
caregiver, is kind of theirflagship telehealth product, so
they've been in this space for awhile.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Not brand new to remote care then?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
No, not at all.
They talk about theirintegrated approach mixing,
monitoring, medication help,personalized support all focused
on the patient.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
And they mentioned partnerships too, didn't they?
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Big names, they did Samsung Intel AWS, which
suggests they're serious aboutthe tech side, about building
things that can scale.
They also provided theirwebsite and a sales number for
people wanting more info.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Okay, good to know.
So, wrapping this all up,AddisonCare really looks like a
significant move, pushing AImuch deeper into private duty
home care.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Yeah, it feels like a potential inflection point.
The benefits they outline forclients, families, providers
they target a lot of the bigpain points in the industry.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Continuous support, new ways to deliver care, new
revenue possibilities, maybeeven helping with staffing
issues.
It's a compelling packagethey're presenting.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
It definitely paints a picture of a different future
for home care.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
So for you, listening as you think about all this,
consider where this might leadTechnology getting more and more
involved in really personalareas like caregiving.
What possibilities does thatopen up?
What feels exciting?
Speaker 2 (10:33):
And, just as importantly, what questions does
it raise for you?
What are the considerations aswe blend human support with
artificial intelligence moreclosely?
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Yeah.
How might these technologiesevolve and what impact could
they have, maybe on your ownlife or the lives of people you
care about down the road?
Definitely something to mullover.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Food for thought.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Absolutely.
Thanks for joining us for thisdeep dive.
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