Healthcare is improving, but not everyone shares in the benefits. We have an opportunity and an obligation to reach our most vulnerable populations.

Chronic disease now kills more people than infectious disease in the U.S. Societal factors, like the rising cost of care and America's aging population, will only exacerbate this problem in the future.

3 out of every 4 deaths in the U.S. are attributable to chronic disease.

U.S. Healthcare spending as a percent of GDP has more than doubled since 1990.

More than two-thirds of U.S. healthcare costs go to treating chronic disease.

As Baby Boomers age, the number of Americans 65 and older will explode.

Sources: Center for Disease Control, National Council on Aging, U.S. Administration on Aging, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Over the last few years, many excellent digital solutions for managing chronic diseases — diabetes, COPD, obesity, hypertension, mental illness — have become available to patients. However, most of them address only one or two chronic conditions.

Consequently, patients with co-morbidities and difficult life circumstances must stitch together their own solution. As medicine moves from treating the disease to treating the person, a platform that addresses the full complexity of needs would fill a major gap for this population.

However, the most vulnerable patients — the frail elderly and co-morbid — need a digital solution that can address multiple chronic diseases and treat the whole person.

For the frail elderly and co-morbid, the hurdles for developing new services and solutions are much higher than for other groups.

EFFICACY IS Harder to prove through research

Complexity NECESSITATES
more specialties and GREATER coordination

HEALTH OutcomeS are largely in the hands of the patients themselves

To help these patients and their caregivers, we need to get to know them and understand their problems.

Annie and Rosa

At 87, Annie is a kind and funny, while soft spoken; her smile is radiant. She is surrounded by a large and loving family, who visit her throughout the week to share in meals, laugh and help her with errands. Her daughter Rosa lovingly leads the charge in caring for her mother, she does all she can. Despite this support, Annie regularly experiences sadness and uncertainty that is difficult for her family to understand. For her, it’s something that’s hard to describe but often present, particularly in the morning.

Arthur and Craig

Arthur and Craig have experienced so much in life, lots of love and unfortunately lots of loss. Their experiences have helped them grow more resilient and optimistic, which keeps them afloat. Arthur is a born caregiver and a true advocate for his partner; his devotion to Craig’s health is both a labor of love and a thank you for Craig's own compassion and sacrifice. They trust each other implicitly. Craig, despite recently suffering a stroke, sees recovery on the horizon and looks forward to seeing his children and grandchildren more often.

Eve and Maya

Eve, 65, lives with her daughter and granddaughter in a 5th floor apartment in the Bronx. She spent her life caring for others, but now has a host of health problem including asthma and COPD that repeatedly send her to the ER or leave her stranded in her Apartment when the elevator breaks. One of her daughters, Maya loves her mother and is her strongest advocate. On behalf of her mother she takes on a healthcare system that has repeatedly shown indifference and negligence toward them. But they have their own issues, as Maya experiences frustration when Eve does not communicate how she is really feeling to the family. Eve understands the frustration, but as someone who’s been sick most of her life, she is simply sick and tired of talking about being sick and tired.

Angela and Melanie

Angela and Melanie are two incredibly strong women. As sisters, both struggling with Lupus, they rely on each other for physical, medical, and emotional support. Angela has struggled with Lupus for over 30 years and over 20 years ago, she lost her only child to the disease. To this day, she faces an unpredictable battle against Lupus that leaves her physically limited and emotionally weary. Now, she builds a happy life through family, by taking care of physical appearance, and by finding time to indulge in fashion, which she loves.

Sarah and Rene

Sarah is 98, and has lived longer than many of us ever will. She clings to her faith and her dear friend Rene as her only pillars of support in this late stage in life. She lives amongst the hustle and bustle of Tribeca in Manhattan, longing to go out simply to sit in the courtyard or visit a shop. But her age leaves her mostly confined to her apartment as professional caregivers buzz around the home, taking care of her. At 72, Rene takes pride in the way she helps Sarah even though there is no one there to take care of her.

Martha and Lisa

Martha and Lisa have a lively, fast talking, humorous mother and daughter relationship. Lisa, a stay at home mom, not only dedicates her time to taking care of her mother, but also manages the health of an elderly neighbor while still wanting to do more for her community. Martha prides herself on keeping up with her diabetes, memorizing her blood sugar levels from the previous day, and preserving pieces of her independence even as her health declines.

Leanne and Bethanny

Leanne loves her children, and even though she is in the midst of a particularly rough year with her health, she still worries constantly about them. At 85, she has seen a rapid and particularly frightening decline in 2016. Rare dual infections in her eyes almost left her blind while her COPD worsened significantly. Her usually lively and social lifestyle is now largely limited to her home; she just wants to go dancing again. Her loving and attentive daughter Bethanny celebrates her resilience, even as Leanne openly admits that she has in fact been depressed.

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