If I start with the least expensive system, can I add features later?
Absolutely. You might want to start with the basic communication package and then add telehealth features as they are needed. You will not have to change any equipment either. It is all upward compatible.
Top of General FAQs
My parent's income is fixed. Will GrandCare keep their monthly prices the same or will they increase them each year?
There is no absolute guarantee that the monthly cost for the GrandCare software updates will be the same forever. However, we can tell you that GrandCare knows their buyers and is aware that the majority of their clients may be on fixed budgets. The company and infrastructure to support the systems has already been heavily invested in and built with the intent to be able to keep the costs where they are for quite some time. Unless there is some unforeseen legislation or circumstances that dramatically prohibit GrandCare to provide the services they are contracted to do with the dealers and clients nothing should change.
Top of General FAQs
My mother/father wears Life Alert/Life Care "button" around her/his neck. Is this the similar? How is it different? Will she still need to have the Life Alert system?
Yes, GrandCare does provide similar "functionality", similar initiating items and alerting capabilities. However, there are differences that require clarification. Life alert and similar devices are sold as a PERS system (Personal Emergency Response System). There are many types of these devices now available for families to purchase. GrandCare is a communication, health wellness and governing (monitoring) system, not a crisis management system. A PERS company has a staffed contact center 24 hours a day 7 days a week so as to be able to respond to any personal emergency. Additionally, most PERS systems also have the ability to "listen in" to a home with a microphone in the case of emergency. This "listen in" functionality is similar to some home security and automation systems. GrandCare does not offer this "listen in" ability nor do they employ a staffed contact center. A PERS is a welcome and complementary add-on to any GrandCare System. GrandCare offers more personalized features than a traditional PERS system, but does so without any written or implied guarantee to the PERS response and experience.
Top of General FAQs
Is there a GrandCare person who monitors the alerts that are sent from a system?
No person at GrandCare or their affiliates, including the dealer, will be monitoring your alerts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Some caregivers may choose to do this. Typically, it is the family, caregiver or a close neighbor that is designated as the primary responder. The primary responder is the person designated to respond to any of the personalized alerts generated by your GrandCare system.
Top of General FAQs
Can the GrandCare System sense if a burner has been left on?
GrandCare does have temperature sensors that could be set in the area near the burner to detect the temperature rise that could indicate a burner has been left on. However, we recommend that you and Cybermation field test these sensors thoroughly for this application. Since they are generic temperature sensors, the location, temperature alerting values and rules need to be coordinated to minimize false positive alerts. GrandCare is, however, looking into these types of sensors for future implementation.
Top of General FAQs
Are any parts of the GrandCare System tax deductible?
Neither GrandCare nor Cybermation is a professional that can determine what items are tax deductible and what ones are not. If a doctor recommends an off the shelf device that integrates into a GrandCare system then it may be tax deductible. The total system may also be subject to the 7% medical expense minimum on an individual's return or even available for other federal or state credits. However, this is a tax advisors decision and we tend to think this decision will most likely involve a doctor recommendation or prescription. We recommend you talk to your tax advisors, attorneys and doctors before you deduct anything. Please remember that you are not buying GrandCare for a tax deduction; its value is so more than that!
Top of General FAQs
Can multiple caregivers use GrandCare?
Of course! Each family will be issued a username and password to log onto the GrandCare website. The entire family can add notes, pictures & calendar events to their loved one's TouchScreen HomeBase. The caregivers can also simultaneously monitor the various sensors placed around the home. All of this can be done simultaneously from multiple locations from anywhere in the world!
Top of Caregiver FAQs
Can multiple caregivers alternate who is "on call" for alerts?
Yes. The GrandCare website has an easy form for specifying the phone numbers/email addresses that GrandCare will contact and in what order. If the first person on the list does not acknowledge the call then the GrandCare system will contact the next person on the list.
Top of Caregiver FAQs
What if I don't answer GrandCare's Alert Call?
When GrandCare Systems makes a call, the receiver has to push "1" to confirm the phone call. This feature can distinguish answering machines from a live person on the other end. If the call is not confirmed, GrandCare Systems will call each additional number in the order submitted by the caregiver.
Top of Caregiver FAQs
Can I choose how I want to be alerted by GrandCare Systems?
Yes. You can choose to be alerted by telephone, cell phone, email or all of the above. Change these options at any time by logging into the GrandCare website and clicking on options.
Top of Caregiver FAQs
Does my parent need a high speed internet connection?
Yes and no. You will need a full time internet connection, but it does not really have to be that fast. Some of our current customers use a dialup connection so you can find the most economical connection available.
Top of Caregiver FAQs
Does my mother have to be living at home to use GrandCare?
No. GrandCare can work almost anywhere as long as your mother has a private telephone line and an internet connection. She can live in her own home, apartment, condo, in an independent living facility, in a group home or in an assisted living facility.
Top of Caregiver FAQs
Since there may be several people set up in a callout list, is there a way for a person on the list to indicate that they have received the alert and will handle it?
Good question. First of all, all persons in a callout list are called when an alert is generated. So initially everyone will be notified. Now in getting back to your question, YES, there is a way to minimize the confusion. When any rule is written to generate an alert there is an option in the setup that asks "do you want to create a managed alert". When the rule is violated and the alert action is initiated, the managed alert is shown on the dashboard. The dashboard is the first landing page of the website after log in. All managed alerts are red in color until checked by an authorized user. These managed alerts can be seen by anyone responding to the alert with a quick log into the website. The person who is responding can acknowledge the managed alert. When acknowledged, the managed alert will then change to green in color. Any other persons responding would be able to log in and see the managed alert has been acknowledged. This will help minimize confusion rather quickly.
Top of Caregiver FAQs
How can I ensure that the system doesn't unncessarily generate a lot of false alerts that wake people up in the middle of the night?
This is one of the reasons why GrandCare only sells to factory trained dealers. The installation and placement of the sensors will be the critical factor in minimizing false positive alerts at any time of day or night. However, as we all know, no electronic system is forever error free. Your dealer is taught how to thoroughly test the system and the communication of the devices when it is installed. Keep in mind that your relationship with the dealer does not end after the installation is done. There should be follow ups after the installation has been completed. As you and the caregivers adjust the rules or if the needs of your loved one changes, it is advised that you consult every so often with the dealer. The residence assessment, field testing and understanding of the care plan need to converge and always be synergistic and understood by all parties involved. This is the primary reason why we do not advise that interested clients wait long before having a system installed at the point where there is a rush, crisis or panic. GrandCare works best when a "holistic" proactive care approach is taken.
Top of Caregiver FAQs
The system will amass a lot of very personal data. How can I be sure that someone driving down the road can't pick up the signals and "steal" the data?
GrandCare is a proprietary system and has built in security mechanisms that use a combination of mathematical algorithms, timing and encryption schemes to keep the data "disguised" to anything outside of the system.The wireless sensors use multiple types of technology. The wellness devices use Bluetooth technology. This is used commonly in wireless earpieces for cellular phones and to enable hands free driving in vehicles. Bluetooth uses a "pairing" and a security key exchange when the devices are initially synchronized with each other. This process ensures that the devices will only talk to each other when transmitting and receiving data. The governing or "monitoring" devices use a wireless technology called z-wave. These devices operate and send signals on selected frequency ranges and have a similar pairing process to that of Bluetooth.
Top of Private Data Protection FAQs
Will GrandCare or Cybermation use my name, address and personal data to sell to other companies?
This is a common question and we understand your concern. There are many federal and state laws that are in place to protect and compensate you if we were to do this. Rest assured, GrandCare and Cybermation are not in the business to sell any clients information. They are in business to sell their products and services. They value you as a client and are grateful that you have chosen to trust them with your health management needs. They will not sell your information.
Top of Private Data Protection FAQs
