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a16z Podcast | Tackling Senior Care with Help from Technology
13 segments available
It is something we all face -- the prospect of taking care of a parent (or two) when they can't quite take care of themselves. For Seth Sternberg, part of the founding team of messaging service Meebo (bought by Google) a trip in the car with his mother reinforced the inevitability of her aging. Today it was her driving, but soon how would she manage everything else? For Sternberg, the answer to that question lay in part with technology. How could technology be brought to bear so that his mother -- and other seniors -- might stay in their homes longer and live not just physically satisfying lives, but lives that addressed their emotional well-being as well? The founding Meebo team got back together to build that technology, the backbone of their new company Honor. In this segment of the pod Sternberg and co-founder Sandy Jen discuss how technology needs to disappear into a human experience -- becoming something that isn't about the shiny and new, and more about human interaction. Also, after such a successful run at Meebo why torture themselves with building some new? The answer is exactly what you would hope.
Segments Timeline
The Drive That Sparked a Solution
Seth Sternberg shares a pivotal moment during a drive with his mother that made him realize the challenges of aging. He reflects on the fear of having to tell her it was time to leave her home and the lack of good solutions available for seniors to remain independent. This experience ignited his passion for creating technology that supports seniors in their homes.
"welcome to the a 16z podcast on Michael Copeland and we are here in San Francisco in the world headquarters of honor with Seth Sternberg CEO and sandy Jen head of engineering one of the heads of engin..."
Reinventing In-Home Care
Sternberg discusses how Honor aims to reinvent in-home care for seniors by matching them with the right care professionals. He emphasizes the importance of technology in facilitating communication and ensuring quality care, allowing families to stay informed about their loved ones' well-being while empowering caregivers.
"found is that there are no good ways today to really help my mom stay in her home I'd be scared frankly that helped my mom I'm going to have my mom use the current set of services that are out there f..."
Technology as an Enabler
The conversation shifts to how technology should enhance human experiences rather than dominate them. Sternberg explains that Honor's approach focuses on creating peace of mind for families and seniors, ensuring that technology serves as a supportive tool in the caregiving process.
"providers today are 950 an hour when when you think about oh I don't want to have that conversation with my mom and you know your reaction is sort of like wow I'm gonna have to go search and find the ..."
The Three-Sided Marketplace
Sternberg describes Honor as a three-sided marketplace involving families, seniors, and care professionals. He highlights the need for a seamless experience for families seeking care for their loved ones, contrasting it with the overwhelming nature of traditional marketplaces.
"know these days in the valley you know there are ton of these service you know uber Montreal these sort of you know food delivery which is great but you know I think people see it more as an app or te..."
Removing the Burden of Care
The discussion continues with the challenges families face when seeking care for seniors. Sternberg shares personal anecdotes about the difficulties of navigating care options and emphasizes Honor's goal to alleviate that burden by providing expert guidance and support.
"it yeah it we we think of it as a three-sided marketplace in the sense that you have the families and then you have the seniors any of the care professionals right and so those are kind of the core co..."
Building Community and Engagement
Sternberg and Jen discuss the importance of community in senior care. They reflect on their experiences with Meebo and how fostering a sense of belonging and engagement among users can enhance the caregiving experience for both seniors and their families.
"can we make that as seamless as possible so you guys are part of the core team that started me Bo which was wildly popular messaging and kind of community service for people while the way we stood dar..."
Addressing Emotional Needs
The conversation shifts to the often-overlooked emotional and social needs of seniors. Sternberg emphasizes the importance of creating community connections and opportunities for social interaction to combat isolation among seniors.
"important for us and we're trying to sort of integrate that learning back into honor as well I think there's another big piece which is you know there's a lot of focus in today's world on the physical..."
Technology's Role in Senior Care
Sternberg and Jen discuss the challenges of integrating technology into the lives of seniors. They explore the need for technology to be user-friendly and non-invasive, ensuring that it enhances the caregiving experience without overwhelming seniors.
"absolutely this work for me or you know this was going on and here's how it all played out for me when it comes to technology we always think about tablets are better for older people because they're ..."
Creating Non-Invasive Solutions
The focus is on developing technology that respects seniors' autonomy while providing necessary support. Sternberg explains Honor's strategy to implement subtle, non-invasive technology that empowers seniors to participate actively in their care.
"maybe you can talk about this but you know technology in the home are we talking about a house bristling with sensors and so it knows your parent is there it knows that it's nighttime and you know the..."
The Motivation Behind Honor
Sternberg shares the motivation behind starting Honor after their success with Meebo. He emphasizes the desire to make a meaningful impact on people's lives and the importance of building a sustainable business that can continue to help others.
"interesting you know that is so I have to ask me beau you guys Google bot amiibo after time and you guys both went to Google mmm and spent some time at Google you guys had built something great like w..."
Identifying Opportunities in Senior Care
Jen discusses how the experience with Sternberg's mother led them to explore the senior care space. They recognize the lack of attention given to senior care issues and the potential for innovation in this area.
"fundamentally better Cindy when when Seth sort of got back from Connecticut with his driving experience with his mom okay let's do it let's go yeah you know it's interesting because helping seniors wa..."
Building a Diverse Team
Sternberg highlights the importance of assembling a diverse team with expertise in home care to address the challenges of senior care. He emphasizes that a successful team must include individuals with different backgrounds and experiences.
"and the awesome thing is that this you know when this works and if this works we can use this in world right so that's a great you know sort of feeling where you can create something that really lasts..."
The Impact of Honor
The segment concludes with a discussion on the potential impact of Honor on the lives of seniors and their families. Sternberg reflects on the personal connections people have with senior care and the urgency to provide effective solutions.
"you mentioned the the moment at me Bo when soldiers in Iraq were saying like we use be able to communicate with our fans that was you know one of the greatest things about me though as this goes and a..."