JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With about 6.5 million seniors in Florida—equivalent to the population of nearly 20 states—the Department of Elder Affairs faces the challenge of serving a large and growing senior population.
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Michelle Branham, secretary of Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs, shared how the department supports seniors and caregivers across the state.
“We have to be nimble, flexible, innovative,” Branham said.
Technology plays a key role in meeting these demands.
“I became really immersed in health tech, aging tech, in what we call longevity tech, so ways that we can leverage technology,” Branham said.
One example is Bluetooth technology that monitors seniors’ safety, such as detecting falls, while protecting their privacy.
“You want to make sure that the guardrails we put around that technology are keeping up with the technology itself,” Branham said.
The department also supports practical technologies that assist caregivers physically, such as devices that help move seniors safely and easily. Additionally, Florida hosts Health Innovation Pitch Days, a “Shark Tank-style” event that brings startup companies from around the world to showcase new technologies that could benefit seniors.
“We bring in all of these vendors and folks that are startup companies and leveraging all the best technology from across the world to see what will help us,” Branham said.
At the same time, she emphasized the department’s focus on creating safeguards to protect seniors’ privacy and safety as new technologies are adopted.
The department’s efforts also include specialized support through the Florida Alzheimer Center of Excellence, which provides care navigators to guide families through the journey, Branham explained.
To watch the full interview with Branham, tune in to This Week in Jacksonville on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. We also spoke with former Florida House Speaker and governor candidate Paul Renner, as well as Daniel Davis, CEO of the JAX Chamber of Commerce, about growth in Jacksonville.