Lifestyle and overall health are big drivers in aging well, and you can always make changes to improve your experience! Check out these six things you can start doing today for healthy aging: Healthy Eating + Hydration Eating a fresh, healthy diet while limiting processed food and staying hydrated are essential for your health and disease prevention. Healthy foods and hydration not only improve your health, but can also improve your mood and energy levels. Sleep If you are 65+ you need between 7-8 hours of sleep. If you’re not getting quality sleep this could affect your mood, memory, weight, immunity heart disease or even shorten your life expectancy. If you nap, do so before pm, exercise early and start a bedtime routine to wind down and limit screen time 30 minutes before bed. Exercise Regular exercise and stretching can improve your balance and keep your body strong and limber which can help prevent falls by 21%. You don’t have to run a marathon to see the benefits. A couple days of exercise per week can also benefit people with heart disease, help brain health, boost your mood, arthritis, diabetes and chronic conditions. Preventative Care There are many preventative screenings that can help you live longer so that you can focus on enjoying life. The good news is, Medicare covers preventive screenings in full! We broke down a few key screenings here:https://vricares.com/preventative-screenings-by-age-gender/ Social Relationships Loneliness can have a devastating effect on your mental health as well as your physical health. Keep connected with neighbors, engage in the community with volunteer work or community centers, use technology to keep in contact or play games. Support System Your support system should include loved ones and tools to make it easier to maintain your health, like emergency response systems. Learn more about VRI’s connected solutions here: https://vricares.com/how-it-works-signal/ 6Tips_AgingDownload

Strokes are the No. 2 cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of disability. Getting someone to the hospital within three hours of symptoms gives them the best chance for treatment and recovery, so it is important to know the warning signs. Just remember to FAST: Face Dropping When you smile, does one side of your face drop? Arm Weakness Try lifting both arms, does one drift downward? Slurred Speech Recite a simple phrase, does the speech sound different that itnormally does? Time to Call 9-1-1 If you’re seeing these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1 Strokes-TipSheetDownload

If you are a caregiver, you know providing support can be both rewarding and exhausting. Caring for people can cause compassion fatigue by creating stress and trauma. It is important to know the signs of building compassion fatigue and steps you can take to combat it. Signs of Compassion Fatigue: Loss of empathy Feelings of burnout and numbnessHeadaches, nausea or dizziness Difficulty concentrating or making decisionsFeeling detached or self-isolation Self-blame or dwelling on thoughtsIncrease, anger, irritability, sadness or anxiety Tips to Combat Compassion Fatigue: Try to get some exercise or walk each day Schedule out breaksStay connected with friends or loved ones Talk to a therapist or join a support groupMake sleep a priority Continue doing activities you enjoy Learn More: Here are 2 great resources you can visit for more resources if you’re feeling compassion fatigue and need some guidance:http://www.compassionfatigue.org/http://www.healthycaregiving.com/ CombattingCompassionFatigueDownload

With the hot, summer months upon us, it is important to not only stay cool, but also stay hydrated and about 20% should come from your food alone! Staying hydrated helps rid your body of waste, helps regulate body temp, lubricates joints, and protects tissue. Here is a quick guide to help you stay hydrated and avoid dehydrating foods and drinks. Hydrating: Drinks – Water, milk, fruit infused water, sportsdrinks with electrolytes, 100% fruit juice(low sugar), coconut water, caffeine-freetea, milk alternatives (soy, coconut,almond). Foods – Watermelon, spinach, tomatoes,strawberries, bell peppers, radishes,pineapple, cucumber, grapefruit, iceberglettuce. Dehydrating: Drinks – Avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks such asalcohol, coffee, teas, soda, hot cocoa,lemonade, sweet tea, energy drinks,flavored milk, smoothies (excess sugar). Foods – Avoid salty, processed foods like,dehydrated meats, breads, pancakes,waffles, canned foods, soy sauce, highprotein meats, fast food. Hydration-Tip-SheetDownload

5 Tips on Discussing Decisions with Family Caregiving is a huge task alone, and coordinating those efforts with other loved ones and family members can be complicated. Here are 5 tips to try to help you navigate these types of meetings to help them be less stressful and more productive: ATTENDANCE CALL! Family can mean a different thing for each person, but this meetingshould include everyone who would be part of the Caregiver teamand the decision making. This could also change based on the topici.e., if the topic is finances, this may only include immediate family.Agree ahead of time with the group who should be involved ininfluencing which topic. PREPPING YOUR COMMUNICATION Before your meeting, prepare an agenda and distribute it to all whowill be attending the meeting so that everyone can gather theirthoughts prior to the discussion. You can also make thecommunication more convenient for all involved by offering flexiblemeeting options, like video calls, conference calls, or meetingrecordings. MEETING SUCCESS Host meetings in a safe, neutral place for the entire group. Thisallows each participant to contribute easier and feel involved in thecare coordination planning. FAMILY DYNAMICS + CHALLENGES Family dynamics can be complicated. Remind all participants of thegoal of the meeting, refrain from bringing up off-topic subjectmatters, and include a neutral mediator as necessary. WRAPPING UP Make sure everyone is aligned before you finish the meeting byreviewing decisions, action items, owners, and deadlines. Then, sendout a recap to the group so everyone can reference the same list. FamilyDecisionTipsDownload

There are many preventative screenings that can help you live longer so that you can focus on enjoying life. The good news is, Medicare covers all costs of screenings that it considers preventative! We broke down a few gender specific screenings in a quick guide for you to download. PreventiveScreenings_VRI-1Download

While people of all ages can fall victim to scams, seniors are often targeted and lose more than $3 billion per year in fraudulent scams. Watch and listen for these red flags to help protect yourself and loved ones: WIRE TRANSFERS Wire transfer requests are often made as funds are instant and harder to pull back. If a wire transfer is being requested, ask yourself: -Do I know the recipient? -Am I confident I owe the money? -Should I run this by someone else? DEMANDS FOR SECRECY Scammers will often pressure you by creating fear and demanding you keep the transaction a secret from your loved ones. While they may try to persuade you that it is for your benefit, there is no reason that an official agency would tell you not to share information with your support team. GIFT CARD PURCHASES Fraudulent requests often include gift cards as they are harder to trace or recover than funds that are transferred or wired. If someone is requesting several, high dollar gift cards, stop! Legitimate companies will never request gift cards as payment. HIGH PRESSURE CONVERSATIONS Scams usually include a sense of urgency to prevent you from talking to your support team. If someone is demanding funds immediately, pause, talk to your support team, and ensure the request is legitimate. TOO-GOOD-TO-BE-TRUE OFFERS If an offer is too good to be true, it is probably is just that. If someone is offering to overpay for something if you wire them a portion back, if they promise an exceptionally high return on your investment, etc. – talk to someone you trust to see if they think it might be a scam! Real companies will not ask for payment to give you a prize. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES + UTILITY COMPANIES Someone calling posing as person collecting for the IRS, social security, the bank, or utilities companies. If you get a call requesting money from one of these institutions tell them you can call them back. Proceed to call the company with it’s public phone number and ask them if they have called requesting money. FAMILY OR ROMANTIC IMPOSTERS Is a family member or loved one acting out of character? Some scammers will pose as loved ones or romantic interests with claims that they urgently need money for visas, medical emergencies, or to visit. When loved ones act out of character, ask other loved ones if their story is accurate before sending funds. COMPUTER TECH SUPPORT Your computer will not send you a pop up ad with a support number to call. However, these ads can appear. Often, they will be directed to someone who requires money for a fix that you did not need in the first place. Do not call or click these links. People lose an average of $500 per “support call”. 8Flags_Fraud-1Download

The Need. VRI partnered with a National Health Plan to help address their challenge of driving memberaction to close gaps following their standard population-wide outreach. VRI’s Approach. VRI developed a comprehensive outreach program using our E3 dynamic messaging solution.Leveraging VRI’s Care Center, a team trained in creating meaningful interactions, and the power of connected technology, VRI sought to drive regular engagement, deliver population-wide education and member specific messaging, and empower gap closure behavior over afour month period. The Results. Following the four month period, VRI demonstrated the ability to connect, deliver messagingat a high rate, and significantly impact member behavior vs. a control group. Action: 36% more members took gap-closing actionsGaps: 40% more gaps were closedColorectal: 80% more colorectal exam gaps were closedBreast Cancer: 56% more breast cancer screening gaps were closed Summary. Gaps in care represent opportunities for members to receive important care, but driving action can be challenging. Through our partnership with a National Health Plan, VRI demonstrated ourability to successfully engage members, providing important education, and ultimately empowersignificantly more action by members. Download the Study Fill out the form below for a download of VRI’s Gap Closure -Screenings study. Name* First Last Email* CompanyTitle

NEW YORK – March 22, 2021 – MobileHelp®, a leader in mobile Personal Emergency Response Systems (mPERS) and healthcare technology, and VRI®, a leader in remote monitoring and client engagement solutions, today shared the Medical Alert Monitoring Association’s (MAMA) webinar on “Executing the 4G Transition,” designed to help businesses as they navigate the upcoming network migration. Presented in a panel-style discussion featuring Rob Flippo, CEO of MobileHelp, and Jason Anderson, CEO of VRI, and moderated by MAMA President Daniel Oppenheim, CEO, Affiliated Monitoring, the webinar provided insights and industry information to prepare for a 4G future. The actionable tips, real-world advice, and boots-on-the-ground perspectives from Mr. Flippo and Mr. Anderson included the following:  What the 3G sunset means for businesses;What to expect from the major network carriers;Best practices for a smooth network transition process; andStrategies and options for uninterrupted connectivity. “Our extensive experience through the process of multiple network migrations – from 2G to 3G and now 3G to 4G – has given us a framework for success that we wanted to share with industry executives who are planning now to navigate this challenge,” said Mr. Flippo. “Jason and I combined our collective experience to create the substance for this webinar, with real-life examples and tips for a seamless transition to ensure devices remain connected.” “VRI is proud to share what we have learned from our proactive approach to the 3G to 4G transition so leaders throughout the industry can mitigate the risk to vulnerable populations,” said Mr. Anderson. ### About MobileHelp: MobileHelp is a leading provider of mobile Personal Emergency Response Systems (mPERS) and health management solutions. MobileHelp mPERS devices are integrated with nationwide wireless voice, data and GPS technology to provide real-time medical alert monitoring services and expedited personal emergency assistance. In addition, MobileHelp offers proactive health management services through its healthcare division, Clear Arch Health. For more information about MobileHelp, please call 1-800-989-9863 or visit the company website at www.MobileHelp.com.  About VRI: VRI is an industry leading provider of remote monitoring solutions with a comprehensive suite of connected technologies, including emergency response systems, vitals monitoring devices, and medication management units. VRI partners with health plans and care partners to drive positive outcomes, including the reduction of health plan costs, closure of gaps in care, improvement of health plan quality initiatives, and more through a high touch engagement model. For more information, visit https://vricares.com/

The Need. VRI partnered with a National Health Plan to help address their challenge of driving member action to close gaps following their standard population-wide outreach. VRI’s Approach. VRI developed a comprehensive outreach program using our E3 dynamic messaging solution. Leveraging VRI’s Care Center, a team trained in creating meaningful interactions, and the power of personal emergency response system (PERS) connection, VRI sought to drive regular engagement, deliver population-wide education and member specific messaging, and empower gap closure behavior over a four month period. The Results. Following the four month period, VRI demonstrated the ability to connect, deliver messaging at a high rate, and significantly impact member behavior. Message Delivery: 85% of all messages corresponding to open gaps delivered to membersLikelihood to Act: Members who received gap messaging were 3x more likely to close gapsGap Action: Members who received gap messaging closed 5x more gaps than those who did notGap Closure: 41% of gaps were closed by members that they received messaging for Summary. Gaps in care represent opportunities for members to receive important care, but driving action can be challenging. Through our partnership with a National Health Plan, VRI demonstrated the ability to partner to overcome key challenges regarding open gaps by successfully engaging with members, providing important education, and empowering action by members. Download the Study Fill out the form below for a download of VRI’s Gap Closure study. Name* First Last Email* CompanyTitle

THE NEED. VRI partnered with a National Health Plan to help the Medicaid population with multiple diagnoses including diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension. The main objective was to reduce readmissions through disease management. VRI’S APPROACH. VRI customized a comprehensive program based on the provider’s protocols and goals of reducing admissions and readmissions through disease management. VRI managed all vitals monitoring including a vitals trained stage triage to increase engagement and education while scaling our efforts for early vitals checks. Daily engagement and education were completely customized based on the individual conditions of the members and we provided quick escalation to providers as needed. THE RESULTS. The results were amazing. We had a 3:1 ROI, reduced admissions by over half and reduced diabetes related readmissions by two thirds! SUMMARY. The data and results from this program proved to provide a huge impact. With a ROI of 3:1 in the programs first year, 58% reduction in admission and 64% reduction in diabetes readmissions, this program showed just how valuable VRI’s engaging program’s work truly was. When members are being heard and educated, they are then able to be empowered to take their health seriously and, in turn, helping to drive amazing outcomes for health plans. Download the Study Fill out the form below for a download of VRI’s Comorbidities study. Name* First Last Email* CompanyTitle

THE NEED. There is a growing need for asthma compliance, particularly for those 18 years and younger. We partnered with a National Health Plan with the goal of increasing medication compliance and reduce costs in managed Medicaid population with Asthma. VRI’s APPROACH. VRI developed an extensive program for daily monitoring of controller and rescue medication usage using connected sensors. We combined that with a 24×7 nurse triage for those out of compliance to oversee, assist and educate members on their medication regimen. With 24×7 vitals monitoring, this meant we were able to monitor, sense and remind those out of compliance before it became an emergency. THE RESULTS. The results exceeded our expectations. We had a huge improvement with rescue inhaler use and an even larger jump in well controlled asthma over the program’s duration. SUMMARY. The dramatic results of this program and study proved to have an enormous impact. With an 69% improvement in rescue inhaler use by day 90 and 84% of members being well controlled over the program duration, this not only cut the costs of the National Health Plan by keeping members out of the hospital, but it also saved lives by lowering Emergency Department visits. By providing 24×7 care and increasing engagement, members felt more empowered to comply and manage their health on their own, thus driving great outcomes for the health plan. Download the Study Fill out the form below for a download of VRI’s Asthma study. Name* First Last Email* CompanyTitle

THE NEED. VRI partnered with a National Health Plan to help address their challenge of hospitalizations for members with heart conditions by implementing a program that engages clients in improving their condition, mitigates the risk for hospitalization, and reduced overall spend. VRI’S APPROACH. VRI developed a comprehensive vitals monitoring program to engage members in daily health management and early escalation with providers for identified risks. As a part of that program, VRI managed all operational logistics for vitals monitoring enrollment, education, and engagement to scale our efforts for early vitals checks. This included a vitals trained staff triage to manage our daily engagement and readings, as well as member education based on their individual conditions. We provided daily engagement and readings with quick escalation to providers as needed. THE RESULTS. The results and data were dramatic with hospital admissions down by over half and down a 1/3 in Emergency Department Visits. VRI not only increased the positive perception of the plan, but got almost a perfect score on program satisfaction. SUMMARY. The overall results to this program and study demonstrated timely and meaningful impact. With hospital admissions down by 55%, and Emergency Department visits down 32%, VRI not only significantly decreased costs to the National Health Plan but also increased member retention and satisfaction. This approach proved to not only save lives and educate members but also drive positive outcomes for the health plan. Download the Study Fill out the form below for a download of VRI’s Heart Failure study. Name* First Last Email* CompanyTitle

In over 2 million annual interactions, VRI has learned that there is more to the story than what claims data can tell you about a member. What happens in between incidents matters, and that is why VRI developed E3: Engage, Educate, and Empower, our solution to solve healthcare’s biggest challenges. What We Know Our team provides meaningful technology to members, world-class service to create trust, and delivers dynamic messaging to drive positive outcomes. Through this approach, VRI delivers start to finish service programs that help health plans meet and exceed key goals. In a program designed to impact gap closure, quality scores, and member satisfaction, VRI was able to deliver: The Results Education Engagement 82% of all members received at least one education message Dynamic Messages 60% of all member specific gap messages were delivered to participates Super Users 34% of all members engaged in every month of the program Increased Satisfaction 40+ NPS increase over the health plan baseline Download the Study Fill out the form below for a download of VRI’s Engagement study. Name* First Last Email* CompanyTitle

Nearly 200,000 people are injured in their bathrooms annually, and one of activities most likely to cause injury is getting in and out of the bathtub. Seniors are often at the highest risk for bathroom injuries, but these tips can help reduce risks. Prevent falls with these 4 tips:1. Place no-slip strips or mats in the bottom of your shower.2. Install safety handles in the tub or shower and by the toilet to make getting up and down easier.3. Keep a no-slip rug or bathmat beside the bathtub or shower to avoid falls.4. Vision issues increase your fall risk, so make sure you have bright lighting that’s easy to reach. In addition to preventing falls, it is important to have support quickly when you need it. Consider resources, like VRI’s water resistant emergency response pendants, to connect you to assistance at the press of a button. 4 Tips for Bath Safety PDFDownload

Conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health and quality-of life-risks and outcomes are social determinants of health (SDoH). Understanding the likelihood of negative SDoH factors may impact the approach to which individuals, providers, and health plans approach care, which is why VRI has invested in a deeper understanding of these factors with our members and partners. With a mission to provide remote patient monitoring to save lives and preserve independence for people in need and the caregivers who support them, VRI is leveraging our SDoH data analysis to drive further towards our goal.In our ongoing studies across several months and thousands of members, VRI examined the prevalence of unmet social needs within a representative Medicare PERS population. In speaking with nearly 3,500 unique individuals, we found that 21% had an unmet social need, but determining the likelihood of an existing need or the type of need was correlated to several factors.Chronic ConditionsAs decades of research have found, there is a significant correlation between SDoH factors and chronic conditions. In our own study, VRI found that that clients who have greater than 1 chronic disease are 30% more likely to also have an unmet SDOH need. Clients with greater than 2 chronic diseases are 33% more likely to have an unmet SDOH need.AgeIn our study, age was correlated to several SDoH needs, but it was often the younger group who needed resources. Clients with unmet food needs were, on average, 6 years younger than clients who were secure in their access to food. Clients who lack transportation were, on average, 2 years younger than those who have consistent access to transportation. Conversely, clients who have trouble accessing medical care were, on average, 3 years older than clients who are secure in their access to medical care.Risk ScoreFinally, VRI used our study to examine and refine our propriety risk score. This scoring system is based on our experience with engagement over time, and it is used as a concise indicator of potential need for health plans and case management team partners. In our research, VRI found that the VRI risk score correlates not only with the number of unmet social needs a client identifies but that a higher risk score correlates with an increase likelihood of unmet needs. A client with a VRI Risk Score greater than 1 is 36% more likely to have an unmet SDoH need than clients with the minimum risk score. Clients with a VRI Risk Score greater than 2 are 215% more likely to identify as having an unmet SDOH need. Download the Study Fill out the form below for a download of VRI’s SDoH study. Name* First Last Email* CompanyTitle

If you haven’t heard by now, social isolation is taking it’s toll on not only the elderly, but people of all ages. There is a higher rate of anxiety and depression now more than ever. We have complied a list of fun things we can all do to stay connected and wanted to share some ideas with you. DRIVE-IN MOVIES You may have seen these starting to pop up again during COVID so do a quick google search to see if there is one close to you! We’ve also been seeing people projecting movies onto a building wall and gathering at a safe distance. Don’t forget the candy! DIGITAL DINNER Agree on a set dinner time and invite your friends or family to eat with you. This can be a great time to catch up especially with those who live alone. WEEKLY GAME NIGHT Everyone agree on a game and go around playing via Zoom! BOOK CLUB Keep your mind sharp! Meet every week online to discuss a book of choice. WINE TASTING Everyone orders the same bottles of wine and have one person lead the tasting. Don’t drink? Try different brands of Root Beer! STAY FIT Connect your fitness tracker of choice and challenge some friends to a step or fitness competition TRIVIA NIGHT One person leads the questions and everyone writes down their answers. Need a cash prize? Say hello to our friend, Venmo! Download

Did you know that nearly 37 million Americans live with a chronic lung disease like asthma and COPD, emphysema and chronic bronchitis? That is why it is so important to stay active, breath deep, toss those cigarettes and remember to laugh! We’ve all heard that laughter is the best medicine and in lung health, it’s true! Laughter helps to get rid of stale air so that more oxygen can enter. Not only that, but, it release peptides that lower stress and help with pain management. At VRI, we’re here to help, even if that help is to tell you a funny joke. Toss the cigarettes: Over time cigarette smoke destroys lung tissue and may trigger changes that grow into cancer. If you smoke, it’s never too late to benefit from quitting. Minimize exposure to pollution: Secondhand smoke, chemicals in the home and workplace, and radon all can cause or worsen lung disease. Make your home and car smoke free. Test your home for radon. Avoid exercising outdoors on bad air days. Stay Active: Aerobic exercise provides the best workout for your lungs. The more you exercise, the more efficient your lungs become. Creating strong, healthy lungs through exercise helps you to better resist aging and disease. Even if you do develop lung disease down the road, exercise helps to slow the progression and keeps you active longer.Breathe deep into your diaphragm: Deep breathing helps clear the lungs and creates a full oxygen exchange. Breathing exercises can make your lungs more efficient. As you inhale count 1-2-3-4. Then as you exhale, count 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8. Shallow breaths come from the chest, and deeper breaths come from the belly, where your diaphragm sits. Be aware of your belly rising and falling as you practice. When you do these exercises, you may also find you feel less stressed and more relaxed.Prevent infections: A cold or other respiratory infection can sometimes become very serious. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Avoids crowds during the cold and flu season and remember to get your flu vaccine every year!Sit up tall: Since the lungs are soft structures, they only take up the room that you make for them. Lean back slightly in a stable chair, lift your chest and open the front of your body as you breathe deeply.Stay hydrated: Getting enough water is as important for the lungs as it is for the rest of the body. Staying well hydrated helps keep the mucosal linings in the lungs thin. This thinner lining helps the lungs function better.Laugh!: Laughter helps to get rid of stale air so that more oxygen can enter. Not only that, but, it release peptides that lower stress and help with pain management. Download VRI’s Repiratory Care Tips Here

As we welcome the warmer weather of summer, it is important to make sure you are taking extra precautions to avoid the downsides of increased temperatures. Establish good air. Whether you enjoy some air-conditioning, use your ceiling fans, or open windows to allow for air circulation, make sure your home has good air flow to keep you cool. Minimize the sun. Heat from the sun can increase quickly. Use your shades to block light into your home during the day, and minimize the amount of time you need to be outside when the sun is out. Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is always important, and it is an essential component to staying cool. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Stay active safely. Continuing to stay active is important – but do it in a safe way! Take part in indoor, air-conditioned activities, keep activities to the coolest parts of the day, or try our local pools to stay fit and cool. Watch for warning signs. Heat exhaustion signs include fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and headaches. If you begin to see these signs, get help! Contact a friend, neighbor, or press your personal emergency response button to connect to VRI so that you can get help. Download VRI’s tip guide here.

No one wants to relinquish their independence. As we age, the challenges to maintain it do as well. Luckily, there are a few things we can do to help preserve our independence: Staying fit.  Exercise can help improve balance, keep your bones strong, and prevent many health conditions that could compromise your independence. Ask your physician what activities might be right for you to stay fit and active. Staying balanced.  Falls can be detrimental to health and confidence when it comes to independence. Working on building your balance can help prevent falls form happening. Talk to a physical therapist about activities you can do to help build your balance. Removing hazards.  Many homes have several fall hazards that are easily removed. Consider evaluating your space and removing items like throw rugs, loose carpets, clutter, and cords to prevent falls. Staying engaged.  Independence is more enjoyable when you engage with people you care about. This can not only keep you sharp as a tack, but it can enhance your happiness. Whether it is a regular volunteer opportunity or visits with friends and family, keep up the conversations. Asking for help. Independence can change over time, and that’s ok! Sometimes, preserving independence means asking for help. Build out your support network with friends, family, and even organizations like VRI who provide emergency support and reminder calls to help keep you independent. Download VRI’s Tip Sheet here.