Henry Street Settlement

When Vladeck Cares NORC opened in 1994, it was the first Naturally Occurring Retirement Community in public housing, created to allow seniors to safely and independently age at home by providing case management and nursing services. Now, Vladeck Cares NORC is again at the forefront of innovation; it is the pilot site for an exciting partnership between Pace University and eCaring – a comprehensive in-home health care management system – that will use new technologies to address gaps in health care provision.

Vladeck Cares NORC clients and their caregivers have been randomly selected to receive six months of eCaring’s unique web-based health care management and monitoring system. The technology will track health care needs and compliance on the web in real time, relaying essential information to caregivers while clients remain at home. Graduate nursing students at Pace University will track data to assess the effect of the new technology on the health and well-being of members of the community.

Carmen Rondon, a participant in pilot group said, “It’s engaging and easy to use. I track what I do every day — from waking up to taking my medicine to going to zumba class. I can even share if I’m happy or sad – I enjoy it.”

“Organizations caring for older adults are facing shrinking budgets and expanding caseloads,” said Lin Drury, PhD, RN, and Associate Professor at Pace University’s Lienhard School of Nursing, adding that eCaring’s digital data capture and monitoring capabilities “will help Henry Street’s clients remain in their homes and will offer caregivers peace of mind.”

“This project is another way that Henry Street’s Vladeck Cares NORC program brings innovative services and solutions to the community,” said Janet Fischer, Henry Street Settlement’s Chief Administrator of Senior Services. “We’re really excited to be a part of such a cutting-edge program.”

This project is a part of PILOT Health Tech NYC, a partnership between New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Health 2.0, designed to increase the use of new technology in healthcare provision.