Podcast: Golden Thrive
You know, just the usual stuff.We're discussing technology and exploring innovative solutions to major challenges.ds intriguing.
What kind of problems are we talking about? We're gonna be focusing on an app called Golden Thrive.
Golden thrive
, yeah. And they're taking on this massive issue in assisted living facilities,
food wasted costs.
Yeah, I've heard a bit about that. How does an app help with that, though?
Well, golden thrive has this multi pronged approach.
Yeah
, but the real star is their use of freeze dried food.
Freeze dried food, like astronaut ice cream.
I know, right? How's my first thought too? But this is not your typical freeze dried food. We're talking cutting edge tech. They flash freeze the food and then remove all the moisture with a vacuum.
So it's really high tech.
Oh yeah, it locks in all the nutrients and the flavor.
But does it actually taste good?
That's the thing that got this whole water filtration system that goes with it, refers osmosis, charcoal filtering, even PH balancing.
Wow. So they're serious about the water too.
They're serious about everything. And get this, the food has a shelf life of up to 25 years.
25 years That's amazing,
right? So they're really tackling this whole astronaut food stigma.
Yeah, but is the idea to replace all meals in these facilities with freeze dried options?
It doesn't seem like it. They emphasize flexibility. Their info talks about this machine that can handle like 100 meals at once, but it can also make individual dishes on demand.
So they're not trying to force everyone to eat the same thing.
Definitely not. It's all about choice and get this. They claim their system can actually save facilities something like $40,000 every month.
$40,000. It's a bold claim. Where are these savings coming from?
They break it down into a few areas. Less staff needed because prep time is way shorter.
OK, that makes sense.
They say their meal plans massively cut down on food waste and buying it bowl probably else too.
That makes sense.
The $40,000 a month to really believe that we need to know how much these facilities are spending now. They do get some insight into that. They say labor is usually around 40 to 50% of food costs The food itself is another 30 to 40%. And then there's overhead, which is like 10 to 20%.
Wow, that's a huge chunk of their budget.
It is. So if gold and thrive can deliver on these savings, it could be a game changer.
Absolutely. There's definitely potential there. But we've been talking about the food. What about this app?
Ohh yeah, the app. This is where things get really interesting. It's like this all-in-one platform designed to make life better for residents in every way.
OK, now you've got my attention. What does it actually do?
Imagine. this residents can use it to watch movies
like a streaming service.
Yeah. Or they can engage in their favorite hobbies, even take on like horses to even have brain games specifically designed for seniors.
It's a great idea. Keeping residents mentally active is so important. Exactly. And it gets even better. They can use the app to connect with their families and friends shop online.
So it's like a lifeline to the outside world. It is. And there's even special content for folks dealing with dementia.
The dementia friendly features are so crucial. How do they work?
They don't go into a ton of detail, but they mention things like relaxing videos and activities that create a sense of calm.
It sounds like they're trying to be really comprehensive with this app, addressing a whole range of needs.
Yeah. And for the staff, the app streamlines communication, things like medication reminders, appointment notifications, arranging transportation.
That makes things so much easier at a busy assisted living facility.
There's even a training component for the staff. Horses and resources right in the app.
Wow. So they're really invested in their staff too.
It's not just about efficiency. It's about improving the entire experience for everyone
It's like they're using technology to create a more connected and supportive community.
Exactly. And they're even tackling the issue of residents needing to buy personal items. They have a built-in marketplace right in the app
that's sinking ahead. That must be a relief for families,
right? So how do they make all of this work financially?
Yeah, that's a good question. They're not just selling the app. They're selling a whole package of food, the equipment, the water filtration system, the support and training.
This is more of a partnership.
Yeah. And they're betting that the long term cost savings will make it a no brainer for facilities
Interesting. But those savings go beyond just food costs, right?
You got it. Reduced labor, improved resident health, increased resident satisfaction.
That's a lot to factor in. It's a bold strategy for sure.
It is. There's a lot of potential, but also a lot of questions.
Yeah. Like, how did they guarantee the quality and variety of the food? Can they really meet everyone's dietary needs?
Right. And what about the social aspect? Are we losing something by moving towards a more individualized, tech driven approach?
Those are important considerations. We need. to be careful not to get so caught up in the tech that we forget about the human side of things.
This golden thrive system really gives us a lot to think about.
It does. It raises some fundamental questions about the role of technology in our lives, especially as we age just scratched the surface here. I'm already fascinated.
Me too. I'm eager to dig deeper and see what other insights we can uncover. Let's move on and explore the details of this app
. Sounds good to me.
Alright, let's do it. OK, you know, digging deeper into this golden thrive app it's striking how much they emphasize personalization. It's like. they're trying to move away from that one size fits all approach that you see a lot in these facilities.
Yeah, exactly. And they're using some pretty sophisticated AI technology to do it. They talk about how their AI can analyze each resident's health data. So things like dietary restrictions, allergies, all of that, even their favorite foods.
Wow.
And then they use all that information to create these custom meal plans. It's pretty amazing. It's like having a personal chef and a nutritionist all in one that has to be a huge selling point for both residents and their families.
I think so. It takes all the guess. We're gonna meal planning, and it ensures that everyone is getting what they need and what they actually wanna eat Which brings us back to that issue of food waste. Because if people are actually enjoying their meals, they're more likely to eat everything on their plate.
Exactly.
And they've even got data to back that up.
They do. One of the facilities they work with said that personalized dining has been a game changer in terms of resident satisfaction. It gives residents a sense of choice and control over their meal, which is so important for maintaining dignity and independence, especially as you get older.
Absolutely. Those are key factors that we often overlook when we talk about senior care. It's not just about meeting those basic needs. It's about fostering a sense of well being.
Exactly And that leads us to what they call the beyond food aspect of their app. Remember, we talked about that dementia friendly content.
Yes, I'm curious to hear more about that.
It's an area where technology has so much potential, but it requires a very thoughtful approach. We need to make sure that technology is being used to support people with dementia, not to replace those essential human connections.
Right. Technology should enhance care that replaces the possibilities, though.
Think about using personalized music playlist or familiar images from a residence past. to evoke positive memories and emotions.
Thats such a powerful idea.
And then there are the cognitive benefits.
Oh yeah.
Interactive games and activities slow down cognitive decline. There's a lot of research out there about the benefits of cognitive stimulation for people with dementia. It's not just about keeping them entertained. It's about actively engaging their minds and golden thrive mentions using things like relaxing videos and activities that promote a sense of calm. But I'd love to know more about the research behind their approach.
Me too.
Whenever we're talking about using technology in such a sensitive area, we need to ask those tough questions. Is there real scientific backing for these clients?
Are they working with experts in dementia care?
Those are great points. We need. more information to really evaluate those dementia friendly features. But even beyond that, the whole idea of personalizing activities and entertainment is pretty amazing. Imagine a world where assisted living facilities could offer personalized movie recommendations.
Virtual book clubs,
online courses in subjects residents are passionate about
. It'd be like a streaming service for seniors,
but with a focus on lifelong learning and social connection.
I love that idea. I can picture a resident who loves history taking a virtual tour of ancient Rome, or someone who's a lifelong dinner joining an online community of crafters.
The possibilities are endless. And it's not just about individual interests. Think about the potential for connecting residents with shared interests, even if they can't participate in traditional social activities.
They can form online communities attend virtual events, even collaborate on creative projects together.
It's about creating those opportunities for engagement and connection that might otherwise be lost due to physical limitations or cognitive decline.
Speaking of connection, Golden Thrive has something they called Thrive Media based network built into the app.
A hub based network. What's that?
Think of it like a private social media platform, just for residents.
OK, so they can connect with each other, stay up to date on events and even communicate with staff.
Exactly.
It's all about fostering a sense of community and keeping everyone in the loop, but it goes beyond the facility too. The applet's residents stay connected with family and friends outside the facility.
That's so important for well being, maintaining those social connections.
Especially as we get older.
And for the staff, having that centralized communication platform, it could really stream- line things. Medication reminders, appointment scheduling, transportation.
It frees up staff time to focus on more personal aspects of care.
And then there's that staff training component we talked about, which is more than just teaching them how to use the technology, right?
It's about professional development They have a whole Library of courses and resources right in the end, covering everything from dementia care to communication skills. It's a serious commitment to staff education, which is a smart move investing in your staff like that. Improves the quality of care, reduces turnover. It shows you value and at all times
back to that holistic approach we are talking about. Golden thrive is thinking about the needs of everyone from. Residents to families and staff.
They're trying to create a system that benefits everyone.
It's an ambitious goal, but I'm starting to see how it all fits together.
It's like they're building an ecosystem where technology is the connective tissue.
It's not just about efficiency either. It's about enhancing human connection, promoting well-being, creating a better quality of life for seniors. But of course, with any new technology, there are potential downsides to consider. Like, how did they ensure the nutritional value at variety of can they really cater to everyone's dietary needs? And what about those social aspects?
These are all important questions to think about.
Technology has the potential to revolutionize senior care, but we need to be mindful of the potential trade offs and make sure we're not losing sight of what truly matters.
It's a fascinating dilemma.
We've covered a lot of ground here, and I feel like we're just getting started.
There's still so much to explore about golden thrive and the bigger picture of technology in senior care.
Let's continue this conversation in part 3 and see where it leads us. Sounds good to me. It's like we're in a crossroads, you know
, yeah, the crossroads for senior care.
There's this huge opportunity to use technology in such positive ways. We gotta be so careful not to lose sight of what really matters. The human element.
Exactly.
It's not about tech for tech sake,
right? It's about enhancing human connection.
And that's what I keep coming back to
. No matter how amazing these systems get, they can't replace a genuine smile or a listening ear. Those simple acts of kindness, especially for seniors who might be feeling isolated or vulnerable.
Technology can help.
Yeah.
Facilitate those connections,
but it can't be the source of them.
It's up to us to prioritize those human to human interactions,
especially as our population ages this whole. deep dive into golden thrive has really made me think they paint this picture of senior care. It's personalized efficient, but it raises questions, too, about the kind of future we want. Do we want a world where senior care is all automated tech driven or is there a way to find that balance where technology supports human care that replaces exactly how do we find that balance?
It starts with awareness, I think, awareness of being informed consumers,
right, critically evaluating these companies like Golden Thrive, asking tough questions, banding transparency, pushing back if something doesn't feel right.
We have to advocate for the care we want for cells and our loved ones. And that brings us back to you, the listener, whether you're a senior career. or just interested in this topic. This deep dive is a chance to start thinking critically about the role of technology in our lives. What are our values? Our priorities? What kind of care do we want for ourselves? For future generation?
Big questions.
No easy answers,
but important technology is going to keep evolving, and it's going to shape senior care in huge ways. We have to shape that evolution in a way that honors our seniors well being. So as we wrap up this deep dive into Golden Thrive, we'll leave you with this.
Technology can be powerful, but we have to use it wisely
. Let's create a future where technology and human compassion work together.
We're seniors can age with Grace and dignity,
where human connection is at the heart of it all.
Beautifully said. And on that note, time to sign off. Keep exploring.
Keep questioning. Keep diving
deep until next time.
See you in the next episode
