History and innovation meet senior living in United Church Homes community

In Marietta, Ohio, a city steeped in history, The Glenwood Community is setting a new precedent for the future of senior living with a groundbreaking Entrepreneur in Residence program. This innovative initiative brings entrepreneurs and cutting-edge technology directly to the heart of the community, providing both innovators and residents with a unique opportunity to collaborate, learn and shape the future of senior living. This community is part of United Church Homes (UCH), which has been committed to providing quality housing and services to older adults for more than 100 years. Today, UCH is the 19th largest multi-site, nonprofit senior living organization in the United States.

Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, The Glenwood Community has been a trusted home for older adults in the Mid-Ohio Valley for 25 years. Through this new program, it is also becoming a hub of innovation. Entrepreneurs are invited to live on campus for two to three weeks, immersing themselves in the daily lives of residents and gaining invaluable, real-world experience by testing their products and ideas.

Learning from one another

“The Entrepreneur in Residence program allows us to continuously innovate and bring fresh ideas to improve the lives of our aging population,” said Linda Dailey, Senior Executive Director of The Glenwood Community. “By inviting entrepreneurs to live alongside us, we create a collaborative environment where both residents and innovators can learn from one another.”

One such entreprenuer in residence is Dhaval Patel, founder of Lotus. Patel is an electrical engineer with 37 patents and a former division manager at Apple for iPhone, Watch, and AirPods.

He is currently developing a wearable ring that allows users to control their environment with infrared technology, offering an even greater level of independence to Glenwood’s residents.

Patel said he and his brother were both born with twisted knees, causing difficulty walking. He wanted to develop a technology that could help with simple household tasks such as turning on TVs, fans, lights and even controlling internet access. Spending time in the Glenwood community offered him feedback he couldn’t get any other way.

“This is human-centered design,” said Patel. “Living with the residents of Glenwood allowed me to listen to their stories, hear their pain points, and the feedback I got on the ring prototypes was immediate.” Patel said he became close with a resident named Walt, who loved the ring so much he continues to write to Patel asking for batteries to keep it going. “Hearing Walt express his excitement about the ring to other residents was especially rewarding.”

Calling it a game-changer, Patel said, “Lotus technology is usable by everybody, optimizing for disability first. We are thrilled with the advancements we’ve made in design and functionality through this human-centered first hand research.”

Actively shaping the future

Michael Hughes, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation and Innovation Officer at United Church Homes emphasized the broader implications of the program: “Our goal is to bring residents into the innovation process right from the start. By working together with entrepreneurs, we are creating a future where senior living communities aren’t just recipients of new technology — they are active participants in shaping it.”

In addition to the Entrepreneur in Residence program, Glenwood residents are testing the PingCares smartwatch, a wearable device that facilitates secure two-way communication with staff and provides health monitoring and interactive features. These efforts further demonstrate The Glenwood Community’s commitment to integrating advanced technology into resident life.

As the program expands, The Glenwood Community plans to host at least six entrepreneurs each year, continually introducing new ideas and innovations into the senior living experience. This initiative underscores the community’s mission to blend tradition with progress, enhancing the quality of life for older adults while fostering forward-thinking solutions.

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