Evermind Technology Supports Independent Living
Necessity might be the mother of invention, but for Dave Gilbert, PhD, it was actually grandmother who made invention a necessity.
“I have a 96-year-old grandmother, Lois, who lives in McMinnville, Tenn.,” explained Gilbert. She’s a ‘heels and lipstick every day’ kind of lady who cherishes her independence, he said with a chuckle.
For Lois, wearing a bulky medical alert device was simply a non-starter. “She would not do it … will never do it,” Gilbert said. “We started looking for a way that would give us peace of mind and her peace of mind without being invasive or intrusive.”
While Lois might live alone, she’s certainly not alone … there are more than 11 million people over the age of 65 in the United States living independently. Additionally, more than 61 million individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities also live alone.
Evermind, which was formally founded in May 2012, employs cutting-edge wireless technology deployed through a simple plug receptacle to send alerts when there is a disruption in normal routine. “Evermind creates a connection to the rhythms of another’s daily life, giving assurance that they are safe and sound whether they live next door or a thousand miles away,” said Gilbert co-founder and CEO of the company.
“The product is very simple,” he continued. The system, Gilbert explained, includes three separate power sensors that are plugged into wall outlets, and then three common household items are plugged into them. “They can be anywhere in the house,” he noted, adding it’s actually good to choose three options that are used throughout the day … for example, a coffee maker, living room television, and bedside lamp.
Other items often used include a garage door opener, CPAP machine, or washing machine. However, Gilbert said the system works with any item that gets regular use. He added the company has clients who plug in curling irons, hairdryers, toaster ovens and crockpots.
The sensors are able to share data, and one has Verizon wireless network capabilities to transmit information to a caregiver either by text message or email. Gilbert added Evermind customers do not have to be Verizon subscribers to use the product.
“These routines, like making coffee in the mornings or watching a favorite television show before bedtime, serve as a way for loved ones to check-in and signal that everything is okay even when it is not possible to call or drop by,” he noted. Conversely, Gilbert continued, a change in normal routines could indicate a problem.
Caregivers, who also have access to a web dashboard, create alerts based on activity or inactivity. “You can create custom notifications,” Gilbert explained. “You very specifically can set up notices about aggregate appliances or individual ones.”
He added a caregiver might choose to be alerted if the coffeemaker isn’t on by 7:45 in the morning or if a lamp or television is used in the middle of the night. “You can set up as many combinations of different activity and inactivity notifications as you want. It’s about learning the habits and routine of your loved one and tailoring notification rules to those habits and routines,” he said.
The dashboard, he continued, is a powerful tool because it allows you to see patterns over time. “It’s a good conversation starter when you see something unusual,” he noted. One client was alerted that her autistic daughter with ADHD was watching television in the middle of the night. It only took a few questions for the mother to figure out her adult child was taking Ritalin too late in the day, which was keeping her from being able to sleep.
“On the other hand, when you know everything looks normal, you can just have a happy and pleasant conversation,” Gilbert added.
The affordable three-sensor system, which just became broadly available to the general public in August, costs $199 plus a monthly service fee of $29 for the data access. “There is no long-term contract,” Gilbert stressed.
While sales are currently online, he said the company is in the process of getting product in a number of durable medical equipment supply companies. Ultimately, the goal will be to ramp up production to the point where Evermind can service big box retailers, as well.
Gilbert, a former college professor in communications and technology in New York, returned home to Middle Tennessee several years ago to work for Griffin Technology, a major manufacturer of iPod, iPhone and iPad accessories. He and a number of colleagues at Griffin developed the Evermind technology over time and began seeking funding for the startup in 2011.
“We were accepted to the Jumpstart Foundry program in May of 2012,” he said. By the following year, Series A financing was secured. “We initially raised $1.8 million led by Tri-Star Technologies, Solidus and LaunchTN,” Gilbert said. He added his former boss, Paul Griffin, sits on the Evermind Board of Directors. The company is based in Nashville with product assembly in Tullahoma.
