Connected Living Launches New Platform, The Connected Living Network

QUINCY, Mass., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Connected Living, the leader in bridging seniors and technology, today announced the launch of its new and improved platform, the Connected Living Network (CLN). The CLN will vastly improve user experience as well as administrative data collection, offering a more complete and beneficial product to customers.

To avoid confusion amongst current users who are familiar with the program, users will only see small modifications such as: an increase in speed; a few cosmetic changes and updates to the Library content; and photo slideshow functions on the CLN.  Most of the changes happening for the CLN involve back end data collection and administrator functions.

"The Connected Living Network is valuable not only to the residents, but to the communities themselves, helping them stand out in the competitive senior living environment and connect with their residents," said Sarah Hoit, CEO and co-founder of Connected Living. "Senior communities need to be wired these days, and our product offers a complete solution."

The most important update to the CLN is the improved administrator panel. The administrator panel has been redesigned to a single interface for network management supporting content management, self-service report generation, profile builder configuration, survey configuration, calendar management, and access to the messaging tool.  The panel will be able to automatically upload resident lists when new communities adopt Connected Living, which will save them from having to manually enter residents.  The new reporting module allows the user to run various reports with specified criteria such as time range and communities. Connected Living Administrators can also create resident surveys and upload newsletters and calendars from the new panel.  

"We are very excited to have the new platform finally launch," said Ann-Marie Bland, senior vice president of marketing and product development. "Our team has been working hard on these improvements over the past several months, which will enhance the experience of all our members, and allow for the addition of great new features."

Connected Living has been implemented by some of the most recognized names in eldercare, including Brookdale, Benchmark, Emeritus, and Beacon Communities providing this unique approach to technology adoption in more than 150 senior communities across the country. After receiving two Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grants, Connected Living launched in more than 30 affordable elderly and disabled housing properties throughout Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta.

In each community, Connected Living provides residents with a simple web interface, along with personalized and group training from an "Ambassador" who helps to keep residents engaged and interested in getting online.  Using Connected Living, residents can create a personal profile, send e-mail, video-chat, share photos, and record old memories and life stories.  In addition to providing access to the CLN and installing assistive technologies like touch screen computers, large letter keyboards, and text-to-speech tools, Connected Living also enables users to engage online with their friends and families. This contact results in increased socialization, and a decreased sense of depression and isolation that sometimes occur in senior living communities.  Connected Living empowers seniors to become more independent and to better their lives through the use of modern technology.

About Connected Living

Founded in 2007, Connected Living is transforming the experience of aging and connecting families across generations by combining simplified technology with high-touch personal support.  The company is based in Quincy, Massachusetts.  More information can be found at www.connectedliving.com .

SOURCE Connected Living