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Q&A with Geoff Gross, founder and CEO of Medical Guardian

Geoff Gross

Geoff Gross Jeff Wojtaszek

What are the crucial issues that need to be addressed for Pennsylvania to most effectively deal with its aging residents in the short- and long-term?

First, we must recognize that aging has changed. Today’s aging adults are active and engaged, working longer, volunteering, and continuing the lifestyles they love. They're aging in place, staying in their homes longer.

With that in mind, Pennsylvania needs to continue providing access to the tools, resources, and education to support aging adults and their caregivers at all stages. We must ensure equitable access to tech that promotes independence and better health outcomes while providing a safety net. I’m quite encouraged about these initiatives, as Governor Shapiro’s Aging Our Way PA plan outlines the key priorities to make this possible.

What are some of the ways you/your organization are working to make that happen?

Medical Guardian's mission is to help aging adults live a life without limits, providing them with protection anywhere so they can continue to actively participate in the community and do the things they love. We’ve improved medical alert devices, combining 24/7 support with the smallest and lightest devices to remove any stigma. Everything we design is based on feedback from our members, addressing the variety of lifestyles and needs of our aging population.

We’re partnering with local organizations that support aging adults, Medicaid, and Medicare plans to ensure that PA residents have access to wellness solutions and life-saving technology. Our new MGEngage360 service takes our collaborative support a step further into proactive care with wellness check-ins, dynamic fall risk scoring, benefit reminders, SDOH screenings, and preventive care education directly through the device. We've expanded our services to support aging adults along the continuum of care, from aging-in-place to community living.

What is your elevator pitch to explain just how important adapting and optimizing how older Pennsylvanians live is to improving the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians?

According to the U.S. News and World Report’s latest rankings, the top five places to retire in the U.S. are all in Pennsylvania! We have the fifth-highest population of aging adults in the country. Aging adults contribute to intergenerational relationships in our communities. They are an active workforce that supports our economy. They tend to be more engaged politically. Supporting our aging population enhances the quality of life for them and brings economic, social, and political benefits to the state. By investing in the well-being of older adults, Pennsylvania can create more resilient, inclusive, and dynamic communities.

Back to Special Report: Aging in PA