In Conversation with Ran Manor to Bring His Insights on Investing in Tech-Enabled Aging at Home

Investing in tech-enabled aging at home unlocks transformative potential to support older adults with dignity and safety. Rather than expanding institutional facilities, forward-thinking policymakers and providers are channeling resources into intelligent home-based solutions—ranging from discrete sensors that detect changes in mobility to AI-driven platforms that personalize daily wellness prompts.

These innovations empower seniors to remain in familiar surroundings, preserving social connections and emotional comfort while easing the burden on family caregivers. For investors and healthcare organizations, backing integrated technologies means not only improving quality of life for aging populations but also unlocking scalable models that reduce emergency hospital visits and streamline care coordination.

Strategic funding in this space accelerates the development of unified ecosystems—where remote monitoring, telehealth consultations, and smart home adaptations work in concert to anticipate needs before they arise.

By embracing a holistic, data-informed approach to aging in place, stakeholders can foster healthier communities, extend periods of independent living, and establish sustainable frameworks for long-term care—making tech-enabled aging at home both a compassionate choice and a sound investment.

To shed some light on the same, we interviewed a home care industry expert to bring his perspective on investing in tech-enabled aging at home.

Let us now delve into what he has to say about investing in tech-enabled aging at home:

Question 1: With your vast international experience in Israel, China, Europe, and North America, what regional trends or innovations in aging technology have impressed you the most—and how can they inspire global best practices?

After several decades of promises, I believe we are now finally at the cusp of a new global reality where people can actually age in place. The magic ingredient—AI—that was missing has finally arrived and by implementing intelligent innovative solutions correctly, most people will now be able to age in place like they want.

As the cost of healthcare skyrockets, most modern countries are realizing that the solution for helping older adults isn’t building more nursing homes but rather finding ways to keep people in their natural environments.

Tech and AI-powered systems can now effectively monitor the well-being of people at home and help them live a fuller, safer, better life. Having an intelligent AI monitor an aging parent also gives peace of mind to family members who often take on the caregiving burden.

Question 2: In your work with incubation models and startups, what are the top three factors that determine whether a senior care tech solution will succeed in the market?

A. It has to really work in a true realistic scenario and bring significant value to the users.

B. It has to address a holistic issue and not a niche problem that is part of a bigger more complex theme. Getting old is hard and complex and has many challenges. We can’t have fragmented solutions that don’t see or fit in the big picture.

C. Focus on benefit and utility. Seniors typically don’t buy tech solutions!

We confuse and lose older adults when we try to sell them the latest shiny gadget, app or device. Most older adults would benefit from and purchase the utility that can come with tech solutions but we shouldn’t try to sell them the tech itself. The focus should be on the benefit. We need to flip the narrative… For example:

• Don’t sell older adults a senior friendly tablet – Sell them a way to seamlessly communicate with their loved ones through video and participate in online exercise programs.
• Don’t sell older adults a GPS tracker – Sell them a simple way to find their way back home or call for assistance when they are lost.
• Don’t sell older adults sleep sensors or wearables – Sell them a service that discreetly oversees their well-being, gives them tips on how to live a healthier, better life and gives peace of mind to their families and loved ones.

  Explain to them that by utilizing such solutions, they can live at home longer and avoid nursing homes and hospitalization.

At ISSI-Aging, we focus on utility and sell tech as a service.

Question 3: What role do you see AI playing in the future of aging technology—and how can businesses responsibly implement it to ensure both innovation and ethical care delivery?

AI should (and will, very shortly) be used as a tool to make sense of all the health and safety-related data we have in our lives that does not get used today to improve our wellness, health and safety.

AI should stay invisible to the older adults and work behind the scenes for the benefit of the users. AI should not replace the family doctor or caregiver but rather be used to augment the service they provide.

Initially, AI will make mistakes, but that’s ok as long as we only use it to improve our current state. Slowly and surely, AI will get to know us and make better and better recommendations.

Question 4: From a strategic and investment standpoint, where do you see the greatest unmet needs in the aging and health-tech space today?

I see a big mismatch of how public funding gets used for older adult health. It is time we stop trying to fix or reverse aging… Aging is a normal part of life for those of us who are lucky enough to live long enough.

We should not strive to live forever but rather focus on our quality of life and use our healthcare dollars (public and private) to extend the period of time we can enjoy a healthy, active productive life.

Governments should divert most of the funding earmarked for aging to “Smart Aging” and spend resources on population health management and extending the time we can stay at home. Aging-in-place tech solutions will help make this a new reality and at some point, public funders will realize that this isn’t only a better option for the older adults but rather a cheaper, more cost effective approach for society as a whole.

Question 5: Having held senior positions across both business and technical roles, what advice would you give to emerging leaders trying to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation in the aging sector?

A few key messages:

• Make sure you have buy-in and real (tangible) support from senior management for innovation as a strategic thrust.
• Talk is cheap… Don’t do innovation theatre or measure vanity metrics. Focus on the desired outcomes. (Start with the end in mind).
• Think big and act small. It’s okay to take things one step at a time but you need a grand vision.
• Find the people in your organization that are eager and willing to put in the work to see a better future through innovation. Don’t try to change people – Change the reality with the help of the people that share your vision and others will slowly adapt to the new reality.

In Conclusion

As we conclude our conversation with Ran Manor, one message resonates: Smart Aging is not a futuristic ideal—it’s a pragmatic imperative. By reallocating resources from brick-and-mortar institutions to tech-enabled, home-based solutions, we honor seniors’ wish to age with dignity while crafting sustainable care ecosystems.

Ran’s blend of visionary strategy and hands-on expertise underscores that success lies in marrying innovation with real-world utility. Investing in seamless, AI-driven platforms and holistic service models today will ripple into healthier, more vibrant communities tomorrow.

It’s time for stakeholders collectively to champion Smart Aging—transforming policy, practice, and the promise of aging in place into reality.