older adults
The Texas Healthy Aging & Technology Initiative at UTMB Health

Empowering older Texans to age at home safely and independently

About Texas Age-Tech

The Texas Age-Tech initiative is a collaborative research program at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health).

Welcome to Age-Tech, an initiative dedicated to empowering older Texans to age safely and independently in their homes. This collaborative research program is supported by a two-year, $5 million grant from the State of Texas. It aligns with UTMB President Dr. Jochen Reiser's vision for a "Healthy Aging and Technology Initiative within our institution, and the broader establishment of the research institute, to fund competitive and thoughtful grants, for the betterment of all Texans."

Our primary goal is to develop and implement intelligent, cost-effective home-based technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics, to support older adults and their caregivers in "aging in place."
Dr Morrow presents at OLLI

Contact Us

Texas Age-Tech at UTMB Health
Sealy Center on Aging (SCOA)
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-0177
Directions and Maps
Phone: (409) 747-0008
Email: aging.research@utmb.edu

 UTMB Pepper Center
 Sealy Center on Aging

News & Updates

The Challenge: Supporting Aging in Place

Barriers to Aging in Place - Age Tech

Most older adults wish to remain in their homes as they age, but several factors can hinder this independence:

  • Mental Health and Cognition: Conditions like dementia, depression, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and post-stroke effects can pose significant challenges. 
  • Mobility and Physical Function: Difficulties with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), falls, fractures, and vision problems can limit independence. 
  • Social Connection: Loneliness, distress, living alone, and communication challenges with caregivers can impact well-being and the ability to age in place. 
  • Multimorbidity: Managing multiple health conditions, medications, and geriatric syndromes (e.g., frailty, incontinence) often complicates independent living. 
  • Acute and Chronic Medical Illness: Hospitalizations and short-term rehabilitation periods represent vulnerable times that make staying at home more challenging. 
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While advanced technology could address many of these needs, existing solutions are often underutilized, and there's a clear demand for new innovations to manage care at home. A unified, strategic approach is essential to integrate these technologies effectively. 

Our Vision and Approach

Our vision is to empower older Texans to live independently, safely, and with enhanced well-being in their homes through the innovative application of intelligent technology. 

We focus on identifying and addressing current gaps in technology utilization. Our strategy involves establishing a centralized infrastructure to quickly deploy high-impact, user-centered solutions. This effort leverages UTMB's extensive transdisciplinary expertise, national leadership in rehabilitation, geriatric clinical care, and aging research. We also draw on the robust resources of the Sealy Center on Aging and the National Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, incorporating valuable insights from older adults in the community. We are mindful of varying familiarity and desire for technology use among older adults and caregivers, with a primary regional focus on the UTMB health system footprint. 

Old Red Ashbel Smith building on UTMB Health campus

Why UTMB Health is Leading This Initiative 

UTMB Health is uniquely positioned to lead the Texas Age-Tech initiative, building on a strong foundation of excellence and extensive experience in aging clinical care and research. The recently established AI Center and Center for Health and Clinical Outcomes Research offer additional capabilities to support our mission. 

Key Campus Partners 

Leadership Team

An Advisory and Executive Committee is being formed. Our current Executive Committee members include: 

Our SolutionsTechnology Focus Areas

We are developing solutions across several critical areas: 

Health Trajectory and Trend Prediction

Analyzing health data to predict cognitive and physical decline, identify critical health events, and develop interventions to mitigate risks.

Social Isolation

Enhancing connectivity to combat loneliness and mental illness, fostering a stronger sense of community among older adults and caregivers. 

Physical Function & Mobility

Developing solutions to improve mobility and prevent falls, recognizing their impact on physical, mental, and emotional health. 

Medication Management

Creating tools to improve adherence and ensure effective medication use, addressing challenges from poor cognition and multimorbidity. 

Innovative Infrastructure for Development and Testing 

Instrumented Home

A dedicated test area for rigorously evaluating proposed solutions and devices with our team and intended end-users before deployment. 

WEARhouse

A comprehensive repository of wearable sensors, software, and specialized expertise for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting biometric data to inform technological advancements. 
older adult couple at home

Community EngagementA User-Centered Approach

Community engagement is fundamental to the Texas Age-Tech initiative, ensuring our solutions truly meet the needs of older adults. We are committed to a user-centered design and community-based participatory approach, meaning the voices and experiences of the community and key stakeholders directly guide our strategic planning and technology deployment. UTMB has strong connections in aging communities across Galveston and Southeast Texas, and we actively invite participation from older adults, their families, caregivers, and community organizations. This input is crucial for developing technology that is effective, practical, desirable, and seamlessly integrated into daily life. 

Stay tuned for opportunities to participate! Join the Community Connection to stay informed about research news, community education, and volunteer opportunities. 

Last updated: November 5, 2025