LAS VEGAS – The final day of Medtrade Spring at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas culminated with the New Product Pavilion Providers’ Choice Awards, sponsored by HomeCare Magazine.

Attendees voted and the Gold Award went to Ageless Innovation’s Joy for All Companion Pets, from Ageless Innovation LLC. Tom Canterino (pictured right and below with Mark Lind, show director), co-founder and vice president of Business Development and B2B Sales, is shown here receiving his award on day three of Medtrade Spring 2020.

Medtrade Monday sat down with Canterino to learn about the company, its philosophy, and why attendees responded so favorably to the Joy for All Companion Pets.

Medtrade Monday: Please tell me about the origins of the company.
Tom Canterino, co-founder and vice president of Business Development and B2B Sales: In 2015, an innovation team was formed at Hasbro and given the unique challenge to leverage the company’s assets in new markets and new channels at scale.

Focusing on the health and wellness space, the team at Hasbro was convinced that creating engaging products that foster meaningful connections through play, joy, and happiness would have a positive impact. Fueling this new initiative was the insight that there was a void of products which bring fun and play to the older adult market and the belief that play knows no age limit. It was with that critical insight that the Joy for All brand was born.

In May of 2018, the Joy for All leadership team left Hasbro and founded Ageless Innovation, successfully executing a friendly spin-out acquisition of the Joy for All brand and business. Within Ageless Innovation the Joy for All brand continues to bring joy, fun, play, and comfort to the older adult market, with a focus on improving quality of life for aging loved ones, their families, and caregivers.

Medtrade Monday: Please describe the products and how they are meant to be marketed and used.
Canterino: Ageless Innovation is focused on creating products that foster meaningful connections through play, joy, and happiness—improving the quality of life among older adults, their families, and caregivers. Our Joy for All Companion Pets are lifelike, animatronic pets uniquely designed to provide meaningful experiences for aging loved ones and their families.

Developed with extensive input from older adults, Joy for All Companion pets look, sound, and feel like real pets—without the responsibilities of pet ownership. Built-in sensors allow the Companion Pets to respond to your presence and touch, and react to their environment, establishing a true two-way companionship between a pet and its owner and ultimately bringing comfort, joy, and fun to elder loved ones. There are currently three Companion Pet Cats, a Pup, and a kitten in the line.

Medtrade Monday: What was the reaction at Medtrade Spring?
Canterino: Overall, the show was great exposure for us and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to make very meaningful connections with the attendees on-site.

Medtrade Monday: What is the biggest misconception (if one exists) about your category of products?
Canterino: One of the biggest misconceptions of animatronic pets for seniors is that they’re just for fun. While they are most definitely fun, the Joy for All Companion Pets are proven to help improve feelings of loneliness, social isolation, and even have positive impact for those living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

Medtrade Monday: Why should DME providers consider carrying your product?
Canterino: DME providers should consider carrying our products because of our differentiated approach and nontraditional intervention for older adults who are living independently or in a community setting.

Medtrade Monday: What are your plans for the future of the company? Any plans to exhibit at Medtrade, scheduled for Nov. 2-4 in Atlanta?
Canterino: We are in the process of working through all upcoming plans for 2020 and beyond.

Medtrade Monday will take a closer look at the Silver and Bronze award winners in future issues.

• Philips Respironics Inc earned the Silver Award for the Philips Respironics Mask Selector.
• The Providers’ ChoiceBronze award went to the Let’s Move Rollatorfrom Trust Care by Stander.