HomeFree Systems Successfully Completes the new ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management Standard Certification

5 June 2007

HomeFree Launches 1^st GPS Program for Eldercare Monitoring in University Research Study

HomeFree Inc, a global provider of monitoring solutions for the eldercare market, today announces its first GPS tracking program for eldercare monitoring in a study jointly run by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Heidelberg.

HomeFree is participating in the study entitled, "The Use of Advanced Tracking Technologies for Analysis of Mobility in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Cognitive Disorders", which received a five-year, $1.9 million grant from the German-Israeli Project Cooperation (DIP) program committee, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research and the German Aerospace Center. One of the aspects that the research will assess is the impact of advanced tracking technology on the quality of life of dementia patients and caregivers, as well as its potential as a diagnostic tool.

Noam Shoval, Professor of geography at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and one of the principle investigators for the project commended, "We are very excited to use HomeFree equipment for this project. Instead of having to create our own system for the study, we found everything we needed ready on the market and supplied by HomeFree".

HomeFree's President, Guy Lerner said, "We are proud to take part in another academic study and glad we were able to provide the system that was required for the project. We will extend the researchers our support and technology expertise. We look forward to receiving operational feedback that is bound to enable us to further tune our systems to the eldercare monitoring markets needs".

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1 February 2007

HomeFree Reports Step-Up Deals

HomeFree Inc, a global provider of monitoring solutions for the eldercare market, today announces two new agreements to provide monitoring systems to a US government retirement Home in Washington DC and a long term care facility located in New York State.

The Armed Forces Retirement Home complex in Washington DC, housing some 1500 US veteran residents will be installed with HomeFree’s wandering and nurse call solutions. The New York facility will implement HomeFree’s full suite of monitoring solutions, including wandering notifications through the patented “Personal Watcher”, a nurse call system, staff duress call buttons, and fall detection alerts.

Tim Cox, Chief Operating Officer of the Armed Forces Retirement Home said: “We chose HomeFree's wander alert and nurse call solutions for their ability to provide safety and dignity to our aging residents. The advantage of the HomeFree system is that it allows us to extend assistance and attentive care to our residents in real time and prevent potential wandering occurrences. I trust the HomeFree solution will prove a worthwhile investment for the facility’s management and our cherished residents.”

HomeFree's President, Guy Lerner said, “I am pleased to see the progress we are making with these large scope contracts and proud to add the Armed Forces veterans home to our customer base”. Lerner added, “We have seen the scale of HomeFree’s initial deals advancing systematically over the past years and expect to continue our focus on larger facilities and multiple-facility management firms.”

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8 February 2006

Large Scale Deal for HomeFree

HomeFree Inc, a global provider of monitoring solutions for the eldercare market, today reports a new 5-year supply contract between HomeFree’s Canadian distributor, Verity Systems Inc. and Interior Health (IH), a public health agency of British Columbia, Canada. The new contract follows last year selection and successful implementation of HomeFree staff-safety system in a number of the agency’s mental health facilities.

Following a stringent evaluation process, IH has now designated HomeFree as the agency’s technology vendor for the entire range of resident and staff monitoring solutions. IH’s regional network covers some 200 facilities of various types across British Colombia. HomeFree patient monitoring solutions comprise a range of fixed and mobile personal monitoring devices that are continuously monitored through a network of interior and exterior monitoring units, keeping staff informed of residents status at all times.

HomeFree's President Guy Lerner said, “We welcome this second contract award by Interior Health, which opens up new opportunities for HomeFree with the agency. This milestone contract marks a step up in the scope of HomeFree operations. We expect to see more deals of such larger scale as we adhere to our strategy of effectively growing customer and install base by securing contracts with multi-facility management firms.”

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06 December 2005

HomeFree Selected to Exhibit at White House Conference on Aging

HomeFree Inc., a global provider of wireless monitoring solutions for the long-term care market, was selected by the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) to exhibit its technology at this year's White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA). This national US event is empowered by the older Americans act amendments of November 2000. The conference takes place once a decade to make aging policy recommendations to the President and Congress, and to assist the public and private sectors in promoting dignity, health, independence and economic security of current and future generations of older persons.

The 2005 White House Conference on Aging occurs as the first wave of the baby boom generation prepares for retirement, creating an important opportunity to creatively reassess aging in America and focus on the lives of older Americans. The conference will be held under the theme: “The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action”.

HomeFree will be showcasing its comprehensive monitoring platform for senior housing facilities, which encompasses wander and fall management, nurse call and staff safety solutions. HomeFree will also present a residential monitoring solution, designed to report on general environmental parameters as well as vital signs. HomeFree's home remote monitoring solution is intended to support independent living of aging people in their home environment, while securing their well-being and safety.

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18 October 2005

HomeFree's Wanderer Monitoring Platform Selected by US EBY/Bickford Senior Living Group; Will Be Installed In All Groups' Facilities

HomeFree Inc., a global provider of wireless monitoring solutions for the long-term care market, today announces an agreement to provide monitoring technology to EBY/Bickford Senior Living Group, a US operator of long-term care facilities.

HomeFree's wandering alert systems will replace passive door monitoring solution presently in use in all 31 existing group's facilities, as well as in 5 new senior residences now being built. The monitoring platform set supports future expansion of the system to accommodate additional solutions such as portable or fixed nurse call devices, fall management and staff safety.

The deal was concluded through HomeFree's largest US distributor, Direct Supply Inc., a long-term care direct sales specialist. Direct Supply offers the entire range of HomeFree's monitoring solutions to its wide US client base since the distribution agreement between the two companies began in 2002. (www.directsupply.net)

"We are very pleased to cooperate with HomeFree" said Alan Fairbanks, Senior Vice President of Operations, Eby/Bickford Senior Living Group (www.eby.com) "HomeFree's technology offering extends us key operational advantages that improve overall resident care and security. These include the single monitoring platform concept, watch style design of resident transmitters, multiple security levels and efficient behavioral reports."

HomeFree's President, Guy Lerner said, "We are pleased HomeFree's monitoring platform met EBY group stringent care standards. We look forward to implementing our wanderer monitoring solution across Bickford Senior Living Group's network of facilities and supporting the group during its planned expansion."

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10 May 2005

Canadian British Columbia Health Agency Selects HomeFree's
Monitoring Platform

HomeFree system designated standard as the Staff Duress System for all Mental Health Units / Facilities within a publicly funded Provincial
Health Authority

HomeFree Inc., a global provider of wireless monitoring solutions for the long-term care market, today announces its selection as the standard provider of staff safety monitoring solutions to a Canadian public health agency, Interior Health (IH). HomeFree Inc. has now successfully adapted this technology to meet the staff safety needs within mental health facilities.

IH of British Columbia awarded HomeFree a long-term, 3 to 5 year contract to provide staff duress monitoring systems to its various public health facilities, and is currently in the process of trialling the system to determine if it will become the standard for resident safety monitoring in residential care facilities. HomeFree's systems will be distributed in British Columbia through Verity Systems.

Further to successful evaluation of a pilot installation earlier this year, HomeFree's solution is now available for all of IH's mental health facilities. By standardizing to one supplier, IH intends to ensure that the system will provide the reliability and effectiveness required of a staff duress monitoring system and capitalize on costs due to economies of scale. IH administrates some 125 public health centres with mental health units/facilities. HomeFree's monitoring systems were reported by IH officials to have been selected for their ability to meet the functional requirements of mental health facilities, their wireless communication features and outstanding references.

HomeFree's President, Guy Lerner said, "The selection of HomeFree's monitoring solutions by a public health administration of Interior Health's scale exemplifies the applicability of the Company's systems across a range of facility types. We are very pleased to have been able to present a range of solutions that meet IH's expectations and look forward to successful implementation of additional systems across the region's public health facilities over the contract's duration."

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18 April 2005

HomeFree Wireless Monitoring Technology Patented
New patent key to HomeFree's next generation solutions

HomeFree Inc., a global provider of wireless monitoring solutions for the senior housing and elderly care markets, today announces that its wireless monitoring technology has been patented by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The patent (US6853304), titled "Monitoring Device", is for an electronic monitoring device that combines movement, activity and physiological reading in a single secured wrist worn watch. The patent protects key innovations that will enable HomeFree to offer wireless, continuous and active monitoring capabilities with the appearance, dimensions and functionality of a common wristwatch.

This monitoring technology is especially suitable for monitoring persons suffering from cognitive disorders or otherwise requiring continuous supervision for their own safety. The technology and design elements in this system fundamentally strike a balance between patient safety and independence in a way that does not socially or psychologically alienate the patient.

"This patent provides intellectual property protection to our next generation solutions, solidifying HomeFree's position as a global leader in electronic monitoring technology for the elderly care market," said Guy Lerner, President of HomeFree.

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24 February 2005

HomeFree's Monitoring Platform Selected by US Tealwood Care Centers

4 systems will be installed in Minnesota sites

Milwaukee, USA, February 24, 2005: HomeFree Inc., a global provider of wireless monitoring solutions for the senior housing and elederly care markets today announces it chosen to provide monitoring technology to Tealwood Care Centers (TCC), a US operator of long-term care facilities.

Minnesota based Tealwood Care Centers, which operates some 40 facilities in a number of US states, ordered four HomeFree Elite systems to be installed in four of its newly built facilities. The Elite systems combine patient identification, wandering notifications and nurse call modules over a single platform.

President of Tealwood Care Centers, Mr. Howard A. Groff said: "We have selected to install Home Free systems as we believe they will meet without compromise the decision criteria that we established when we set out to select a resident monitoring system. The systems are required to provide us with the whereabouts of all residents, must be easy to operate by all caregivers, provide 24/7/365 functionality, a reliable backup system and enhance the safety of our residents. Moreover, we needed the flexibility to expand into adjoining nursing facilities either now or in the future. In addition to meeting these criteria, we found that HomeFree's systems will also provide us with any required modifications to existing hardware based on new needs being identified."

Dmatek, HomeFree's parent company CEO, Yoav Reisman said, "We are pleased with the selection of HomeFree as Tealwood Care Centers technology partner and look forward to continuing the mutual work and supporting TCC in implementing our technology solutions throughout their chain of facilities. Multi-site deals fit well within our strategy of engaging corporate level customers, and TCC's endorsement demonstrates the applicability of HomeFree' s offering to the marketplace."

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20 October, 2004

HomeFree Technology Selected for Intel and Alzheimer's Association Funded Research Project

University of Rochester to research how technology can improve the lives of dementia patients using technology from HomeFree and General Electric

Milwaukee, USA, October 20, 2004: HomeFree Inc., a global provider of wireless monitoring solutions for the senior housing and homecare markets today announces that its technology has been selected for use in a research project at the University of Rochester's Center for Future Health.

The program is sponsored by the Everyday Technologies for Alzheimer Care (ETAC) Consortium, which was founded last year by Intel and the Alzheimer's Association. ETAC sponsors research programs which focus on exploring how technology can be used to improve the daily living of Dementia patients, ease caretaker anxiety and reduce the costs associated with institutional care.

The purpose of the new study is to explore how wireless sensor monitoring technologies can report on a patient's daily home life. The first stage of the study involves testing the technology provided by both HomeFree Systems and General Electric Research in the smart medical home located at the university. Once calibrated, the wireless technology will be installed inside the homes of patients who volunteer to take part in the study, where further testing will take place over a period of three years.

Adrian Leibovici, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry who will direct the study, says: "...the main reason families place a demented patient in a nursing home, is not the loss of cognitive skills. It's the symptoms of dementia...Developing new ways to help such patients is crucial for them as well as their caregivers."

The ETAC programme recognizes that as the population ages, the elderly community will constitute an increasingly appropriate market for monitoring technologies. "Today, 70 percent of the 4.5 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease live at home where family and friends provide most of their care," says William Thies, Ph.D., vice president for medical and scientific affairs at the Alzheimer's Association. Thies adds: "Where we can keep people in independent living, we can save a tremendous amount of money for the health care system."

HomeFree's President, Guy Lerner said, "We are proud to take part in this pioneering study. HomeFree offers a unique solution that is tailored to the needs of dementia patients, with the ability to identify and monitor the patient in his home environment. This project, we believe, could open the door for broad implementation of active monitoring solutions with aging populations".

The Alzheimer's Association full press release, ETAC information and
website: http://www.alz.org/Research/Funded/2004/04USA_Leibovici.asp

http://www.alz.org/Research/RGP/ETAC.asp

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16 December, 2002

HomeFree Systems Successfully Completes the new ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management Standard Certification



HomeFree systems has completed a comprehensive update of its ISO 9001 quality certification, meeting all the requirements set by the ISO 9001:2000 international quality management standard.

The ISO 9001:2000 quality management standard will become mandatory to ISO certified organizations in December 2003, replacing the old ISO 9001 created in 1994.

Dmatek, HomeFree Systems' parent company is also ISO 9001:2000 certified, after adopting the new standard and assimilating its guidelines into its operations.

HomeFree's Chairman, Yoav Reisman stated: "We lend great importance to quality practices and regard qualitative processes as one of the key foundations of a successful company. We attempt to maximise the use of quality based guidelines in our on-going operations to create added value to our customers, business partners, investors and employees alike."

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04 March, 2003

HomeFree Enters a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Tyco Safety Products Europe

HomeFree Systems today announces a strategic cooperation agreement with Tyco Safety Products, to offer HomeFree's electronic monitoring systems as an integral part of Tyco's offering into long-term care facilities. HomeFree's resident monitoring solution will provide Tyco's "Medicall 800" nurse call system wandering prevention capabilities.

HomeFree's Chairman, Yoav Reisman said, "I am delighted that Tyco Safety Products, a company with very broad market access has chosen to work with HomeFree. Their interest vindicates the need for our solutions in the marketplace. Tyco's capabilities in promoting our products across Europe are a considerable advantage to us"

HomeFree's wireless family of solutions is designed to monitor residents in long-term care facilities, particularly those suffering from Dementia, who tend to wander. HomeFree's systems will be offered to all Tyco Safety Products European marketing hubs as an integral part of Tyco's care communications range and were introduced to Tyco's pan-European sales and support corps at their annual conference in Zurich last week.

One of the features that make HomeFree's systems so attractive is the new watch style personal electronic tag, which was developed on the basis of specific market feedback. This new "Personal Watcher™", which will also be offered to HomeFree's existing clients, is much lighter and more comfortable to wear than the previous version and acts as a conventional watch, making it far more acceptable to patients.

Mr. Leo Van Den Braken, Purchasing Manager of Tyco Safety Products European Distribution Centre commented "Today we finalized the negotiations and came to a supply agreement in the continent of Europe for HomeFree products. We look forward to do business with HomeFree on a long-term basis. I am confident that with our mutual marketing and logistics effort HomeFree's product range will be a success in Europe."

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16 December, 2002

HomeFree Systems Successfully Completes the new ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management Standard Certification



HomeFree systems has completed a comprehensive update of its ISO 9001 quality certification, meeting all the requirements set by the ISO 9001:2000 international quality management standard.

The ISO 9001:2000 quality management standard will become mandatory to ISO certified organizations in December 2003, replacing the old ISO 9001 created in 1994.

Dmatek, HomeFree Systems' parent company is also ISO 9001:2000 certified, after adopting the new standard and assimilating its guidelines into its operations.

HomeFree's Chairman, Yoav Reisman stated: "We lend great importance to quality practices and regard qualitative processes as one of the key foundations of a successful company. We attempt to maximise the use of quality based guidelines in our on-going operations to create added value to our customers, business partners, investors and employees alike."

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9 July, 2002

West London Trials of HomeFree Technology to Start Soon

Dr. Frank Miskelly, Consultant Physician at London's Charing Cross Hospital and Chairman of the New Technology Section British Geriatrics Society has successfully tested the HomeFree System on the wards at his hospital. In conjunction with Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham Social Services he is soon to commence a large study in West London using the equipment with elderly people living in local residential homes and at home in the community. Dr. Miskelly advises that numerous groups working with confused older people have expressed considerable interest in the research.

The need for wandering control systems arises from a number of key actors - the ever increasing costs of long-term care; shortage of hospital beds; and the desire of both families and patients to preserve their dignity and independence for as long as possible within their communities. Wandering is the most common implication of dementia, which causes severe disorientation. Alzheimer's disease is responsible for some 50% of the dementia cases. The rest of the dementia cases are attributed to various other neuro-degenerative illnesses.

HomeFree product offering includes a home monitoring unit, providing essential support for families, who care for a dementia patient, in their own home. The systems enable families to keep their loved one at home, living relatively independently for longer periods. The home product comes as a stand-alone device, or can be supported by a remote monitoring center. The company's care centers product targets long-term care, medical institutions and other facilities that engage in dementia patients housing, treatment and therapies. The systems offer a wireless solution, dividing premises into virtual zones, giving staff prompt alerts including patients ID, area or specific exit location, ensuring residents safety along with freedom of movement without disrupting the centers' routine.

Alzheimer's & Dementia Prevalence & Costs in the UK
The Health Policy Review published by Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London, estimates the UK annual costs related with Alzheimer's disease to be some £5,5 billion. British Journal of Psychiatry 1999 findings are that over a three-month period the total mean cost per patient with mild Alzheimer's was £6,616, £10,250 for a person with moderate Alzheimer's and £13,593 for a person with severe Alzheimer's disease in the UK.

There are currently some 8 Million individuals of 70 years and older in the United Kingdom, 2 million of them over 85. This population is expected to double in the next decade. The dementia prevalence ratio amongst this age groups reaches as much as 50%. 95% of the elderly population prefer to be cared for at Home.

The UK Alzheimer's society reports some 700,000 dementia patients in the UK. Alzheimer Europe organization estimates the European Dementia market is to include over 5.5 million sufferers between the ages of 30 and 99.

Telehomecare in Brief
Telehomecare is part of the broader field of Telemedicine, focusing on the use of telecommunication technology for the purpose of monitoring patients in their home environment, whilst remote from their caregivers.

Telehomecare systems transmit various types of data between the patient in the home and caregiver/s or health care providers, typically using ordinary telephone lines. Telehomecare is a new strategy that can assist agencies and individuals in providing high-quality care at a lower cost with demonstrated benefits for patients, caregivers, home care agencies, and the entire health care system.

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