Digital technology
to carry one device instead of two or three. Plans are also in the pipeline for the nurse call data to be fully integrated into the digital care planning applications. This means that more information is fed into a resident’s individual care plan. An example of this is when a nurse call
system is integrated with a smartphone, using Ascom or Blue Sky, allowing alarm calls to be managed through apps. Better still, the calls can be integrated into a digital care plan via the phone. This gives a complete picture of a
resident’s care needs. Alerts can be tracked by activity and the person delivering the care, whether a planned action or an ad hoc call from a resident’s call point.
Wireless fall prevention technology In addition to wireless call bell systems, the development of wireless floor, bed and chair pressure mats means the days of long dangling cables from call point to pressure mat are gone - and with it, the additional trip hazards and the irony of installing a fall saving device by creating a fall hazard! TreadNought wireless floor, bed and
chair mats can be adapted to work with any nurse call system. They work in the same way as the wired mats, requiring pressure to be applied or removed, triggering an alert that can either be set to make a call for assistance or go straight to an emergency call. Similarly, bed and chair mats work in
reverse through the removal of pressure to stimulate a call that can also be set up to go straight to an emergency, should you have a resident at high risk from falls. Pendants can be a great addition to any nurse call system. They are lightweight and often come
with a wrist or neck anti-ligature lanyard option. That gives you the flexibility to tailor your approach to care and increase the independence of residents. In addition, the pendants allow residents to press for assistance or emergency attention, even when they are not near a call point. They can be used in communal areas, the garden or outside rooms. The Bed Angel from ARM Nurse Call
Systems is a highly innovative bed alarm that allows no-touch monitoring of a resident’s movement, in and out of their bed, through the use of ultrasonic sensing. Monitors can be set in multiple
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ways, from an alert the moment someone sits up to simply monitoring a resident that has got up and not gone back to bed within a pre-set timeframe. The way in which the bed angel
monitors residents is entirely unique to them and the setup of their bed. It allows both acute monitoring of high fall risk residents and those needing less input.
Touch-free technology We all know that contact transfer of germs is of huge importance in the care setting, but never more so than in the post- pandemic world. For many homes, in order to reduce the risk of spreading infection throughout the building, the need to limit or restrict residents who are known to ‘wander with a purpose’ is essential. Homes can look to eradicate touch-
activated electronic door access keypads and door release switches. The aim is to keep residents in safe places while limiting the potential spread of Covid and other pathogens. Electronic keypads with built-in
proximity readers, such as the Medicare HTM6504 two-way door alarm with an i-button reader, are designed to monitor the opening and closing of internal and external doors. It allows staff to use the entry or exit point without raising an alarm. Still, it gives the added security of an alarm sounding when the door is opened without a staff i-button fob. Each staff member carries a unique
fob, which is held up to the reader from a few centimetres away. This disengages the lock, thus removing the need to touch the keypad buttons at all. In addition, we can implement touchless ‘request to exit’ switches in place of the standard ‘press to exit’ retractable switch. The lock will disengage by holding up a hand to the switch – again, at a few
centimetres distance. This removes the need to physically touch the keypad and limits its potential as an infection hotspot.
Paging Paging systems can be installed in care homes with very positive outcomes. Pagers have been directly used to improve infection control while also improving efficiency in how carers respond to call bells. The end result is a reduction in call bell noise. The good news is, care homes do not necessarily need a new call bell system to implement these improvements! Their existing nurse call system may well be capable and compatible. A home can be zoned by installing a new paging system alongside an existing call bell system so specific staff can respond to specific residents. The information being sent to a handheld device ensures that less time is wasted returning to the main display panel to see the call details. This is particularly important when residents within a home have tested positive for Covid and must be entirely separated from others. Where technology is used in this way, it can alleviate some strain on staff and ensures infections are contained as effectively as possible. There is also the option to use infra-
red technology. The BlueBell paging system works effortlessly with the AidCall TouchSafe Pro nurse call system, allowing calls to be cancelled by the pager. This reduces touch and allows for staff ID to be recorded so management can easily report on who was in attendance in the room.
Staff attack systems The BlueBell Staff Attack system is a robust, secure wireless system allowing staff to summon help under duress.
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • August 2021
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