Security
Securing the future: from key chaos to smartphone access
Bruce Donald, UK and Ireland manager for digital locking experts SimonsVoss, discusses the shift towards digital access and security solutions within the elderly care sector
As a care home facility or building manager, you juggle a lot – ensuring residents’ safety, managing staff, and keeping everything running smoothly. But traditional key systems often make things harder. Key misplacements, delayed emergency access, and the ongoing costs of maintaining physical locks are just a few of the challenges that have long impacted care homes. You know the frustration of searching for the right key in a time-sensitive situation or dealing with expensive lock changes after a misplaced master key incident. However, with the rise of digital access control systems, the sector now has a solution that addresses these pain points. Replacing traditional keys with digital access control is not only improving security but also helping care homes across the country operate more efficiently and responsively.
A smarter way to manage access Imagine a system where you never have to worry about lost keys again. Digital access control replaces physical keys with digital solutions, including secure smartphone- based access, ensuring that only the right people enter the right areas at the right time – without the hassle of managing a key cupboard. This level of convenience is particularly beneficial for large care facilities where staff members frequently move between different areas. No more searching for the right key among dozens on a keyring – just a simple, secure digital credential that can be managed remotely.
Additionally, digital access control can integrate with existing security systems,
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such as CCTV or alarm monitoring, creating a holistic security network that enhances protection across the entire facility.
Speed matters: faster emergency response Seconds count in emergencies. Whether it be a resident in distress or a fire evacuation, fumbling for keys wastes precious time. Digital access systems allow staff to unlock doors instantly, ensuring quick, controlled access in critical moments. In high-pressure situations, knowing that staff can move freely while maintaining security is a game-changer. Emergency responders can also be granted immediate access remotely, reducing response times when every second is crucial. This kind of technology also means that staff no longer need to share or carry physical master keys, which can be lost
Imagine a system where you never have to worry about lost keys again
or misused. Instead, access permissions are assigned digitally, ensuring only the right individuals can open specific doors at designated times.
The ability to create predefined emergency access protocols also ensures that, in the event of an incident, designated staff and first responders can immediately access necessary areas without delays. This is particularly critical in situations such as fire drills, medical emergencies, or security threats.
Reducing the admin burden Traditional keys create an administrative headache. Managing a logbook of who has which key, chasing down missing sets, and organising lock replacements drains time and budget.
With digital access control, you
have a real-time, automated record of who accessed which area and when – eliminating manual tracking and improving compliance. Need to check if a night shift worker accessed a restricted area? Simply pull up the digital log.
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com June 2025
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