A Place for Connectivity and Integration in Senior Care

By Holly Foreman

In the last two years, a conversation about connected care in senior living facilities has come to the forefront as a result of the isolation brought on during the Covid-19 pandemic.  In reality, Covid-19 exacerbated the feelings of isolation in every area of society, with many families unable to visit one another in person.

In an internet-rich world of connectivity, transparency and access in daily life is taken for granted. One of the chief desires that families of residents in aged care facilities have is that they want to be more involved in their loved-ones’ physical and emotional care. While Covid-19 has exacerbated isolation, it has also given rise to an environment where remote access in health care has been normalized. Technologies have evolved, and applications like CareMeda can be leveraged by senior care facilities to the benefit of residents, family members, and the community.

On the CareMeda Connected Care platform, mobility technology, wearables and artificial intelligence are combined with software that is simple to learn and use. Integrated video chats and virtual visits make it possible for caregivers and families to connect instantly with residents. This connectivity enhances collaboration and quality of care among staff, residents and family members. When layered in with remote vitals and health data monitoring, a fully-connected picture of health can be attained.

Facility staff members are busy, and most likely are already doing more with less as a result of staffing shortages (see our article here for more on the subject). Facilities themselves are overburdened and cannot tend to every phone call or request, which can lead to concern, even if the concern is unwarranted. It’s understood that fear and apprehension can be alleviated when information is shared, but it’s not always possible for families to get timely updates.

CareMeda’s Connected Care platform can solve these concerns by creating connectivity and transparency for the loved ones of residents in care facilities. By establishing access through the platform and its accompanying app, family members can view real-time records like vitals measurements, activity reports, and even participate via video in physician consultations. Most importantly though, they’ll be able to connect with their loved one at the touch of a button in video calls.

For those with family members in care facilities, feelings of guilt can creep in that they aren’t able to participate in their healthcare as much as they’d like. By removing the access hurdle, they can be a full participant in the care their loved one receives. Family members no longer have to call staff for status updates; they are able to see a full picture of their loved one’s condition at any time. The platform increases peace of mind for families, eases the burden on staff and increases the collaborative trust between the family member and the facility. Providing this type of solution to families sets a community apart from all of its competitors. 

For the resident, the dashboard provides simple access to health monitoring data, surveys, appointments and video calls. Contactless vitals measurements can be given remotely, and virtual check-ins are simply submitted. There is an uncomplicated connectivity option where residents can reach out to connect directly to family members, as well as include their healthcare advocates in telemedicine visits. They have peace of mind that they remain connected to those who matter most, and the simple interface of the Connected Care platform allows them to interact with family via one touch, reducing feelings of isolation and increasing their participation in their own care.

CareMeda’s Connected Care platform enables the highest quality of care for residents, peace of mind for families, and efficient business solutions for the community. Business results are positively impacted when care levels are improved, staff workflow is streamlined and families are happier.

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CareMeda invites you to join in ongoing discussion on topics affecting the health care and aged care industries such as:

• Staffing shortages

• Health records management

• Patient and family engagement

• Telehealth shortcomings and benefits

• Improvements in elder care

• Hospital-At-Home

• Remote care for chronic illness

• Self-Triage and Patient Kiosks