Increased security and better quality of life for care recipients through technology

Instead of moving the elderly and infirm directly to a senior living or managed care facility, Grimstad municipality in southern Norway wanted to find a way to provide quality home health care and extend the independent living possibilities of its residents as long as possible. They should feel safe and get help when they needed it. Grimstad municipality also wanted to ensure that care would be provided to those most in need of it, in order to make optimal use of the "healing hands" of the human resources.

The municipality wanted to increase the security and well-being of residents in senior living facilities. Grimstad municipality also wanted to improve the work environment for the staff and to streamline the workload, both for staff working to help care recipients at home and for staff working at senior living and managed care facilities. 

Using the solution from Tellu and Axis, people in need of care and healthcare can stay at home longer. What's more, people who previously lived in assisted living facilities have been able to move back home thanks to the solution. Care recipients have a better quality of life, a better night's sleep, and an increased sense of security. It has also meant an increased feeling of security for family and relatives.  

The solution has led to major cost savings since healthcare personnel do not need to visit a care recipient unnecessarily, as well as to a smaller carbon footprint thanks to fewer unnecessary trips. For the healthcare personnel, it has also meant freed-up time through correct resource allocation; and they have a calmer work environment with less stress.  

First of all, the consent of the patients was sought. After that, an integrated solution was installed at the homes of those in need of healthcare, consisting of AXIS P3245-LV and M1065 network cameras, with AXIS Fence Guard and AXIS Video Motion Detection, as well as the Digital supervision service from Tellu, supplier of digital products and solutions in welfare technology. The monitoring of the camera images is performed locally by healthcare personnel, by an operator at a regional or national emergency call centre, or a combination of the two. 

The easy-to-use solution allows the staff to remotely see whether patients need some kind of help. In addition, an alarm is triggered by events that activate a sensor. The alarm is sent to a mobile phone, PC or tablet, and healthcare personnel can verify the situation, check what has happened, as well as whether and what measures are required, and continuous surveillance is made possible. The images are transmitted in real time but are not recorded, and the network traffic is encrypted.

Among the benefits of the products, Grimstad municipality highlights their high quality, reliability and stability. Caroline Cappelen, Product Manager at Tellu, adds: "The products are flexible, allow adjustments to be made, are based on open platforms, and include the option to add your own functions. We appreciate the wide range of different types of cameras from Axis."

Grimstad municipality has seen a drastic decline in the number of false alarms with fewer emergency call-outs, and can provide better care by means of correct resource allocation.

"There is less pressure on home care services. Using the cameras makes it possible to see if something has happened that needs to be acted on; whether it's a person or a glass of water that's fallen over, or whether they've just gone to the toilet", says Tanja Fredensborg. Some people get a sense of security from knowing that someone is looking after them throughout the night.

Images from the cameras also provide better decision data for the municipality prior to healthcare personnel meeting patients, which means that necessary measures are taken more quickly.

The solution has also resulted in major environmental benefits since staff avoid visiting patients unnecessarily, using the cameras for remote supervision instead. There has been a significant fall in the number of car journeys.

"Our municipality is large and expansive, and at night we just need one car to cover the whole area. This solution is incredibly time and cost saving", says Tanja Fredensborg.

At the care facilities where the solution has been introduced, the staff have increased flexibility and a better working situation with reduced stress, and the ability to better plan their time. Grimstad municipality plans to roll out the solution to additional care facilities.

"In the slightly longer term, we are thinking about even more cameras and an even more developed solution. By then the next generation will have started to advanced in age, and they will have an even greater acceptance of the use of technology", says Tanja Fredensborg.