Fallbrook Memory Care Facility

How Technology Helps in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities

/in /by

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities to benefit from technological innovations to aid in the care and management of records for patients. Here are just a few of the notable contributions of technology to health care.

 

IT Systems

Generally, information technology will be able to address the challenges in-home health care, including the large geographic distances, making resources more costly for rural patients. Such would include advances in social networking tools, telecommunication, and Web solutions to support health care delivery and education.

 

Information technology can be introduced in nursing homes in a variety of ways including the following functions.

Active monitoring and management

  • Home-based disease management through telehealth applications
  • Web-based communities for patients in-home care
  • Personal health care records

Passive monitoring and management

  • Smart homes
  • Robotic applications

 

Tele-Health Applications

This type of technology offers a platform for supporting disease management for patients in nursing homes diagnosed with chronic conditions as well as their families.

 

Web-Based Communities

The Internet also supports a consumer-centric model and enables the creation of networks for the community, home care patients diagnosed with the same condition, families or other informal caregivers, and the public in general.

That is, in addition to the Web-based applications focused on the institution-centric approach and connect home care patients to health care providers. These networks are referred to as virtual communities that share the same goal, interest, needs, or activity.

 

Personal Health Records

This is defined as the electronic record of health-related information of an individual that conforms to the recognized interoperability standards of the country. A personal health record is a tool used for sharing health information, helping transform patients into better-educated health care consumers, and increasing health understanding.

 

Smart Homes

A house equipped with technology as an integral part of the infrastructure is considered a smart home intended to facilitate the monitoring of residents and increasing the quality of life. This technology does not require operation or training by the resident, but standalone units are used to be controlled by the end-user.

The advancement of technology has prompted the development of smart home applications around the world. One example is the development of Smart Medical Home, a highly controlled environment that involves biosensors, infrared sensors, and video cameras.

 

Robotic Applications

It is a method that employs artificial intelligence principles, and sometimes, with anthropomorphic features used in the clinical setting, mostly in experimental mode surgery, and robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty, and cystectomy.

One of the applications considered is the robotic dog, which is used as part of animal-assisted therapy in treating loneliness. Another example is the therapeutic robotic harp seal designed to create a calming sensation.

 

Final Thoughts

There are clear advantages to integrating IT in nursing homes or home care facilities. Such would include easy and efficient communication amid the geographic distance. Moreover, it enables the generation of new types of data without the need for health care providers to be physically present in the residential setting.

 

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE, and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper

Alzheimer’s Care Facilities

Ways to Keep Your Loved One Happy in Alzheimer’s Care Facilities

/in /by

A loved one with Alzheimer’s disease should be mentally and physically stimulated. In fact, even if his or her mental or physical abilities have declined due to dementia, it doesn’t mean that enrichment stops.

One of the things you can do is to get involved to keep your loved one happy as they start to live in a nursing home. Thus, you need to help seniors as they move into Alzheimer’s care facilities.

 

Ideas to Keep Your Senior Happy In a Nursing Home

 

Make The Transition Easy

Needless to say, moving into a nursing home for seniors can be stressful even for the family. So you need to help them by ensuring that the move will be smooth. Some of them might feel that they are still capable to care for themselves, causing them to think there is no need to leave home.

    • Explain to them that going to move into a nursing home will be helpful for them
    • Bring furniture, pictures, and objects to make their room feel like they are at just at home
    • It would greatly help if the spouse can move in with them

 

Tending To Relationships

Seniors will have the opportunity to build new relationships in nursing homes, as it strengthens old ones. This can improve their health as it promotes happiness. This is because strong relationships can make people happy to prevent physical and mental decline as time passes by.

    • Encourage them to interact with others in Alzheimer’s care facilities
    • Visit as often as possible
    • It would help if friends or neighbors can visit them
    • Any questions or concerns must be addressed to the staff

 

Participate in Activities

Seniors can build relationships with others easily through activities. In fact, regular activities can help them stay in shape, both physically and mentally. Most Alzheimer’s care facilities host activities for the whole day. So, even those suffering from disabilities or illnesses can participate in some activities that are fit for them.

    • Listening to music
    • Petting a cat or dog
    • Reading
    • Walking
    • Playing bingo

 

Maintaining Health Care

If a senior will live in a nursing home, there is a possibility that he or she has an illness or disability that will need long-term care. Thus, you can keep them happy and healthy.

    • Regularly visit your loved one and monitor the health status
    • Voice out your concerns to the staff
    • Take necessary action if things will not improve

It is important to note that happiness and quality of life are synonymous. So seniors can greatly benefit from the help of the staff of the nursing home, other residents, and more specifically the family members.

The next time you want to visit a loved one in Alzheimer’s care facilities, be guided that they too need regular checking so that they will remain safe and content. Take note that the best nursing homes will pay attention to the concerns of their residents so that everybody is satisfied.

 

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE, and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper