Healthsense\'s State-of-the-Art Monitoring Technology Improves ...

Tag : Wi-Fi devices
Seniors with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia arebeing cared for at Northfield Retirement Community withstate-of-the-art remote monitoring technology designed byHealthsense, a Mendota Heights-based aging services technologycompany.

The Healthsense Integrated Solution technology, installed inNorthfield's new 12-unit Evergreen Lodge memory care facility,improves safety and security for residents by allowing staff tomonitor residents remotely and respond more quickly to their needs.The foundation of the Healthsense system is a standard Wi-Fiwireless platform that provides network coverage for variousdevices and technologies. These include a building-wide nurse callsystem that enables staff to immediately pinpoint a resident'slocation when he or she calls for assistance; Wi-Fi phones carriedby the staff that receive alerts generated by the remote monitoringtechnology and help improve communication; network security camerasthat can be monitored off-site via computer; and an access controlsystem that helps ensure the safety of residents in the unit.

Developed with grants from the National Institutes of Aging (NIA)and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), theHealthsense technology also includes a variety of sensors placed instrategic areas of the patients' residences that are designed tolook for specific behaviors and alert staff to intervene whennecessary. For example, motion detectors on walls can detectmovement within rooms; contact sensors on kitchen cupboards andrefrigerator doors can monitor whether the resident is eatingregularly; and pressure sensors on beds are used to detect when aresident gets in or out of bed.

"The Healthsense technology adds an extra dimension to our abilityto care for our seniors with Alzheimer's and dementia," said KyleNordine, President and CEO of Northfield Retirement Community. "Bymitigating or preventing high-risk situations such as falls andwandering, the system allows our staff to focus on providing thehighest quality care to our residents. This highly sophisticated,state-of-the-art remote monitoring technology represents the futureof aging services and we're excited to be able to offer it righthere in our community.

"Since the memory care unit is not attached to the other buildingson our 30-acre campus, the advantage of the Wi-Fi system is thatour staff can monitor the residents' activities remotely from otherlocations," added Nordine. "Healthsense provided us with a one-stopsolution - all of these advanced technologies run off a standardWi-Fi platform."

Brian Bischoff, Healthsense's President and CEO, said, "We're proudto partner with a far-sighted, innovative provider like NorthfieldRetirement Community that understands the significant benefits thatour remote monitoring technology can provide. Technology can nevertake the place of skilled and compassionate care by a humancaregiver, but it can help healthcare professionals - like thededicated staff at Northfield Retirement Community - improve thequality of care they provide to residents."

About Healthsense

Healthsense is a market leader in providing technologies solutionsfor the future of aging services. Healthsense offers completelyintegrated systems including: Personal Emergency Response Systems,Wi-Fi wireless nurse call and Resident Monitoring for falldetection, wander management and alerting of changes in well-being.These systems are scalable, flexible, and based on proven Wi-Ficommunication standards. The flagship Healthsense product is theeNeighbor(R) system. The eNeighbor system was developed under thedirection of the National Institute of Aging (NIA) and the DefenseAdvanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The system monitors anindividual in their home and automatically calls for help if itdetects a possible problem. The eNeighbor system utilizes a seriesof wireless sensors placed throughout the residence, which capturethe occupant's activities of daily living. Visitwww.healthsense.com for more information.

About Northfield Retirement Community

A faith-based provider of Christian care and services, NorthfieldRetirement Community is the area's leading retirement livingorganization, offering a complete range of housing and amenities inscenic Northfield, Minnesota. For nearly 40 years, NorthfieldRetirement Community has innovated change and choice in housingservices. Today, that tradition of innovation continues, empoweringresidents and families alike to join in the community ofcaregiving. Visit www.northfieldretirement.org for more information