19 NOVEMBER 2024ELDERCARE REVIEWAdopting modern technology in elder care requires balancing innovation with compassion. While technology enhances care efficiency, maintaining personal connections with residents and their families remains essentialBy Jacqueline Hodges, Director of Clinical Services, Franklin Park Senior LivingBRIDGING COMPASSION AND INNOVATION: ADVANCING SENIOR CARE WITH TECHNOLOGYA Journey of Compassion and Expertise in Senior CareI have been a nurse for 15 years and have dedicated my career to seniors in our community. I immediately gravitated towards the Dementia population and began self-educating on the disease. 2016, I applied for a Memory Care Director position at Franklin Park Senior Living. Given the opportunity to share my knowledge of the disease, I was able to bridge the gap in communications between caregivers and their residents and assist families. This was an essential task during the pandemic. As I have grown with Franklin Senior Living, they have invested in my education and I now oversee both Assisted Living and Memory Care residents. My life's work is to improve the lives of others and create longstanding relationships within our community.Enhancing Independence and Response Efficiency Assistive technology has been beneficial and essential to our seniors. Staff can use their smartphones instead of wall devices to view live calls from residents requiring assistance with daily tasks or emergencies. Staff response times are time-stamped, allowing companies to set goals and expectations for quality care to improve resident outcomes. Healthcare technology is growing and assisting seniors in maintaining independence with pill dispensers and smart voice devices to set reminders for daily tasks.Strategies for Meeting Growing Senior Care Demands With the surge of Baby Boomers approaching, the most significant challenge will be keeping pace with the demand for care. We are constantly reviewing different avenues to meet the needs of our residents.Revolutionizing Elder Care with Modern Solutions Considerations went into selecting these tools and frameworks. As technology evolves, we want to continue to meet the needs of our residents and allow efficacy for staff to complete tasks. The care suite is an electronic health record we utilize to pass medications, allowing us to personalize care plans for our residents. Before making the electronic recording, we recorded the documentation on paper. The care suite has allowed our staff to provide resident care effectively. We have also recently utilized ATMOS Mobile, which includes real-time notifications for staff when residents call for emergency assistance.Essential Tips for Embracing Technology in Elder CareWhat are the key considerations and potential pitfalls they should be aware of? Adopting modern technology for healthcare is a balance of progressive care and maintaining the heart of what we do. While technology is helpful, connecting with our residents and families in person is essential as much as possible. Through this article, Jacqueline Hodges delves into the evolving landscape of senior care, emphasizing the fusion of compassion and technology. Jacqueline reflects on her 15-year nursing career and her role in advancing memory care and assisted living. She highlights the transformative impact of assistive technologies like real-time staff notifications and electronic health records on care efficiency and resident independence. Jacqueline addresses the challenge of meeting growing care demands amid the Baby Boomer surge and advocates for a balanced approach in adopting new technologies, ensuring that personal connections with residents and families remain central to effective care.Jacqueline HodgesCXO INSIGHTS
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