Transforming Care at The Hawthorns Care Home with TECS and Adaptive Care

10 September 2024

In a recently funded falls prevention pilot, run in collaboration with the is Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB, Community Housing TECS was invited to explore the potential of using advanced technology to reduce falls at The Hawthorns Care Home in Evesham, a Shaw healthcare facility. The process began when the Worcestershire ICB announced the funding, prompting interested care homes to apply. Among the applicants, The Hawthorns, a 47-bed care home specialising in dementia care was selected. We then introduced them to Adaptive Care. Mary, the manager at The Hawthorns, was enthusiastic about incorporating these new technologies to enhance the quality of care while minimising night-time disturbances for the residents.

The Challenge

Residents living with dementia are particularly vulnerable to falls, and night-time presents a heightened risk due to disorientation and reduced staff presence. Traditional methods of frequent night-time checks by caregivers often lead to disturbances, affecting the residents' quality of sleep and overall well-being. Moreover, it is almost impossible to prevent or detect falls occurring in between these routine checks with traditional methods. Additionally, relying solely on traditional nurse call systems can be insufficient for residents with dementia, as they may lack the cognitive ability to call for help. Mary sought a solution that would allow for effective monitoring without compromising the residents' rest.

The Solution: Acoustic Monitoring

TECS, known for its agnostic approach to technology solutions, partnered with Adaptive Care to introduce their CLB Wireless Acoustic Monitoring at The Hawthorns. This innovative system uses high quality sensors mounted in resident rooms to monitor sounds, looking for unusual patterns that may indicate a potential incident or sign of distress. If an intervention is required, the monitoring staff send an alert to caregivers to potential issues, enabling a swift response when a resident actually requires it, without the need for unnecessary and intrusive routine night-time checks. This approach gives staff many hours back and reduces staff stress and overload. For residents, it means they get a better night’s sleep, are more engaged during the day, less prone to falls and their overall health and well-being are improved. Acoustic monitoring has become a critical tool in non-intrusively monitoring care environments and the CLB Wireless Acoustic Monitoring modules offered by Adaptive Care provided a seamless integration into the existing setup at The Hawthorns.

Implementation

After a thorough consultation and assessment of The Hawthorns' needs, TECS facilitated the installation of Wireless Acoustic Monitoring Modules. These modules detect and alert caregivers to sounds that may indicate a resident attempting to get out of bed or experiencing distress, allowing immediate intervention.

Results

The impact of the Acoustic Monitoring technology at The Hawthorns has been remarkable. Mary shared her insights on the transformation: Significant Reduction in Falls: "Our falls have decreased significantly in the first few months of the system being operational, representing a 71.4% reduction overall and a 100% reduction in falls between the hours of 11:30 PM and 5:30 AM when the acoustic monitoring is active." Enhanced Staff Efficiency: "Our team of nurses and staff have embraced the technology. It's simple and effective, enabling them to provide better care with less intrusion." Improved Resident Well-being: "Residents are not getting disturbed throughout the night, so they wake up well-rested and content, making their time in the care home much more enjoyable."

Conclusion

The successful implementation of Adaptive Care’s CLB Wireless Acoustic Monitoring at The Hawthorns Care Home underscores the potential of technology to significantly improve care and safety for residents, particularly those with dementia. By reducing falls and minimising night-time disturbances, TECS and its partners are helping to create a more supportive and restful environment for residents, while also enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of caregiving staff. The experience at The Hawthorns highlights the importance of innovative, non-intrusive monitoring solutions in modern care home settings. Community Housing Technology Enabled Care's agnostic and collaborative approach consistently delivers the best outcomes