Our Independent Living Manager, Kirsty Cooke, writes about the Appello alarm systems in our schemes.
When we talk about alarms, it generally isn’t very exciting. Alarms wake you up and disturb your sleep; they can be rigid, loud, and aren’t generally associated with anything enjoyable.
However, the way technology has developed in recent years has meant that we do, in fact, have alarms with so many distinct features that I can’t help but be excited when I talk about them.
The alarms I’m referring to aren’t your typical alarm clocks – they are digital warden call systems installed in our Independent Living schemes to keep our older customers safe. These are comprehensive alarm systems designed to connect our customers with us, emergency services, their neighbours and more. They provide security and enhance their well-being in many ways.
Choosing the right system isn’t an easy choice; we went through an extensive customer consultation in which we presented different options and ultimately chose the most relevant for our customers’ needs - digital telecare and Technology Enabled Care provider, Appello.
The features that stood out to us can be divided into three categories: safety and security, accessibility, and performance.
Safety
Our Appello alarm system allows for customers to have visual access to their front doors, report any issues they’re having, have direct access to a 24hr emergency call centre and more.
The alarms are linked to the room smoke detectors, and to door sensors in the properties that have them installed.
Our package also offers a pendant that can be worn around the neck or wrist to call for assistance and has an option to detect falls. Additional telecare equipment can be added, such as bed sensors and medication alerts, which allow for seamless health and safety monitoring.
Having these options means that our customers are more likely to feel safe in their homes which also means that they are more likely to be satisfied with the standard of service we provide them.
Customers can use the Appello app on their phones to directly call our B3Living colleagues for assistance.
The Appello app allows customers to link their wall-mounted alarm to their mobile phones.
Accessibility
Our independent living customers have varied needs which means they require different levels of care.
For instance, our bed-bound customers can mirror the alarm unit to their own personal tablet which means that they can answer their door, make calls, and talk to other residents by simply touching their screen.
They can choose different ringtones for their doorbell (which they find very fun!), connect it to a Bluetooth speaker to hear better if they are hard of hearing, and access help at any time of the day from the comfort of their room.
One of the main principles behind our independent living and extra care schemes is to provide opportunities for social interaction. The alarm system can facilitate this by allowing our customers to stay in contact with each other.
Promoting accessible ways of communicating is a fundamental characteristic of our work as it allows us to best support our customers in remaining independent for as long as possible.
Performance
Though they are a new technology for B3Living, exploring the wide range of functions the alarm systems can perform has allowed for greater efficiency within our Independent Living team.
The comprehensive functionalities of the new alarm system contribute to improved communication between our colleagues and customers.
Its cloud-based system allows for speech broadcasting, off-site communication with customers, running reports on customer use of the alarm (ie. Number of times alarm button was pressed). This not only improves our understanding of our customers’ living experience in our schemes, but also allows us to provide faster assistance in case of an emergency.
By automating tasks that were previously done manually, the system enables better allocation of time and resources around all the schemes we work in.
Moreover, the package we have stores customer and scheme information into a secure live document which allows us to better comply with GDPR. Its online features also allow for us to be prepared for potential external challenges, such as another national lockdown, without compromising all our service delivery.
Most shared spaces have an alarm on the wall for easy access.
Embracing technology and innovation doesn’t always come easy; we’ve had to learn how to work differently and offer ongoing training for our customers.
Nevertheless, making this move has resulted in great improvements in the quality of service we can offer our customers, in the way we work, and ultimately, in our performance as a business.
Becoming better is exciting, isn’t it?