As summer temperatures rise, ensuring the safety, comfort and wellbeing of elderly nursing home residents becomes a more complex challenge.
The warmer months bring unique operational hurdles, from increased risks of dehydration and heat stress to heightened tendencies for wandering during pleasant weather. Implementing an integrated technology framework, specifically through advanced nurse call solutions, wander management systems and fall alarm monitors, can significantly ease these seasonal pressures while elevating the quality of resident care.
Here, we outline expert guidance for care teams looking to utilise technology and help residents thrive through the warmer months.
Optimising Care with Smart Nurse Call Systems
Summer heat can cause rapid changes in a resident’s health, making swift communication vital. That’s why modern nurse call systems that offer more than traditional bedside buttons are essential.
In hot weather, swift, reliable communication allows your staff to react quickly with hydration and cooling measures to prevent heat exhaustion. For instance, wireless nurse call systems give residents a simple, dependable way to summon help, with features such as call prioritisation meaning urgent requests reach staff without delay. A ‘next call waiting’ feature also allows caregivers to see the next closest high-priority call right from the resident’s bed head, cutting down on wasted journeys to the nurses’ station.
Elsewhere, but of equal importance, higher temperatures and humidity promote the rapid survival and spread of surface bacteria. Advanced nurse call equipment, such as the Touchsafe Pro Wireless Nurse Call System, have in-built antimicrobial protection. This means that every touch-sensitive component, including the Touchscreen Display Panels, bedside call points and patient call leads are embedded with lifetime antimicrobial additives. These suppress the growth of micro-organisms in high temperatures.
Systems such as this offer two-way reassurance, as the nurse call system should provide immediate visual and audio confirmation when a resident triggers a call. This then helps calm anxious patients by letting them know help is already on the way.
Securing Independence via Wander Management
Pleasant summer weather often increases the desire among residents, particularly those living with dementia, to explore the outdoors. While outdoor activity promotes physical wellbeing, it introduces severe risks if a resident wanders off-premises unsupervised.
Wander management systems offer a balanced solution by allowing the resident freedom of movement while maintaining their dignity. By utilising discreet wearable wrist transmitters, these systems will reliably monitor and detect when a vulnerable resident approaches a restricted exit. When that happens, the system can automatically lock the door or notify staff immediately. Caregivers then have the option to override the system and escort the resident outside to safely enjoy a secure garden or courtyard.
If you’re looking to introduce summer activities for elderly residents, try:
- Patio gardening
- Outdoor games
- Musical afternoons
- Ice cream & Lemonade Stand
- Host a Summer BBQ
Light exercises are also great for those who can manage them. Short walks, seated stretches or group movement sessions help maintain strength while keeping things manageable in the heat.
Mitigating Risks with Fall Alarm Monitors and Fall Alarm Monitors
Dehydration and heat-induced dizziness are primary catalysts for senior falls during the summer months. In terms of prevention and protection, fall management systems serve as an essential safety net during these challenging conditions.
Floor sensor mats and wireless bed or chair pads instantly notify care staff the moment a resident attempts an unassisted transfer. Here, connecting fall monitors to your nurse call system will improve response times and therefore resident wellbeing.
By identifying a potential fall or an unassisted movement immediately, your care team can provide rapid medical attention, greatly reducing the risk of long-term complications or prolonged distress.
Put Your Summer Safety Steps in Place Today
Integrating the technologies we’ve discussed transforms your care facility from a reactive environment into a proactive one. In no time at all, you can create a Summer nursing home environment that residents can enjoy safely.
These technologies bring about comfort for your team, too. They reduce the administrative burden on staff, eliminate alarm fatigue through targeted alerts and ensure that resources are deployed exactly where they’re needed most. Ultimately, leveraging these technologies protects your residents from heat-related health and wellbeing issues while demonstrating a high standard of modern, considered care to their families.
To make this Summer a joy for your residents, SVC Care Communications offers healthcare technology solutions that can seamlessly integrate into your current facility infrastructure. For more information, contact SVC Care Communications today on 0818 480 480.
Trevor Lucey is SVC’s Managing Director. Having been with the company since its inception in 1994, Trevor worked on installations and project management before he took over as the Managing Director in 2014. Under his management, SVC has seen significant growth, with on-demand, on-budget projects. With extensive knowledge of communications technology for the healthcare sector and unparalleled expertise in system design and implementation, Trevor is our go-to for custom solutions for each client.
