Tag: assistive technology

Advice for Older People, Age Friendly Advice, Caregiver Advice, Home Care Advice

How Myhomecare is Supporting Independent Living and Connections This Christmas

5 tips on finding the right homecare provider

How Myhomecare is Supporting Independent Living and Connections This Christmas

As families across Ireland prepare for Christmas, a recent survey conducted by Myhomecare, Ireland’s only JCI-accredited homecare provider, highlights the significant challenges older people face in maintaining health, independence, and social connection.  Our survey highlights the vital role of carers in ensuring comfort, safety, and connection over the festive season and underscores the vital role of homecare services, particularly during the holidays, when loneliness and isolation can be most keenly felt. The survey conducted by Myhomecare was issued to over 1000 Myhomecare clients with 837 respondents so far. With these newfound results, the following highlights how Myhomecare is supporting independent living and connections this Christmas.

7 in 10 (72%) of respondents will spend Christmas with family, supported by the care and dedication of homecare assistants. More than 1 in 10 (14%) remain unsure of their plans, and more than 1 in 10 (14%) will spend Christmas with only their carer as a primary point of contact.   

Highlights From Our Survey

  • 3 in 10 (31%) of respondents struggle with personal care.
  • 2 in 10 (20%) cite meal preparation as a key challenge.
  • 2 in 10 (21%) use meals-on-wheel services.
  • Nearly 2 in 10 (18%) reporting challenges in maintaining regular contact with loved ones.
  • 4 in 10 (40%) of respondents experience long waiting times for hospital consultations.
  • 3 in 10 (30%) struggle to schedule convenient appointments.

Deirdre Doyle, Senior Manager at Myhomecare:

Myhomecare’s passionate, highly trained carers provide essential support to clients not only during Christmas but throughout the year. Through our Winter Plan, we play a role at every stage of the patient journey, ensuring comfort, safety, and connection during this time of increased demand. Our carers, supported with industry leading training through the Myhomecare Care Academy, are dedicated to providing patient centred care, enabling clients to maintain their independence, and offer much needed companionship, with 23% of our clients relying solely on homecare support as their connection to the community.

Myhomecare’s Care Academy

The Myhomecare Care Academy provides subsidised courses, including Care of the Older Person, Care Skills, Infection Prevention and Control, and Dementia Awareness, allowing carers to grow in their roles while positively impacting the lives of those they support.    

At the heart of Myhomecare are the carers—dedicated, compassionate individuals who bring vital care and connection to clients, particularly during the holidays. Myhomecare’s Care Academy equips carers with the highest standard of training and upskilling opportunities, ensuring they are well-prepared to deliver exceptional care.    

Myhomecare’s Collaborations

Servisource’s Myhomecare Winter Plan emphasises “A Role to Play at Every Stage” of the patient journey, from birth to end of life. With comprehensive resources across all divisions, Myhomecare alleviates pressure on healthcare facilities by delivering Home First care, rapid post-hospital support, and advanced remote care solutions, ensuring the right care is provided in the right place.

As part of this approach, Myhomecare’s blended model of care and long-standing partnership with Isaac Care, ensures clients benefit from revolutionary assistive technology such as fall alarms and health monitoring devices, providing added peace of mind and safety.  

Advantages of Homecare

  • Remaining in Familiar Surroundings: One of the most significant advantages of homecare is that it enables individuals, particularly seniors, to stay in their own homes. Allowing a sense of independence and control over their living environment.
  • Preserving Daily Routines: Loved ones can wake up and go to bed at their preferred times, eat the foods they enjoy, and engage in activities that give them a sense of purpose. This consistency can be reassuring and comforting, especially for those dealing with cognitive conditions like dementia.
  • Emotional Comfort: Being in a home environment can provide emotional comfort. Home is where individuals have made memories and feel safe, and this sense of comfort can be particularly crucial for individuals and those dealing with health challenges.
  • Familiarity: It allows individuals to be surrounded by their belongings, pets, and loved ones. These familiar elements can bring a deep sense of comfort, reassurance, and happiness.

“Having my carer visit means I have someone to talk to, someone to rely on. It makes Christmas feel a little less lonely.”    
Survey respondent

The Benefits of Homecare for People of All Ages

This Christmas, Myhomecare continues to exemplify the transformative power of homecare in enhancing the lives of older individuals across Ireland. From enabling clients to remain in the comfort of their own homes to fostering vital social connections, Myhomecare’s dedicated carers provide unwavering support when it’s needed most.

Through innovative solutions like the Care Academy and assistive technology with the Isaac Care partnership, Myhomecare is empowering clients to maintain their independence and dignity while alleviating pressure on healthcare facilities. As the festive season shines a spotlight on the importance of togetherness, Myhomecare remains steadfast in its mission to bring peace of mind and the gift of care to those who rely on its services, ensuring no one feels alone during this special time of year.

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Advice for Older People, Age Friendly Advice, Caregiver Advice, Home Care Advice

Assistive Technology and its Role in Homecare

5 tips on finding the right homecare provider
Assistive Technology and its Role in Homecare

Assistive Technology and its Role in Homecare

As homecare needs increase for families and elderly alike, so does the necessity to find solutions to help those being cared for. Assistive technology has become a popular option among families to help them to manage their family care from the comfort of their own homes. From devices designed to detect signs of falls and other emergencies, to apps that aid communication between providers and patients, this technologically advanced solution is playing a more important role now more than ever before. We take a look at assistive technology and its role in homecare and how it assists with aspects of daily living.

The World Health Organisation estimates that:

Today 2.5 billion people need one or more assistive products such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, or apps that support communication and cognition.

1. Mobility and Accessibility

Assistive technology aids mobility and accessibility, together they are essential aspects of homecare, especially for loved ones with disabilities. From motorised wheelchairs to mobility scooters, these devices provide newfound independence and freedom. Ensuring that the home is designed and equipped to accommodate these needs can greatly enhance independence, safety, and overall quality of life.

Assistive Technology and its Role in Homecare

Mobility and accessibility considerations that can be used at home:

  • Wheelchair accessibility: involves turning spaces into larger areas to accommodate the wheelchair’s dimensions and widening doorways.
  • Ramps and lifts: for homes with stairs, ramps or stairlifts can be installed instead to provide safe and accessible passage between different levels.
  • Bathroom accessibility: this can include roll-in showers, raised toilets, shower seats, and non-slip flooring to reduce the risk of falls.
  • Grab bars and handrails: strategically placed grab bars and handrails in areas like hallways, staircases, bathrooms, and bedrooms provide support and stability for individuals to move around safely.

2. Remote Health Monitoring

Remote health monitoring in homecare involves the use of technology to gather and transmit health-related data from patients’ homes to healthcare providers or caregivers. This approach allows for continuous monitoring of a person’s health status, vital signs, and other relevant information without the need for in-person visits to a healthcare facility. It has become increasingly important in modern healthcare, offering numerous benefits for both patients and healthcare providers. This is especially useful for elderly or chronically ill individuals who require regular monitoring.

elderly man and assistive technology

Key components and aspects of remote health monitoring in homecare include:

  • Wearable devices and sensors: patients can wear devices like smartwatches, fitness trackers, blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, and pulse oximeters that collect real-time data on vital signs, physical activity, sleep patterns, and more.
  • Telehealth and telemedicine: remote health monitoring often integrates with telehealth and telemedicine services, enabling virtual consultations between patients and healthcare providers. Video calls, voice chats, and messaging platforms allow for real-time communication and assessment.
  • Fall detection and prevention: sensors placed throughout the home can detect falls or irregular movements, triggering alerts to caregivers or emergency services. This is especially important for older adults at risk of falling.
  • Caregiver support: caregivers and family members can also benefit from remote health monitoring by staying informed about their loved one’s health status and receiving phone/app alerts if there are any concerning changes.

Myhomecare and Assistive Technology

At Myhomecare, we are constantly looking for ways to leverage technology to improve the care we provide. Myhomecare has proudly partnered with Isaac Care, to bring innovative and easy-to-use assistive technology to our clients nationwide. Offering a unique combination of technology and care, supporting people to live independently in their own homes. Isaac Care’s technology allows us to provide wraparound 24/7 support to our clients and provides comfort and peace of mind when our dedicated staff and family members can’t be present. It consists of the following features:

Assistive Technology and its Role in Homecare
  • “Circle of Care” family caring app: groups of people involved in the person’s care are kept up to date with real-time instant in-app notifications.
  • Discreet home sensors: a discreet way of detecting activity around the home, with useful security and safeguarding applications.
  • Industry-leading wearable devices: the Isaac Fall Alarm is a smart, easy-to-use, personal alarm that offers reassurance that your loved one can instantly access help whenever they need it.
  • Health monitoring: the Isaac health monitoring kit allows for easy and effective monitoring of a person’s health from the comfort of their own home.

Myhomecare’s clinical team continuously monitor changes in health trends over time from information provided by Isaac Care’s assistive technology. The use of data driven decision making and early interventions leads to reduced hospital admissions and better patient outcomes, further enhancing the quality of care delivered by Myhomecare’s team.

By leveraging the benefits of assistive technology, we can provide reassurance, personalised care and support to our valued customers in the setting of their own homes.

3. Environmental Controls

Lights, temperature control, and even appliances can be managed with the touch of a button or with voice commands. This technology offers not only convenience but can allow individuals to control various aspects of their environment, such as opening and closing curtains, adjusting lighting, and operating electronic devices. These tools can drastically improve the quality of life for those with disabilities or physical challenges as they don’t need to move around the house frequently.

Assistive Technology and its Role in Homecare

Environmental controls that can help life become more convenient at home:

  • Adjustable furniture and beds: adjustable-height beds, recliners, and ergonomic furniture can be controlled to provide optimal comfort and support for individuals with mobility or positioning needs.
  • Security and safety features: home security and surveillance systems can be integrated into environmental control systems, allowing individuals to monitor and control cameras, alarms, and access points.
  • Voice-activated systems: voice recognition technology enables individuals to operate appliances, lights, fans, and other devices through spoken commands, making it easier for those with limited mobility to manage their surroundings.
  • Automated doors and windows: automated door openers and window controls make it easier for individuals with limited mobility to access different areas of the home and control ventilation.

It is clear that assistive technology has numerous benefits when it comes to homecare, whether it’s promoting independence, enhancing safety and mobility, tracking health and improving the overall quality of life for loved ones with disabilities or limitations. By addressing various aspects of daily living and healthcare, Myhomecare uses assistive technology along with the right people with the right skills and knowledge in the right place. This empowers individuals to remain in their homes and communities while receiving the support they need.

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