Improving the resident experience through technology
New Dawn Memory Care is building upon cutting-edge technology to better resident care for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
East Denver LIVING WELL Magazine
Innovative uses of technology offer many exciting possibilities for better care and improved quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their family members. According to Maria Carrillo, director of Medical and Scientific Relations at the Alzheimer’s Association, “We now are discovering ways to use available advanced technology to save healthcare costs, ease caregiver stress, and help people with Alzheimer’s live better, safer, more fulfilling lives.”
New Dawn Memory Care is a unique assisted living community that is incorporating technology to give their specially trained staff the tools to more effectively care for individuals coping with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
“Our goal is to provide residents the utmost care by providing compassion, respect and dignity all within an ”award winning designed community” explains President and Chief Operations Officer Edmarie Meaux. “We constantly try to engage our residents, families and staff members on every aspect of our technology in order to improve their communication and cognitive abilities. “
To drive New Dawn’s mission, it has appointed Christopher Wahrle as chief information officer. “Now is the time for memory care advocates to begin embracing technology. “Individuals have embraced technology in their lives, and that expectation will only continue as those individuals embark upon the transition from independent living.” says Chris Wahrle.
Each of new Dawn’s home-like cottages is equipped with various advancements, including computer systems specifically tailored to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. These systems assist trained activity directors with daily activities, ranging from cogitative memory game, including familiar ‘at home’ games; to programs that focus on physical activity such as cycling and other exercise programs.
“My team of professionals’ look to grow our resident-to-family interactions through intuitive technologies that will foster relationships with family members distant and near,” says Wahrle. “We have some very exciting opportunities to grow the digital presence and raise the bar through the use of cutting edge technology.”
“Today, residents are able to utilize video conferencing technologies to interact with family members they otherwise would not have been able to,” says Wahrle.
New Dawn’s technology reaches far beyond the obvious. Each resident is provided with a transmitter in the form of a wrist watch or a pendant in order to provide residents the ability to thrive in a secure home like environment with dignity while being safe. Transmitters beacon to a receiver strategically located throughout the property to deliver real time location information and alerts staff in the case of a fall or if a resident requires assistance. “The watches, pendants and fall detection units are very unobtrusive to our residents and allows our skilled staff to foster a non-institutionalized environment, while providing safety and security to our residents,” says Wahrle.
Such advancements allow for New Dawn’s residents’ freedom, which they may have otherwise not had. Such examples are allowing residents to go outside to participate in outdoor activities in common areas.
“In dementia care, you need a lot more one-on-one time,” explains Meaux. With a one-to-four staffing ratio, New Dawn’s staff is able to spend far more specialized time with residents than the typical assisted living facility is able to provide.
Although providing a differentiated experience to New Dawn’s residents is at the forefront of Wahrle and his team’s responsibilities, his team is also responsible for growing technology used by New Dawn’s staff, from New Dawn’s executives to its directors and nurses to caregivers.
“I have lab work at the tip of my finger,” says Meaux. “We see everything on our mobile devices,” she says.
Wahrle and his team have established a transparent means of communication, information sharing, and have implemented tools that facilitate efficiency amongst New Dawn’s staff. Employees are able to collaborate with one-another in real time through video, voice, and other systems, which were previously only known to large enterprises.
Recently, New Dawn implemented several new technology solutions and improved upon existing tools to complement their growing technology competencies. With the adoption of a single source for marketing and care management and billing, New Dawn has truly enabled operational efficiencies for its staff, and has begun laying the ground work for a differentiated experience amongst its competition.
Other solutions allow for New Dawn staff to place medication and supply orders directly to the vendor, track those orders and track medications being administered to its residents.
“New Dawn in its current state provides a great opportunity to build upon new technologies,” says Wahrle. “New Dawn constructs its buildings from the ground-up, and with information technology playing an active role in the construction and development process, it allows us to truly plan for the future.”
To learn more about New Dawn Memory Care, please visit newdawnal.com.
*AAHSA trends and design supplement of future age building senior communities for the future. 2009
