By: Kirsten Millar
At Tideview Terrace, a nursing home in Digby, Nova Scotia, a quiet revolution is taking place. Gone are the days of bells ringing and blaring alarms disrupting residents and staff. Instead, a partnership with a local technology company, Tenera Care, and Nova Scotia Health is offering a new standard of care that prioritizes comfort, safety and autonomy.
Tenera Care is a new solution to the traditional nurse call system, augmented by a real-time positioning system and wearable device for residents and staff.
“People are asking for a higher of quality service in long-term care homes,” says John Curticapean, Acting Vice President of Operations at Tenera Care. "Our goal is to empower caregivers with the tools they need to provide the best possible care for our seniors."
"Tenera is being used in two different ways. Firstly, as a nurse call system, residents have personalized devices enabling them to call for assistance from anywhere within the trial unit. Whether in their bedrooms, bathrooms, or common spaces, pressing the device notifies staff of their exact location,” says Ariel Rice, Neighborhood Manager at Tideview Terrace. “Additionally, Tenera keeps staff safe with wearable devices. A single press means they need assistance, while holding it triggers a code white alarm in case of violence."
The trial unit, which Tideview refers to as the trial ‘neighbourhood,’ includes 18 residents and 25 dedicated staff members who provide consistent care. However, the technology's reach extends to nearly 150 individuals, including temporary staff.
Before Tenera Care was introduced, a traditional nurse call system was used at Tideview Terrace. This resulted in loud bed alarms going off in the night which would wake other residents. Now, staff are alerted when a resident has left bed and can see their location.
"Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive," says Rice. "Staff appreciate the quieter environment and improved sleep quality for residents. With fewer disturbances, residents feel more at ease and enjoy greater autonomy in their daily routines."
Rice says the traditional nurse call system is very institutional. “We’re used to it as healthcare workers, but it’s not normal in our home life. We need to think about how we can de-institutionalize and re-humanize this environment and Tenera’s technology is helpful to create that space,” she says.
From an infection control perspective, Tideview Terrace is using the technology to be able to determine who has been in close contact. If a resident becomes sick, they may be able to prevent further infection by identifying who else has been at risk.
Paul Carman, Building Manager at Tideview Terrace also sees data from the device potentially helping to create personalized care plans. "We hope to be able to leverage Tenera's data to promote resident engagement in recreational activities and get them more active," he says.
“Traditionally nurse call systems have been focused inside the facility. We’re looking at how we can normalize people’s lives both inside and outside the facility. This technology will help make the outdoors more accessible to our residents.” adds Debra Boudreau, CEO and Administrator at Tideview Terrace.
Looking ahead, the Tideview team envisions broader implementation of Tenera across the facility, encouraged by the company's responsiveness and willingness to adapt.
“Partnering with Tideview and a large organization like Nova Scotia Health adds credibility to our efforts and could allow for a broader impact on the healthcare sector,” says Curticapean. “Ultimately, the goal for us is developing a province-wide senior care experience that’s safer, more dignified and data-driven.”
The Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub helps foster partnerships like this to support the transformative power of technology when coupled with person-centered care. “The avenues that this partnership opens up to us are broad, and we're just on the cusp of even figuring out what that's going to look like,” says Boudreau.
"With an aging population and increasing demands for quality care, now is the perfect time for innovation," adds Curticapean.
