ECH Dandelion, a care hotel operated by South Australia-based home care provider Enabling Confidence at Home, has been equipped with a technology platform for aged care communication and delivery from health IT provider Rauland Australia.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

Rauland's Concentric Care platform, which was launched last year, has been introduced in the newly opened ECH Dandelion in Walkerville, Adelaide. 

The hotel, which offers short term care and respite needs, has sixteen suites. These comprise eight short-stay rooms for patients transitioning from hospitals and eight rooms for people with dementia.

Rooms are installed with discrete 4D radar safety monitoring and fall detection devices. In case of a fall, staff are quickly notified via automated alerts on their mobile devices. Each suite also features voice-activation technology that enables guests to make a request for staff assistance as needed. 

Moreover, guests can order a meal, access online entertainment services or video call family and friends through the Siemens HiMed Cockpit multimedia bedside terminal. 

WHY IT MATTERS

ECH launched the care hotel earlier this month. The hotel was designed to challenge traditional models of care and service delivery by providing a "tailored experience in a home away from home setting".

According to a press statement, the technology-enabled hotel introduces a care model that aims to maintain the independence of patients, especially the elderly. 

ECH seeks to ascertain the long-term viability of the ECH Dandelion's technology-supported care model before expanding the service later. The care hotel will serve guests until yearend.

THE LARGER TREND

A recent report by the Global Centre for Modern Ageing highlighted the need to provide grants to fund assistive technology and home modifications that promote independence in the daily living of senior Australians

In the push for a digitally enabled care model, stakeholders in the aged care sector emphasised that quality of care must remain a top priority. For a wider uptake, technology must supplement and improve healthcare provision and should not replace face-to-face care delivery.

ON THE RECORD

"There is a great need to move away from the current ‘one size fits all’ thinking in relation to care giving and allow people to have the power to make their own choices in relation to their overall health and wellbeing. The partnership formed between ECH and Rauland Australia offers a new model of care that is focused on each guest supported by an end-to-end technology solution," Dr David Panter, chief executive of ECH, said.

"There is a great cultural fit between Rauland and ECH in terms of innovating within the aged care sector. To be part of an industry-first with ECH is an important step forward. With an ageing population, the opportunity to be pioneers in providing technology designed to assist older people is exciting," Rauland Australia Executive Director Steve Gomes also commented.