Category

Tochtech

Feb 07
0

Tochtech’s “Next Generation Bed Alarm” Technology Implemented by Trellis Seniors 

By | Sleepsense, Tochtech

Trellis Seniors investment in Toch Sleepsense enables personalized and improved quality of care for long term care residents

Tochtech Technologies is delighted to announce an agreement with Trellis Seniors to equip its Hamilton Village Care Centre with Toch Sleepsense, Tochtech’s award winning sleep sensor and bed-exit technology. Trellis’ decision to install Sleepsense at its Hamilton Village Care Centre is the first phase of its investment in Sleepsense. 

“We are excited to be moving forward with the Sleepsense installation as we have been able to experience first-hand the benefits of Sleepsense for residents and for the care team during the trial period.” said Melissa Bawtinheimer, General Manager, Hamilton Village Care Centre.

Sleepsense enables care staff to be automatically notified when a senior gets out of bed, has not returned to bed or in the event of a medical emergency while in bed. Sleepsense bed exit alerts will be integrated with the nurse call as well as other systems used by Hamilton Village Care Centre. Additionally, sleep quality data of each resident captured will enable care givers to adjust care plans and add interventions to address sleep issues. 

“We are delighted by the decision of Trellis Seniors to invest in the technology and are pleased to have been able to prove the value of Sleepsense to the leadership team and the care staff during the pilot” said Jessica Yang, CEO of Tochtech.  

Ongoing investments in the technology will allow Trellis to maintain its commitment of continually improving quality of care for residents and supporting the care team.  “We sincerely appreciate BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) and the EquipCare BC Program as it enables innovative care solutions, like Sleepsense, to be possible and improve quality of life for both residents and staff.” said Mary McDougall, President of Trellis Seniors. “This is more important than ever as increasing healthcare demands and needs continue to stretch the system.”  

Installation of Sleepsense at the Hamilton Village Care Centre, a long term care residence will commence in in early February 2023. Trellis Seniors’ investment in Sleepsense technology follows investments in 2022 by Langley Lodge, BC, Canada, Australian Unity, Australia and an increasing number of long term care centres in Canada, Australia, UK and Japan that have committed to this first of its kind technology. To find out more about Sleepsense, please visit, www.tochsleepsense.com

About Trellis: Trellis Seniors Services Ltd. is a management services company that focuses on ‘creating joy in life and aging…by caring, connecting and celebrating’. We provide a wide array of services including operational leadership, processes and systems to guide decisions and operate the homes. We pursue evidence-based best practice and we are driven to be recognized as a high quality organization. We work in an exclusive arrangement with our clients. Trellis Seniors Services currently operates Hamilton Village in Richmond, BC, Gemstone in Kamloops, BC, Creekstone in North Vancouver, BC and Silverstone in Sechelt, BC (to open late 2023).  For more information, visit https://trellisseniors.ca/

About Tochtech Technologies: Founded in 2014, Tochtech Technologies is a digital healthcare company whose mission is to build smart, cost effective senior care solutions that offer caregivers peace-of-mind while enabling seniors to live healthier and safer lives. Tochtech’s philosophy centres around the use of technology to eliminate the risk and sense of disconnect for seniors, especially those living independently. Tochtech has developed first in-class solutions in the areas of stove safety, voice integrated personal aides and a risk predictive smart care platform. Using voice integration, AI and proprietary algorithms, these products enable caregivers to provide proactive, personalized care to extend older adults’ ability to live a healthy and longer life.

About EquipCare BC: The renewed $8 million program is operating for one year to bring vital infection control as well as safety and quality of life items to publicly funded long-term care and assisted living operators. BCCPA was awarded the $8 million grant by B.C.’s Ministry of Health to develop and manage the province-wide program. Through the previous $10 million EquipCare BC program that ran from April 2020 to March 2022, operators purchased over three million new items, including infection prevention and control, medical screening and respiratory devices, beds and mattresses, overbed tables, shower chairs and tubs, mobility equipment, lighting and visual aids, sensory rooms, music therapy, and ergonomic furniture. 

Media Contact: Vessa Samson, Director of Marketing, Tochtech Technologies  vessa.samson@tochtech.com

Dec 20
1

Wrapping up the Year: Expansion & Evidence

By | Sleepsense, Smarturns, Tochtech, Vericare, Voice Technology
2022 can be summed up as a year of Expansion & Evidence! Tochtech has achieved significant client acquisition partnerships with Langley Lodge, BC, Canada, Australian Unity Retirement Community in Australia, with Sleepsense deployed to over 30 seniors homes globally. We have also been working on a number of promising pilot projects in Alberta, Montreal, the UK and Asia. December also saw Jessica Yang, CEO of Tochtech participating in a the Asia Pacific Foundation’s 2nd Women-only Business Mission to Japan sponsored by the Government of Canada. The trip has already significantly advanced our expansion into the Japanese market.

Tochtech has expanded our business partnership through Sleepsense product integration with Point Click Care and a number of major nurse call systems. We continue to serve and connect with the seniors’ communities through our membership with BC Care Providers Association, Ontario Long Term Care Association and LeadingAge CA. In addition to market and partnership expansion the other aspect, we have been putting much focus on is, data driven evidence supporting Sleepsense. This work is being done in partnership with a number of research organizations as well as recording of positive data coming from our clients’ experience. We are excited to be sharing this data in the new year!

The following are some select 2022 highlights:

The installation of Sleepsense at Langley Lodge’s 139-bed long term care residence commenced in April and we are proud to report that residents, staff and management are thrilled with how well the system is working. The system has successfully improved quality of care and reduced falls at Langley Lodge. Resident sleep quality data is being used as feedback to adjust care plans and add interventions to address. Please check out case studies section for details. This partnership also helped us to build a practical change management process recommendation which will be important tool in supporting the smooth adoption of Sleepsense technology in care operations.
As a key technology partner to Maximus Canada’s seniors@home program, Tochtech has successfully delivered our Vericare, remote ADL monitoring system to the first 50 seniors in the Calgary area to support independent, safer and healthier living. Early results for this significant project are promising with possible plans to further build on this.

As a successful recipient of the OBIO EAHN application that provides $250k funding support, we have been working with Bruyere health organization, AGE-WELL SAM3, Carleton University and All Seniors Care to thoroughly evaluate Sleepsense i

n both laboratory and real life healthcare settings. The project will provide robust cases and scientific evidence on the benefits of Sleepsense in the areas of staff efficiency and care quality improvements. The preliminary results have been showcased by Dr. Bruce Wallace at the AGE-WELL conference in Regina.
2023 will see us build on our successes of 2022 as we continue to advance our technology to support the unique challenges the senior care industry faces. Finally, Tochech wishes all our clients, partners and supporters, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. Thank you for your support throughout the year!!
Nov 29
0
Fire

Cooking Safety Devices Supporting Safe Cooking And Senior Independence

By | Smarturns, Tochtech

FireAccording to the American Burn Association more than 47% of fires in the home are started in the kitchen most often while cooking.  “Home Cooking Fires” a report completed for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in 2020 identifies that cooking caused an average of 172,900 reported home structure fires per year (49 percent of all reported home fires in the US). These fires resulted in an average of 550 civilian deaths (21 percent of all home fire deaths) and 4,820 civilian injuries (44 percent of all reported home fire injuries) annually. Additionally, the percentage of apartment fires started by cooking was nearly twice that of cooking fires in one- or two-family homes. 

Unattended cooking was by far the leading factor in cooking fires and cooking fire casualties. Abandoned or discarded material, which may have been related to unattended cooking, ranked second in the causes of cooking fires and third in cooking fire deaths and injuries. 

Fire VictimsIn another common scenario, combustible materials such as wrappers, potholders, or clothing caught fire when they were left by or came too close to hot cooking equipment.

In 2014–2018, half (49 percent) of the people who died in cooking fires were at least 55 years of age. The 55–64 age group had the largest share of home cooking fire deaths. People 85 and older have a risk of dying in a cooking fire that is 5.5 times higher than that of the overall population. NFPA’s analysis of home fire victims of all causes found that home fire victims who were 85 and older were more likely to have died in a fire caused by cooking than by any other cause. Young adults aged 20–34 were at the highest risk of non-fatal cooking injuries. This risk of greater injury or death increases with age is due to physical, visual, hearing or mental impairments that may slow in seniors impacting the quick action necessary in a fire emergency. This together with forgetfulness and early stage dementia which seniors often suffer from, result in significantly increasing the risks of death and critical injury of seniors when cooking.

However, cooking is an important aspect of life and an activity that is enjoyed by many seniors. Cooking may be one of the last activities seniors enjoy. You may now be asking, ‘is there a smart cooking device that could benefit my elderly loved ones, without a huge investment?” Recognizing this problem, Tochtech developed SmarturnsTM, which solves stovetop kitchen fires by transforming any stove into a smart stove. A first-in-class stove safety product Smarturns alerts a stove user and caregivers when a stove is on and unattended. Smarturns works on gas and electric stoves and supports 98% of stove models in the market. A cost-effective solution, that is simple to install, Smarturns’ intelligent stove knobs and motion sensor can detect when the stove is on and unattended. With Smarturns installed, the older adult will be reminded through a local alarm that the stove is on and unattended, and a caregiver can also be notified via text. These two layers of safety ensure a fire risk is avoided. To learn more about Smarturns and keeping your loved ones safe and supporting their independence please visit Tochtech Technologies website.

Nov 21
0
Caregiver Crisis

How innovation helps address the caregiver crisis in long-term care

By | Tochtech

Caregiver Crisis
The senior care industry like the healthcare industry in Canada and the world over is struggling with staff shortages. Stories of nurses and doctors leaving healthcare due to retirement, burnout from the pandemic and having to backfill for staffing gaps are rife and has led to a healthcare crisis in Canada. The same can be said of the senior care industry, in particular long term care.

As recently reported by the Globe and Mail, The Canadian Institute for Health Information’s (CIHI) annual report on the health work force highlighted that the pandemic has changed how nurses work in Canada. Fewer are willing to take jobs in long-term care homes and are more decamping for private staffing agencies. This, according to a new report that reveals how the COVID-19 emergency affected all types of health professionals and the patients they serve. About 500 fewer registered nurses were employed in long-term care in 2021 than the previous year, a drop of 2.2 per cent, and about 100 fewer licensed practical nurses worked for community health agencies last year than in 2020, a decrease of 0.8 per cent. Over the same period, there was a 7.3-per-cent increase in nurses of all skill levels working in a category CIHI calls “other settings,” which includes jobs at private staffing agencies, cosmetic clinics and nurse consulting work.

This ‘new’ reality comes at a time when wait lists for seniors seeking long term care is at a crisis level. This will only get worse as the baby boomers age over the next 15 years. The senior care industry that has in the past been reluctant to embrace technology and innovation is starting to consider how innovation can help this disaster looming on the horizon. Senior care organizations seriously looking to invest in sensor-based technology to help support start and at the same time enable improved quality of care for seniors in their care. An example of a company that is on a mission to help senior care providers improve efficiencies and enable improved quality of care for residents is Tochtech Technologies, an award-winning Canadian digital health company designing and developing sensor-based innovative products.

One of Tochtech’s award winning innovations, Toch Sleepsense has been designed and built with the long term care industry in mind. A non-wearable, non-contact sleep tracker designed to allow care providers to monitor safety of patients/residents while asleep. The sleep recording and analysis features offer valuable insights in achieving improved sleep quality. Toch Sleepsense is placed under the frame of the bed and detects body movement and vital signs no matter where the sleeper is positioned on the bed. With the Sleepsense central monitoring feature that allows real time monitoring of multiple residents/patients from one screen, Toch Sleepsense is supports improved quality of care for residents in long term care as well staff and efficiencies at seniors’ homes.

Langley Lodge, a 139-bed long term care residence based in Vancouver, Canada is an example care providers utilizing innovation. “It is truly amazing how much data we can access while not impeding our seniors that can contribute to the care of our residents and assist our evening and night staff in monitoring those residents who may require additional assistance. Sleepsense will help us to ensure resources are utilized in the most efficient and effective manner in relation to sleep and safety. I am hopeful with time we will see a reduction in falls, and better quality sleep for our residents. Those are two powerful indicators of seniors’ well-being and health.”, said Lisa Samms-Maxwell, Director of Care at Langley Lodge.

About Tochtech Technologies: 

Founded in 2014, Technologies is a digital healthcare company whose mission is to build smart, cost effective senior care solutions that offer caregivers peace-of-mind while enabling seniors to live healthier and safer lives. Tochtech’s philosophy centres around the use of technology to eliminate the risk and sense of disconnect for seniors, especially those living independently. Tochtech has developed first in-class solutions in the areas of stove safety, voice integrated personal aides and a risk predictive smart care platform. Using voice integration, AI and proprietary algorithms, these products enable caregivers to provide proactive, personalized care to extend older adults’ ability to live a healthy and longer life. 

 

Jul 01
0
Healthcare

A Caregiver’s Perspective on Using Vericare

By | Tochtech

ChartThe following blog was written by Barbara Kirby, (CPCA) Certified Professional Consultant on Aging, Coach and Navigator of SeniorAdvocate.ca on successfully using an alternative support system for seniors aging in their own homes

Alternative Support System for Seniors Aging in their own Homes
By Barbara Kirby

At the beginning of the Corona Virus pandemic in early 2020, I started receiving calls from seniors and their families asking how they could stay home safely rather than moving into assisted living or long-term care?

CoupleWhat immediately came to mind is one of my favorite tools to support the elderly living at home independently, a motion censored monitoring system app. This is an app that gives adult children the opportunity to check if their parents are ok at any time of the day, or night giving  them immediate peace of mind. At the same time, it provides a sense of autonomy for seniors who might be somewhat vulnerable to the risks of living alone.

The company, Tochtech Technologies, is a Vancouver-based digital health company using combinations of motion sensor technology, voice integration, and AI. They provide solutions to enable seniors to maintain independence at home while offering families, caregivers, or executive managers like me peace of mind. Every morning I check to ensure my client is following their usual routine. Please note that this does not take the place of caregiver/companion support but may enhance how support is coordinated.

Tochtech’s Vericare platform uses motion sensors and AI to track a broad range of my client’s Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), showering, meal preparation, activities around the home, and social interactions. This helps develop an activity and behavior profile unique to my client. Notifications and alerts sent to my cell phone allow me to check for potential falls, the front door being left open, or unusual amounts of time showing no movement in one place, such as the kitchen, living room, bedroom, or bathroom.

Toch Sleepsense can alert us to movements in and out of bed, unusual or undetected heartbeats, or changes in breathing and sleep quality.

Toch Smarturns™ – intelligent knobs for the stove are another tool used. This eliminates the worry of the stove being left unattended for longer than usual, as you will receive an alert. You can make a quick call to mom or dad to ask them to check that the stove is turned off if they are finished using it. This ensures safe cooking. Or you can leave your voice message on the TochTech voice activated system. “Hi Mom, make sure the stove is turned off.”

Reports can show changes in daily or weekly routines as leading indicators when keeping an eye out for an elder’s wellbeing. The charting will indicate more sedentary behaviour over a week or month , alerting you to consider hiring a walking companion. Food is still in the fridge from a week ago; you can see this was not just lack of interest in a particular food, but they are not opening the fridge. Is it time to call in a companion to help with meals?

Vericare has been extremely helpful for me as I witnessed one client’s nighttime habits change suddenly, getting out of bed multiple times at night, moving in and out of the bathroom and wandering in her home. This helped confirm what we suspected as her demeanor started to change as well, becoming uncharacteristically confrontational. She was showing signs of a possible urinary tract infection, now we could get her tested and on to medication if needed.

I had another situation where the system indicated a client had gone into her living room, an unusual place for her to be at that time of the day. There was no movement for over an hour, and I received an alert. I had the neighbour run over and she found my client on the floor, not hurt but unable to get up. We called the paramedics for a lift assist. She wears a fall alert fob around her neck but doesn’t like to push the button as she would rather try to get herself up. This was a soft fall, having sat on a low foot stool to light the fire. She had not been successful at getting up, and the fall was not picked up by the fob to alert paramedics. This happened about 2pm and as I was arriving at 6pm she would have remained on the floor the entire time and she may have been hurt.

Vericare has helped in unusual ways a well. The humidity monitor would indicate when the client was having a shower, this was coming on more often than the twice a week my client was showering. We discovered that every time the laundry was done there would be and excessive amount of humidity in the bathroom as if someone were showering. We had to replace the vent and fan and remind the caregivers to turn on the additional fan in the laundry room to prevent further moisture collection and damage to the fan in the bathroom.

My clients say they appreciate the security of the Vericare System, which in turn enables them to remain in their homes longer and gives families and managers such as myself peace of mind. There are no cameras or microphones; all you need is a good Wi-Fi connection. I was surprised at the reasonable costs for the Tochtech system. Go to SeniorsAdvocate.CA for a unique discount code on any Tochtech Products.

….with care, integrity, and heart in mind for you.

Barbara J. Kirby, (CPCA) Certified Professional Consultant on Aging, Coach and Navigator 604-767-4994

Disclosure: SeniorAdvocate.CA may receive payment from time to time when these products are purchased through this website. Any proceeds go to cover the costs of providing free consults for low-income seniors and their families.