Hospice and Elderly Home Security Trends and Features

Did you know an estimated 7 million senior citizens are currently dependent on long-term care facilities? Furthermore, these numbers are expected to increase, and by 2030, the number of people aged 65 to 74 who live in these facilities will double, while that of those over 80 will triple.

Residents living in assisted living facilities often have access to a wide range of services, such as up to three meals per day, help with personal care, aid with prescriptions, help with housekeeping and laundry, round-the-clock supervision, security, on-site personnel, as well as social and recreational events.

Care homes are small private institutions with 20 or fewer individuals that are also known as residential care facilities or group homes, while nursing homes focus more on providing support with health-related matters, for example: giving the right medications, helping with speech therapy, helping residents move from point A to point B, etc.

Safety is one of the main features residents look for in these facilities. In this blog, we will explore the main features and latest trends when it comes to hospice and elderly home security.

Implementing modern access control solutions

Access control is a crucial feature of hospital security systems. It allows these facilities to ensure that only authorized personnel gain access to the premises. This minimizes the risk of events such as burglaries, vandalism, and other undesirable occurrences.

Traditional, modern access solutions involve the use of simple locks and keys. While they provide a certain degree of protection, they are more easily bypassed than more advanced access control systems.

Biometric readers are a particularly effective type of access control solution. They work by using the physical characteristics of individuals, such as fingerprints, iris patterns, and even facial recognition. This makes it way harder for unauthorized personnel to gain access without permission.

For areas where sensitive data or assets are stored, long-term care facilities can also consider the use of multi-factor authentication procedures (MFA), which require users to use two or more credentials before being granted access to that specific space.

Enhancing video monitoring with analytics software

Assisted living facilities are supposed to be safe havens for patients. However, this is not always the case. While video security systems are very effective at capturing footage of crimes and other undesirable events, they don't always prevent them.

Video analytics software is powered by artificial intelligence. It works by analyzing large volumes of footage in order to detect irregular patterns that may indicate suspicious activities. This often allows these solutions to alert security staff before any damage happens.

They can prevent criminal activities such as theft, arson, and vandalism, as well as slips or falls from patients, missing individuals, and unsupervised areas.

Implementing video analytics software in long-term care facilities can elevate the effectiveness of their video security system to the next level and significantly boost prevention activities. The

Benefits of motion sensors

Motion sensors are devices that detect movement and can be implemented in both indoor and outdoor areas.

In addition to identifying unauthorized breaches, they can also be used to detect patients' movements. For example, they can detect if patients suffering from dementia try to leave their bed and leave the facility; motion sensors can be used to alert personnel in an instance.

Examples of motion sensors include ultrasonic, infrared, and microwave sensors.

By installing these sensors, long-term care facilities can significantly reduce the risk of injuries, patients going missing, and any other undesirable events.

These sensors are increasingly available in a wireless format, which makes their installation easier and their presence less uncomfortable for residents.

Measures aimed at preventing the spread of pathogens

Hospices and elderly homes are at a higher risk of spreading pathogens due to communal living arrangements and shared resources. To minimize the spread of pathogens, long-term care facilities should implement a comprehensive approach that includes preventive measures and infection control practices.

Immunizations are essential, and it is crucial for both staff and residents to maintain up-to-date vaccinations.

Using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer should also be encouraged.

Proper respiratory hygiene should also be promoted. This includes covering coughs or sneezes, disposing of used tissues, and avoiding contact with sick persons.

Infection control practices, such as contact, airborne, and standard precautions, should be implemented in addition to preventive measures. Wearing gloves and masks when necessary, treating all body fluids as infectious, and avoiding exposure to those with certain infections can minimize the spread of pathogens.

Reinforcing risk assessments protocols

Risk assessment protocols are procedures that involve analyzing the environment in order to make sure all security measures are up-to-date and effective.

After involving the identification and assessment of risks and implementing adequate safety measures, long-term care facilities should track progress and conduct frequent evaluations of both the effectiveness of these measures and the presence of new risks that weren't initially considered.

The risk identification stage must be very thorough. Even sharp objects or any bumps or crack in the flooring that can cause them to trip should be treated as a potential hazard during this assessment.

Designing Effective Emergency Response Plans

While implementing security measures can reduce the risk of emergencies presenting themselves, these cannot always be avoided entirely.

An effective security strategy requires the design of effective emergency response plans.

Potential emergencies range from natural disasters to fires to malicious threats. For each of these scenarios, clear instructions must be provided to residents, and training must be provided to personnel so that they can execute the steps effectively. All staff members should be aware of what they should do in an emergency and how they can best protect patients.

In Conclusion

Long-term care facilities, such as hospices and elderly homes, must take proactive steps to ensure the safety of their residents, staff, and visitors.

These measures range from implementing modern security technologies such as access control systems and video analytics software to running period risk assessments and designing effective emergency response plans.

Hospices and elderly homes should also take measures aimed at reducing the spread of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens.