BUPA Aged Care roll our Free COVID-19 App for Families and Staff

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COVID-19 App – Keeping people safe, connected and informed virtually

Keeping families and staff from Aged Care facilities informed with the latest information on COVID-19 has presented a challenge for many.

Bupa Aged Care has partnered with Checked in Care to roll out the custom made Bupa Aged Care Connect app. The free app will provide up-to-date COVID-19 related information for residents, their loved ones, and Bupa employees, which is particularly important during this difficult time while care home visits aren’t possible

Suzanne Dvorak, Managing Director Bupa Villages and Aged Care Australia said

” We know there is a need to help family and friends feel more connected to the day-to-day lives of our residents in our homes. While we know we can’t replace face-to-face interactions, we hope that with new ways of communicating we can help keep our residents’ connections with their loved ones as strong as possible.”

Information available to both employees and relatives in the Bupa Aged Care Connect app includes:

  • COVID-19 Bupa Aged Care information
  • COVID-19 Government health advice
  • Updates on what is happening in the homes and how to contact them
  • Messages from our Bupa leaders
  • A link to the COVID-19 Bupa Help Line
  • Managing wellbeing during COVID-19
  • COVID-19 dementia care
  • Messages of support from the community

The ease of use and security of Checked in Care’s Free COVID-19 app has seen over 35,000 Staff, Residents and their Families, across numerous Aged Care and Disability Service Providers, implement it in the last 4 weeks.

The same free app is now also being used to enable Virtual Seniors’ Interest Groups, such as Exercise Classes, Frank Sinatra sing along Groups, Bingo, Virtual Men’s Sheds and the like.

The key advantages of the Connect app also include

  • Easy to set up and use – A RACF site can be set up within 2 hours
  • Secure video calling:
    o No access to staff private mobile numbers
    o No cut and paste of multiple zoom/teams/skype video links
    o Families cannot access other private sessions
  • Telehealth capabilities

Checked In Care, via the Connect App platform, has been providing direct, transparent and dynamic information for clients, staff and families of the Australian Aged Care sector since 2015. The Connect App has helped to reduce family stress levels, as they have up to date information on their loved one’s health status.

To find out more about the COVID-19 App and how you can start accessing it, please contact John Perkins, Director, Checked In Care. M: 0415 60 70 55 E: john.perkins@checkedincare.com.au

About Checked In Care

www.checkedincare.com.au

Checked In Care focusses on connecting the aged care ecosystem into a single service app, connecting seniors, families, staff and allied health professionals through a simple, easy to use app, to provide the right information, to the right person at the right time, in supporting the needs of the Care Recipient. John Perkins is one of the founders, and owner of Ethan Group, Australia’s largest privately owned IT Company, with revenues exceeding $200Million per annum. Ethan Group is one of Australia’s leading Cloud Managed Services Providers. His passion is to utilise technology to provide a Better Quality of Life in our ageing population, whilst at the same time reducing the impacts of social isolation on the ageing

Free Coronavirus App for Aged Care Facilities to Communicate Instantly with Families and Staff

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COVID-19 App – Keeping people safe, connected and informed virtually
Thursday 26th March 2020

The COVID-19 virus has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation( WHO). WHO are demanding that Governments take immediate action to minimise the spread of the virus, encouraging self-isolation for those who are at risk.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Checked In Care has re-configured their Connect App platform to enable a COVID-19 App to be made available to Australian Aged Care Providers free of charge. This provides the Clients, Staff and Families of Aged Care Providers with up to date information, access to medical resources and advice, and the ability to access products and services if they were to self-isolate. 20,000 Staff, Residents and Families have already taken up the offer to move to our free COVID-19 App.

Available on any smart device from either the Google or iOS app stores, the COVID-19 App provides:

  • Access to validated information
  • Key Information from the Aged Care Provider
  • Broadcast messages, notifications and updates
  • Telehealth / access to GPs and medical experts
  • Ability to stay connected with friends and families, and automated updates to families
  • Shopping – Links to purchase online products and services

The COVID-19 App is also available for Government Departments to use to communicate with the broader public, especially those at risk. (Subject to fees)

Checked In Care, via its Connect App platform, has been providing direct, transparent and dynamic information for clients, staff and families of the Australian Aged Care sector since 2015. The Connect App has helped to reduce family stress levels, as they have up to date information on their loved one’s health status.

To find out more about the COVID-19 App and how you can start accessing it, please contact:
John Perkins, Director, Checked In Care.
M: 0415 60 70 55
E: john.perkins@checkedincare.com.au

About Checked In Care
www.checkedincare.com.au

Checked In Care focusses on connecting the aged care ecosystem into a single service app, connecting seniors, families, staff and allied health professionals through a simple, easy to use app, to provide the right information, to the right person at the right time, in supporting the needs of the Care Recipient. John Perkins is one of the founders, and owner of Ethan Group, Australia’s largest privately owned IT Company, with revenues exceeding $200Million per annum. Ethan Group is one of Australia’s leading Cloud Managed Services Providers. His passion is to utilise technology to provide a Better Quality of Life in our ageing population, whilst at the same time reducing the impacts of social isolation on the ageing.

Keep Physical Distance, NOT Social Distance, via the Free COVID-19 App for Aged Care Facilities

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COVID-19 App – Keeping people safe, connected and informed virtually
Tuesday 24th March 2020

With the COVID-19 Pandemic, we must keep our physical distance from others. This is even more important for Aged Care facilities that have gone into lock down to protect the most vulnerable. But social connection is vitally important.

Remain socially connected whilst keeping your physical distance, through our free COVID-19 App, available for Smart Phones and Tablets via Google Play and Apple Store.

This Free App can immediately enable video calling to keep your clients and families connected, to help reduce social isolation of your clients during lock down. The key advantages include:

  • Free, encrypted, video calling within COVID-19 app, that also meets tele health requirements
  • Staff can see all residents on their device, they choose resident and then chosen family member/s to call
  • Residents can speak to approved family and friends using video teleconferencing in our easy-to-use App
  • Only takes 2 hours to set up a Registered Aged Care Facility (RACF)

Additional options include

  • Family can get daily updates and family can also send through photos and updates
  • Family can order extra products and services for their loved ones

The COVID-19 App is also available for Government Departments to use to communicate with the broader public, especially those at risk. (Subject to fees)

CheckedIn Care, via its Connect App platform, has been providing direct, transparent and dynamic information for clients, staff and families of the Australian Aged Care sector since 2015. The Connect App has helped to reduce family stress levels, as they have up to date information on their loved one’s health status.

To find out more about the COVID-19 App and how you can start accessing it, please contact:
John Perkins, Director, CheckedIn Care.
M: 0415 60 70 55
E: john.perkins@checkedincare.com.au

About CheckedIn Care
www.checkedincare.com.au

CheckedIn Care focusses on connecting the aged care ecosystem into a single service app, connecting seniors, families, staff and allied health professionals through a simple, easy to use app, to provide the right information, to the right person at the right time, in supporting the needs of the Care Recipient. John Perkins is one of the founders, and owner of Ethan Group, Australia’s largest privately owned IT Company, with revenues exceeding $200Million per annum. Ethan Group is one of Australia’s leading Cloud Managed Services Providers. His passion is to utilise technology to provide a Better Quality of Life in our ageing population, whilst at the same time reducing the impacts of social isolation on the ageing.

RAWHITI ESTATE – New Zealand Retirement Living

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New state of the art retirement village welcomes its first residents
Originally published RVA Newsletter 20/11/2018 – Download Full Newsletter

One of New Zealand’s most advanced assisted living environments has opened its doors with residents now moving in.
BeGroup’s flagship property, Rawhiti Estate, is one of the first retirement villages in the world to combine tablet-based technology and employee communication tools to help take the loneliness out of retirement and put the independence back in.

Residents can use the specially designed Care-Cohort tablets to order meals, movies, create digital pottery and artwork, and play games. They can also be used to video call family, friends and make direct calls to care professionals through small, wearable staff communication devices called Vocera badges.

Rawhiti Estate General Manager Helen Martelli says they are one of the first retirement villages to connect Care Cohort tablets to the Vocera badges, which she says is a significant step forward for resident safety.

“Traditionally, when residents need to get a carers attention, they push a button that rings through to the nurse’s station. Then they have to wait, without knowing whether the bell has been heard, or how soon someone will arrive.

“This can leave residents feeling vulnerable. We wanted to raise the bar and do things differently.

“With the tablet, residents simply touch the image of the nurse or carer they wish to speak to, it immediately dials through to the Vocera device, which is worn by our carers at all times, and the resident can tell them exactly what they need.

“Our planning estimates show it will save almost 5,200 hours a year for our staff, freeing them up to spend more quality time with the residents,” says Mrs Martelli.

Mrs Martelli believes technology has an important role to play in improving care for residents.

“Technology helps free up carer time and enables them to provide a stronger level of personal, connected care. We can see these trends emerging internationally and we are pleased to be able to introduce smarter systems to Rawhiti Estate,” she says.

Housed on the former Rawhiti Bowling Club site, Rawhiti Estate offers a full continuum of care with 27 independent living apartments, and 68 rest home and hospital level care suites, including safe and secure memory loss units.
It combines international design trends, world-first technology and an urban lifestyle in the heart of Auckland’s Remuera.

The estate is built and operated by the BeGroup, an independent New Zealand retirement village operator led by Guy Eady, former CEO and Chairman of Oceania who has more than 25 years in the retirement sector.

“When developing Rawhiti Estate, it was important to us to ensure we had a blend of independence, dignity and high standards of living, but in a state-of-the-art retirement village that still feels like home,” says Mr Eady.

All aspects of the assisted living and memory loss facilities; from high patient to staff ratios, discreet hoists and hospital grade beds and chairs, right through to the décor, fixtures, foods and even the lighting, have been designed to promote quality care and peace of mind.

BeGroup has used the latest global research into dementia triggers to create living areas, facilities and services that actively enhance the health of their residents, promote connections, companionship and genuine care for residents in the assisted living and memory loss suites.

Many of the traditional “clinical” aspects of rest home care have been designed out of the estate, including long institutional style corridors in favour of smaller, neighbourhood style communities within the village to help it feel like home.

It also has a strong commitment to art and features commissioned works by sculptor Paul Dibble and renowned painter Karl Maughan, alongside an additional 60 prints and lithographs by top New Zealand artists including Stanley Palmer, Michael Smither, Marilyn Webb and Dick Frizzell.

As well as displaying great art, BeGroup CEO Guy Eady says Rawhiti Estate will also work to provide access to creative activities for its residents.

“There is growing recognition of art as a therapeutic tool in different settings and a significant body of research is available which shows the various ways art can benefit people as they age. This includes supporting emotional wellbeing, reducing stress levels and reducing feelings of loneliness, as well as providing direct benefits to cognitive abilities.”

Mr Eady says the team looked closely at this type of research while designing Rawhiti Estate because it ties into their philosophy of care, which aims to ensure dignity for residents.

“Our hope is that having high quality art will provide an environment that people can enjoy and take inspiration from. When coupled with providing access to meaningful creative activities, we believe it provides a unique point of difference in the care we provide for our residents.”