Assistive Technology ROI for Disability Providers
“Our partnership with GrandCare Systems® along with our innovative business model has improved resident independence, family satisfaction and saved a lot of money. Staff are available when people need them, which is liberating both for staff and for the people receiving services.”
WEST BEND, Wis. (PRWEB)
August 09, 2022
Individuals with developmental disabilities often face increased barriers to independent living. Disability support providers, just like other in-home care organizations, are experiencing serious staff shortages, rising costs of services, and a growing number of people requiring these services.
GrandCare Systems®, makers of touchscreen-based remote monitoring/support technology, and LADD, Inc., a non-profit agency empowering adults with developmental disabilities (DD) announced groundbreaking results from a Xavier University study. Researchers at Xavier set out to measure “occupational performance” (the ability to do everyday tasks without help), resident satisfaction, and the cost of care in the new smart home setting. The results were remarkable including a 75% reduction in in-person support hours.
In fall of 2020, four residents moved into LADD’s newly constructed “Heidt Smart Home” which was outfitted with groundbreaking enabling technologies. In addition to security, smart home and accessibility technologies, and wearables, GrandCare touchscreens were placed in every room throughout the house. These touchscreens support residents in daily tasks, cognitive assists, medication adherence, family connection and one touch video support. GrandCare’s activity and telehealth sensors prompted remote caregivers to proactively support and intervene in resident care exactly when and where help was needed.
One of the metrics used in the study was success in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). These include tasks such as: bathing, dressing, and eating, but also financial management, shopping and meal preparation. The technologies “allowed for residents to perform more of their ADLs and IADLs successfully, with less supervision.” Not only that, but technology-assisted care brought “increases in participants’ self-ratings of performance and satisfaction.”
The men in the smart home were able to do more things independently, for themselves, which led to higher feelings of self-worth and satisfaction.
“This system has the power to transform disabilities services and improve lives across the country,” said Brian Hart, Chief Operating Officer at LADD, Inc. “Our partnership with GrandCare Systems® along with our innovative business model has improved resident independence, family satisfaction and saved a lot of money. Staff are available when people need them, which is liberating both for staff and for the people receiving services.”
“Our partnership with LADD has been incredibly rewarding,” said GrandCare CEO, Laura Mitchell. “Together we have created a model and technology application that is specifically customized and catered to the developmental disability population, their families and caregivers.”
The study also found that LADD was able to safely reduce direct caregiving hours by an astonishing 75% while improving outcomes. This had a profound impact on the cost of care. Prior to GrandCare and remote monitoring technologies, the cost of in-person supports was $5,260 per week. Supportive technologies slashed the total cost of support for the four residents by more than 50% to only $2,607 per week. That adds up to $137,941 per year. With these savings, LADD was able to pay off all of the smart home technology in less than a year, only 36.7 weeks.
The LADD smart living system is arguably the first and most innovative tech-enabled system in the disability marketplace. The results have been so overwhelmingly positive that LADD is currently building several more smart homes for clients with DD and is offering consulting services to other disability service providers seeking to replicate LADD’s business plan along with their carefully vetted technology solutions.
GrandCare and LADD will co-present a free webinar on Wednesday, August 17, at 1pm ET sharing insights, results of the study and lessons learned in the past three years of working together. All are welcome to attend, however, spots are limited and registration is required. Register for free here.
About GrandCare Systems®:
GrandCare is a large touchscreen hub with communication, cognitive assists and social engagement tools, including medication reminders, daily task lists, schedules, instructional videos and HIPAA compliant video chat options. Wireless telehealth and activity monitoring sensors can alert support staff if something needs extra attention. GrandCare has been serving the aging and disability industry since 2005 and with headquarters in Wisconsin and southern California.
Media Contact: LMC
Marketing & PR FIRM
LMC@LMCLLC.us
About LADD:
Guided by the belief that every person has ability and value, LADD empowers adults with developmental disabilities to live, work, and connect. Founded in 1975, the Cincinnati non-profit now supports more than 650 individuals through housing, employment and meaningful community engagement programs. Learn more at https://laddinc.org.
Media Contact: Nyketa Gaffney
Communications Manager
ngaffney@laddinc.org
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