Good Samaritan Society, Albert Lea is pleased to announce the addition of a new health monitoring tool that focuses on wellness so seniors can live longer and more independently in the place they choose to call home.

The service is offered through the Good Samaritan Society’s LivingWell@Home program and will be available this fall at Good Samaritan Society, Albert Lea in both its Recovery Trail rehabilitation transitional care unit and its Hidden Creek Assisted Living apartments.

“With this system, we are able to provide a proactive approach to care delivery that can result in early identification of potential medical issues, fewer hospitalizations, decreased falls and a better quality of life,” said Mark Anderson, the executive director at Good Samaritan Society, Albert Lea.

The technology, to be provided by WellAWARE Systems, uses small, wireless motion sensors that are placed throughout a resident’s room or apartment. No cameras or microphones are used with the WellAWARE system, and seniors do not need to do anything to make the sensors work or even realize they are there.

The sensors passively monitor wellness indicators such as sleep quality, activity levels and bathroom visits. The information is transmitted to a secure website where a nurse can compare the information with a client’s usual pattern of daily living.

At Good Samaritan Society locations where sensor technology already is used, the system has alerted caregivers to safety issues, potentially serious health problems and other concerns. In one instance, the sensors revealed a client had been forgetting to turn off her stove for long periods of time. With the client’s permission, family members were contacted and steps were taken to ensure the client’s safety. In another instance, the sensors indicated more frequent bathroom visits, information that helped prevent a severe urinary tract infection.

“We are happy to be able to add this service,” said Anderson. “The sensors provide additional insight into a resident’s overall wellness 24 hours a day, an important benefit to both seniors and their families.”