Fla. Senior Living Facility Enlists Direct Supply to Deter Patient Wandering
Direct Supply integrated the facility’s access control with video surveillance, intercoms and an at-risk human perimeter system.
Abbey Delray is a senior living community located in Delray Beach, Fla. (Image Courtesy: Abbey Delray Facebook Page)
Securing a senior living facility is no run-of-the-mill project. In addition to typical security areas such as video surveillance and access controls, unique life-safety solutions must also be employed. Serving the long-term care industry exclusively, Milwaukee-based Direct Supply is well-versed in those needs.
Selected by Lifespace Communities when it wanted to makeover its Abbey Delray location in Florida, Direct Supply integrated its access control with video surveillance, intercoms and an at-risk human perimeter system. The integration provided notifications to staff on handheld wireless devices.
“The client wanted residents to be able to call for help from wherever they were, so it was important we provided a wireless nurse call system,” explains Calie Blanke, Direct Supply marketing manager. “The client requested an emergency alert system to provide responses to emergency alerts on mobile devices, tablets, desktops and laptops. When residents use an emergency alert for a non-emergency issue, caregivers must be able to reroute calls to the appropriate staff or resolve the emergency without having to enter the room.”
Because video surveillance and access control security systems can be ineffective when it comes to residents experiencing memory loss, a “wander system” was necessary.
“An electronic personal safety alarm annunciation system was designed and installed for elopement prevention with alarms upon resident approach of the at-risk human perimeter,” says Blanke. “This wander control system consists of passage-mounted wander equipment, exciters, keypads, wiring, connectors, hardware, supports, accessories, software, system programming and other appurtenances necessary for a complete operating system that provides the functional intent desired including integration with other systems.”
The video surveillance system installed features cameras at all exits to assist in locating wandering residents. The wander system and intercom were then integrated with the e-call system to provide alarm notifications with caregivers.
Direct Supply also installed Cat-6 cable for data drops, wireless access points, RG6 coax cable for television, 485 communication cable for wander management, and 12-strand OM3 armored multimode fiber-optic cable, RG11 coax cable, and 50- and 100-pair Cat-3 voice cable for backbone.
Steve Karantzoulidis is the senior editor for our sister publication Security Sales & Integration.
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