Social isolation is a serious problem for the well-being of older adults, especially those who are in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Nothing brought this into sharp relief more than the recent coronavirus pandemic, where lockdowns kept families from being able to visit their loved ones in care facilities. Social isolation increases risk for several psychiatric disorders and can increase the rate of cognitive decline, depression, and even suicide.
To combat these issues, many long-term care facilities chose to invest in video conferencing technologies to provide face-to-face interaction with family and friends and increase a feeling of social connectedness. Even though the COVID-19 crisis has abated, video conferencing for nursing homes remains an important tool to help residents achieve a better quality of life.
The Benefits of Video Conferencing for Nursing Homes
While some video conferencing technology exists for mobile phones in the form of apps and some devices such as the Amazon Echo can support “drop in” calling, many patients in nursing care either do not have access to these devices or find it frustrating to learn to use them. Instead, smart care facilities are partnering with technology experts to set up video conferencing solutions that are secure and easier to use than cobbled-together video tech:
HIPAA-Compliant — and Trauma-Free
Creating video conferencing solutions through a competent provider gives your care facility the peace of mind of knowing that any conversations — whether with families to promote a feeling of belonging or with outside care partners to discuss medical matters — are compliant with the appropriate data privacy regulations. HIPAA compliance is essential to keep sensitive data safe and to protect patients and families from the trauma of “Zoom bombing.” Zoom bombing is a phenomenon that occurs when hackers disrupt Zoom-based video calls with disturbing or obscene graphics or communications.
Easy to Use, Cost-Effective Communications
When your nursing home works with experts in setting up proper video conferencing systems, the technology remains affordable. Affordability is critical for most nursing care facilities, which often operate on a strict budget. Your managed services partner can help you decide if a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system is right for you. A VoIP system allows you to reduce the cost of telephony while providing services that have HD voice quality, are stable and reliable, and have interfaces to integrate with other necessary platforms.
Wireless Connections for More Usability
Not every senior will be able to make their way to a designated video conferencing room. Many video conferencing systems can be deployed using a secure, wireless network that offers expanded capabilities. With wireless connectivity, residents can use the system in their rooms with the help of staff who can connect the call through a tablet or other device. Having staff connect the call can reduce frustration by removing the need for residents to remember passwords, learn how to use new technology, or be intimidated by complex concepts.
Let Blue Technologies Introduce Your Residents to the Joy of Connection
Bring a higher standard of care to your residents by offering a way to stay connected with friends and family, even when physical visitation is not possible. Video conferencing technology is a smart, cost-effective way to help your residents have a more joyful and enriching experience.
Our team of IT experts can help your nursing facility choose and deploy a unified communications platform that includes video conferencing capabilities. Optimizing communications in this way can not only save your organization money in the long run, but it can also provide a safer, more secure experience for both staff and residents. We offer state-of-the-art technology that is not only cost-effective but also simple to learn and can be used in many ways — from connecting patients with family members to collaborating with outside hospitals and medical partners over resident health.
Video conferencing brings a host of benefits to long-term care facilities. Contact a Blue Technologies consultant and learn how our unified communications program can help improve both levels of care and quality of life for your residents.
