Adam Daniels of Intercall believes that it’s the brand’s commitment to continuous research and development, partnered with UK design and manufacturing, that has made Intercall a global leading care technology brand. Here he tells us why Intercall nurse call systems are chosen by care managers to support staff and care for residents in an increasingly challenging sector.
Established in 1986, Intercall nurse call systems can be found in residential care settings across the UK and in healthcare facilities around the world. Over the years, Intercall has built a reputation as innovators in the care sector, developing nurse call, dementia care and staff attack systems in conjunction with healthcare professionals, through listening to their needs and understanding their challenges.
The challenges are numerous. There are currently almost 7,400 care home providers and 16,500 registered care homes, making the sector one of the biggest employers in the UK. Care home trends are showing that resident demand is outstripping supply, while staffing pressures are showing no sign of dissipating. In addition to the increase in demand for dementia care, people with learning disabilities are living longer, resulting in a growing need for specialised care homes that can care for them as they age. What’s more, people with learning disabilities have a higher risk of developing dementia, making their care needs even more complex.
Care Home managers are increasingly turning to technology to help support staff, improve resident safety, and enhance the operational efficiency of the Home. Intercall nurse call systems offer much more than the traditional call bell systems of the past. Versatile and customisable, Intercall nurse call systems can be programmed to individual home requirements. Calls and events are prioritised, with system colours and sounds specified to cause as little distress and alarm fatigue as possible, while the Intercall Connect App for Android mobile devices alerts and keeps staff updated on nurse call status, wherever they are within the building.
Preserving independence and dignity
Intercall Safeguard for Dementia Care is being used to help care for patients with complex needs, while preserving their independence and dignity. Thermal imaging technology is used to monitor the patient environment. The ceiling mounted sensor encourages independence and privacy while alerting staff to wandering residents, especially at night, and automatically illuminating a light in the residents room to help reduce the risk of injury through falls. For daytime care, the Safeguard Portable Transmitter can be discreetly attached to furniture and fittings providing a simple wireless connection to assistive technology devices and the care home’s nurse call system, where it can be individually programmed to raise the appropriate alerts.
Wearable call devices, in the form of either a comfortable wrist strap or neck pendant, can be personalised to provide invaluable independence for residents, giving peace of mind that help is immediately at hand. Managers are seeing the benefits of using Intercall Care Cards and Tokens, also individualised for staff members, simply programmed using an intuitive App. This can monitor staff response times, manage access to drug stores, log movement around the home and time spent in individual resident rooms, offering an extra level of security and reassurance for both families and Managers. Designed as accessories to the Intercall One and Intercall Touch nurse call systems, the Care Cards and Tokens are an invaluable tool in the day-to-day running of a care home. Likewise, the Intercall Insights App offers Managers access to detailed care data from wherever they are, powered by the secure Intercall Cloud.
From Intercall’s perspective, every project begins from a position of real understanding. Our nurse call ranges have been developed in conjunction with healthcare professionals, through listening to their needs and understanding their pain points. It’s also the starting point for our partner distribution and installer collaborations. We’re committed to rigorously training and supporting partners, ensuring they’re abreast of all system updates and have a full understanding of the capabilities of the Intercall nurse call systems, thereby enabling them to help care homes get the most out of Intercall systems.
One such partnership is Safety Systems Distribution Ltd, who have specified and installed hundreds of Intercall nurse call systems, often offering bespoke solutions such as SIP telephone system integration, with the support of the Intercall technical team. Stuart Robson, Director at Safety Systems told us, “we consider Intercall to be a forward-thinking company that continually develops market-leading products, while sharing our passion to deliver high level care that ultimately benefits residents lives.”
Recent projects have included the installation of a large Intercall Touch nurse call and Safeguard for Dementia Care system into the Staffordshire and Cannock Specialist Care Centres for Restful Homes Group. The Centres provide care for residents who require Residential, Nursing, and Dementia care with associated behaviours that challenge. It also caters for older people with enduring Mental Health needs. The Intercall Touch system was also selected by Exemplar Health Care for its specialist care homes. As the most programmable system from Intercall, it was chosen for its adaptability and flexibility, seamlessly integrating with other technologies, including eye gaze technology and bed exit systems.
Supporting staff
One of the more recently recognised challenges within the sector is the rise of violence against staff, especially within dementia care. Studies indicate that approximately 15% of residents exhibit aggressive behaviours towards staff, with almost 8% involving physical violence, often stemming from confusion, fear or frustration associated with cognitive decline. Care Managers are looking to inconspicuous solutions to help support staff, while causing residents as little disquiet as possible.
The Intercall Guardian Staff Attack System includes a discreet, durable personal panic alarm that can be worn by all staff members requiring protection, which when activated generates a silent alert, summoning urgent assistance and reporting the precise alert location and caller identity to security staff or colleagues. Using infra-red technology to accurately pinpoint a call, a signal is transmitted to wired receivers, providing the exact location and identity of the caller from the transmitter’s own unique ID code. The panic alarms can be supported by Guardian system wall-mounted display units or integrated with the Intercall nurse call system.
With 70% of all care home residents in the UK living with dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Society, the challenges for residential care providers continue to develop. While care providers continue to look to technology to help educate, prevent and manage this challenging disease, Intercall will continue to listen, collaborate and develop innovative solutions to help support care home staff and residents.
About Intercall
Intercall design and manufacture innovative nurse call and staff safety systems in the UK. Their nurse call Intercall Touch, One and 600/700 systems, and staff safety system, Guardian Staff Attack, can be found installed in care homes, hospitals and mental health facilities across the UK and Europe. Intercall exports to over 60 countries worldwide, including the Middle East, India, and Africa.
Adam Daniels is responsible for Export Development & Marketing at Intercall.
Safety Systems Distribution Ltd will be exhibiting, in partnership with Intercall, at the Care Show, Excel London on the 29th – 30th April. They will be showcasing and demonstrating Intercall systems, including Intercall One, Intercall Touch and Guardian Staff Attack. Find them at Stand D43.
