UK launch of Amazon’s elderly care solution helps staff easily communicate with residents
Amazon’s smart technology solution, which is designed specifically for care facilities, care staff, and residents, has rolled out in the UK. It boasts a raft of helpful features like video calling with family members, voice-activated controlling of blinds, and reminder setting.
Amazon’s Alexa Smart Properties for Senior Living, which enables care providers and assisted living facilities to integrate Alexa into their properties, has been designed specifically for the needs of elderly individuals and those caring for them. It empowers residents to stay connected, informed, and entertained, just by asking Alexa.
The technology-enabled solution allows residents to stay in touch with their loved ones outside the property through Alexa-to-Alexa calling. Family members can easily get in touch and see their loved ones via video calling, bringing them peace of mind.
Alexa Smart Properties for Senior Living can also help property managers tailor resident experiences and support engagement within their properties by displaying activities, menus, and reminders with Echo Show.
“We believe the intuitive and accessible nature of voice and Alexa has the potential to help and delight customers in many scenarios, in and outside of the home,” said Meryem Tom, Director Alexa Enterprise EU at Amazon. “We’re excited to extend the experiences that customers already love to European care homes and assisted living facilities, and give providers new ways to support their staff while delivering personalised care for their residents.”
Care staff and team members can communicate more efficiently with residents using Alexa communication features, which enable them to make announcements and voice and video calls to other Alexa-enabled devices throughout the property.
Elderly care properties can also support residents in achieving greater independence with smart home features, such as smart lighting, blinds, or thermostats. This allows residents to control their in-room environment with just their voice, saving staff time and allowing them to focus on care, nursing or social activities with residents.
Martin Green, CEO of Care England, commented: “We in the care sector need to invest resources in innovation in order to provide the best possible experience for residents and to thrive in the current environment where our clients demand the best service possible.
“Alexa Smart Properties for Senior Living reminds us all that it doesn’t matter what age you are, voice technology is a powerful, easy-to-use tool. There is so much potential to integrate Alexa Smart Properties for Senior Living with property services, care planning and other care and operational systems that it could revolutionise how care providers provide best quality care.”
According to Amazon, Alexa Smart Properties for Senior Living does not infringe on residents’ privacy. No personal information is shared with Alexa to use the device, and voice recordings are not saved.
Nicolas Vanden Abeele, CEO of Ascom Group, added: “We are excited to collaborate with Amazon and bring together Alexa Smart Properties for Senior Living and our state-of-the art Ofelia software and mobility solutions – a game-changing solution for senior living.
“Both residents and staff can simply make requests by voice, which is an intuitive way to interact with technology, no matter what age you are.
“Alexa Smart Properties for Senior Living has ensured that resident experience remains front and centre at care homes and we’re looking forward to maximising the potential of this technology.”
Alexa Smart Properties for Senior Living has also launched in France and will soon be available in Italy and Germany.