Elderly Community Turns To Big Brother For Help

New Jersey Assisted Living Community Using High-Tech Monitoring System To Watch Residents

Sensors Provide 24/7 Security By Detecting ‘Out-Of-Pattern’ Behavior

JACKSON, N.J. (CBS) ―Keeping the elderly safe and protected from falls becomes a major concern as our population ages, and one community has found that Big Brother may be the answer.

These seniors are leading busy, active lives, striking a balance between keeping their independence while always having assistance nearby.

Falls and injuries are always on the minds of workers at assisted living communities, but budgetary needs prevent overstaffing. There may, however, be an answer: a monitoring system that uses a series of sensors inside an apartment to keep a constant watch over residents.

“We’re trying to keep residents safe, and trying to meet everyone’s needs,” Bride Forde-Lynch said. said.

Forde-Lynch is the head of nursing at the Bella Terra community in Jackson, NJ. She oversaw the installation of the GE monitoring service in all 107 apartments six months ago and says it has been invaluable.

“We’ve saved at least two falls, identified a urinary tract infection, and a resident whose diabetes was also changing,” Forde-Lynch said.

So how does it work? There are four sensors in the apartment. All the information is transmitted to a wall unit, which then sends it to a computer so the nursing staff is constantly eyes-on with every resident.

Sensors are installed in the refrigerator, the bedroom, the bathroom and the front door of the apartment.

A computer tracks any out-of-pattern behavior, and an automatic signal is sent to a staffer to check on residents’ safety, providing around-the-clock monitoring that the community would otherwise not get.

“I know that I’m being watched always, quietly and sensibly,” resident Lawrence Grice said.

Grice, 95, moved in two years ago, and says the security gives him peace of mind.

“If it was obvious, then it would not be nice,” he said.

“We have the monitor right on the wall, which really helps because we don’t have the staff to be with a resident 24 hours a day,” Forde-Lynch said. “This enables them to have their privacy, but it enables us to care for them better.”

The program is keeping residents safe, while giving them independence and privacy.

“[It’s] absolutely worth it – if it saves one fall, it’s worth it,” Forde-Lynch said.

[Webmaster – This is how they are acclimating the public to the concept of being under constant, 24-hour surveillance. Orwell’s “Big Brother”… But they always have what on the surface appears to be a “good reason” for doing it.]