Seniors, for a myriad of reasons, are the most vulnerable members of any community. Not just in the true medical sense, where they are evidently more susceptible to different illnesses due to a much slower, often compromised immune system – but also in terms of their personal security.
Rising public concern regarding senior living security
Over the course of the past decade, senior/assisted living and skilled nursing communities have been targeted repeatedly by individuals bearing ill intentions. Residents have been robbed of their belonging, and in many cases – brutally murdered in the process.
When choosing a senior living facility for their loved ones, families consider a number of factors including safety measures, vigilant entry surveillance, hygiene and cross-infection control protocols, quality of staffing, and general maintenance. Surveys have shown that since the past couple of years, safety and security top the list of deciding factors for new residents choosing a senior living facility. According to the International Association of Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS), theft from residents and staff has ranked in top three of the current leading concerns at skilled nursing and assisted care communities.
The Solution: A sophisticated, fully integrated Visitor Entry Management System
So how can administrators and management ensure complete safety of residents in these troubling times? The solution in most cases is as simple as a highly integrated visitor management system at all entry points to the facility. Communities are still struggling with staffing shortages and caregivers often having to divide their attention between multiple tasks – often compromising the quality of care given to the residents.
With the right security solutions in place, providers can ensure quality care and undivided attention for the residents – knowing that the seniors present in the building, as well as the visitors and other employees – are safe. Here are some of the features that an ideal visitor entry management system should have:
- Digital sign in logs for all visitors
- Records of purpose of visit
- Photo ID and name badge printing
- Banned Visitor watchlists
- Emergency Alerts & Notifications
- Evacuation list generation & Disaster Preparedness
- Dashboard view of all facility operations
Technology, in a nutshell, is the answer to one of the leading concerns surrounding senior living communities today. The right visitor entry management system can add that extra layer of security that can address multiple safety concerns simultaneously.
Agenda for the new year 2023
Seniors should be able to feel safe, happy, and have complete peace of mind within a place they call home. Stepping into the new year, all senior and assisted living community administrators must take steps in the right directions to implement technology meant to safeguard the residents, their visitors, as well as all the employees working in the building.
