App connects Life Care residents with loved ones
Published: 15 Jun 2020
Kent lives 13,000 kilometres away from his ageing parents but now he can see them every day thanks to their South Australian aged care provider Life Care launching an app-based communication tool for families.
Staff at Life Care’s Gaynes Park Manor use the app – branded as Life Care Live – to post photos, videos and updates of Vic, 91, and Audrey Techritz, 92, for their Cyprus-based son Kent to see.
“I only get to see mum and dad in person once a year when I come back to Australia, but I don’t know when the next time will be because of the coronavirus travel restrictions,” said Kent Techritz.
“The seven-hour time difference and expensive international call costs means you can’t just pick up the phone and speak to each other either.
“Seeing my parents on the app reassures me they’re being well looked after. I get regular updates which brings a sense of closeness to our relationship, despite the distance.
“The first photo of mum on the app was just after she’d had her hair done at the onsite hairdresser. She’s very proud of her hair. It made me quite emotional to see her with such a big smile, it brought a tear to my eye.”
The app was developed by Hayylo, a purpose-built customer experience platform that helps aged and community care provideres to communicate and engage with their communities.
Residents and their family members who registered to use the app give permission for photographs or video to be taken and shared. Life Care administers the app and controls access to the content. Family members only see posts about their loved ones, and can interact with and comment on updates.
To date, nearly half of all resident families at Gaynes Park Manor have registered to receive updates via the app, with more than 100 photos, videos and updates shared.
Following a successful pilot at the Joslin site, the app is being launched at Life Care’s four other residential aged care sites later this month – Parkrose Village in Everard Park, Glenrose Court in Glen Osmond, Reynella Lodge in Old Reynella, and Aldinga Beach Court.
Life Care is the first South Australian aged care provider to use the app.
The provider’s chief executive officer Allen Candy said Life Care Live would bring families closer together and help create new memories.
“Family members can open the Life Care Live anywhere, anytime, and get updates on their loved ones’ and find out what activities and programs they’ve been enjoying,” he said.
“We were conscious of the impact the necessary yet challenging government-issued COVID-19 visitor restrictions would have on residents, and we also have many residents whose family live interstate or overseas, or work irregular hours, so they’re not able to see mum and dad as often as they’d like.
“While we are now enabling people to visit, during the restrictions we used video and phone calls and ‘windows of love’ to keep as many families as connected as possible.
“The app allows us to take even greater advantage of technology to further improve the care and experience for our residents and their families.”
Life Care has plans to expand the use of the app beyond communication with families.
Soon app users will be able to view and book allied health and fitness services online, request maintenance for independent living residents, and access financial statements and payment information.
Life Care is a not-for-profit South Australian provider of aged care services spanning independent living, home care, respite and full-time residential aged care. These services are offered across nine locations, from Aldinga Beach to Christie Downs, Reynella, Mitchell Park, Everard Park, Glen Osmand, Joslin, Modbury and Balaklava.
The Unley-based organisation employs more than 800 staff, supported by 170 volunteers, and in 2020 celebrates 70 years of delivering care to older South Australians.
Further media information contact:
Ben Smeaton – bsmeaton@communikate.net.au or 0488 940 010
Vicki Cirillo – vcirillo@communikate.net.au or 0427 020 909