If your organization is like most other disability support agencies, staffing is a problem. For some, being fully staffed again seems out of reach. But what if you could support more people with only the staff you already have? What if you could do it while promoting the independence of the people you serve? GrandCare technology makes both of these things possible.

GrandCare is a remote monitoring and remote support platform that helps people with disabilities live more independently. It is a touchscreen-based platform with automated medication and ADL prompts, video instruction, and one-touch video calls to your remote support team. GrandCare also uses motion and door sensors to alert remote support that someone might need assistance. It is a fully-featured telehealth platform so people can better manage their chronic health conditions. And GrandCare also has engaging games and entertainment that is customizable to suit everyone’s taste and interests.

Who can benefit from GrandCare Systems?

Almost everyone can use GrandCare for increased independence and improved quality of life. The touchscreen offers self-supporting prompts, entertainment, and communication. Some individuals may transition to remote supports using GrandCare activity and health sensors. Your staff will benefit at point-of-care and while remotely supporting clients.

Benefits for GrandCare users

Remote Supports: People who can have some or all support shifted to remote support services.

• Daily task/schedule reminders
• Instructional “how-to” videos
• One touch call to staff
• Video calls with family/friends
• Online access without the risk
• Games, music and more

Lifestyle Enhancement: People with hands-on care who can use touchscreens for improved quality of life and connection.

• Daily task/schedule reminders
• Video calls with family/friends
• Games & favorite pictures
• Online access without the risk
• Games, music + more

Support Your Staff: Onsite and remote support staff will be more efficient while reducing caregiver burnout.

• Seamless transition between onsite & remote care
• Remote check-ins with secure video chat
• Ensure all services are rendered
• Manage alerts

How do I use the technology?

GrandCare helps individuals to support themselves while enabling providers to offer remote supports and video chat check-ins.

One Ohio-based GrandCare customer went from a 6:1 staff to individual ratio to 21:1 using GrandCare technology and remote supports (see Xavier University study.)

In the below scenario, it takes 8.3 caregivers to provide traditional in-person care to 50 people. Shifting to a remote supports model only requires 2.4 caregivers to serve these same 50 people which saves 4,248 support hours and $84,960 per month*. PLUS, you have freed up 5.9 caregivers to take on new referrals and help those who require in-person support.

Traditional v.s. remote supports model

Traditional Support Model

• 50 people served
• 8.3 staff x 24 hours x 30 days
• 5,976 in-person support hours per month

Remote Supports Model

• 50 people served
• 2.4 staff x 24 hrs 30 days
• 1,728 remote support hours per month
• COST SAVINGS: $84,960 per month (These results are based on the above cited Xavier Study results. Your results may differ.)

Many of your clients may need occasional help in the overnight hours, but maybe not every single night and it certainly isn’t necessarily all night. Having a staff member on site for an eight hour shift every single night is a very costly and inefficient way to solve for this kind of need. With GrandCare, you can mitigate costs, leverage your team, and better serve your clients.

What to know more about how we can help your organization? Contact us to set up a free consultation.

 

*Disclaimer: This information is for demonstration purposes and may not reflect the actual experience of each unique organization.

If you’re experiencing overnight staffing shortages, an increased population of clients who need support, as well as burnout for existing staff, you are not alone. Disability Service Support Agencies find themselves with the frustration of a client population with support needs and not enough physical staff to meet those needs.

We have good news. Assistive technology can help and sometimes even reduce onsite support hours by implementing a remote supports model powered by industry leader, GrandCare Systems.

And what if we told you that not only will your organization save money, but your staff will be more efficient and your clients will experience more independence. Sound too good to be true? It’s not, and we have several studies to prove it.

Many of your clients may need occasional help in the overnight hours, but maybe not every single night and it certainly isn’t necessarily all night. Having a staff member on site for an eight hour shift every single night is a very costly and inefficient way to solve for this kind of need.

Consider the following scenario.

Safely Reducing Overnight Staffing Hours for Marco

Marco has a few things he needs help with and he has engaged a support agency to provide that help. One of the concerns is that he has a sleep-related eating disorder. Occasionally, he’ll get up at night, go to the kitchen and eat a lot of things he shouldn’t. In some cases he might eat things that aren’t even food, creating an even more dangerous situation. For this reason the agency recommended that they have a support person there during the overnight hours.

On the occasion that Marco did get up and make his way to the kitchen, the support staff would wake up and simply say “Hey, Marco, it’s 2 o’clock in the morning. Don’t you think you should go back to bed?” Marco would often nod and go back to bed. In his case, Marco only needed that brief conversation to remain safe.

Now Marco is receiving this support remotely. When he gets out of bed, a motion sensor alerts the remote support staff that there is activity in his kitchen. Then the remote support staff member drops in on the kitchen GrandCare touchscreen to assist him in going back to bed.

Marco no longer needs an overnight staff person and he still has 24/7 available support.

But there are many “Marcos” in your organization.

The remote staff cater to Marco’s needs, but also can simultaneously be available to 21 other residents in the overnight timeframe.

The staffing ratio has now gone from 1:1 to 1:22.

Freeing up these staff members allows your agency to reallocate staff hours to serve more people and to help those who really do need in-person support.

Remote Supports Improve Care

In Marco’s case, he only needed about 60 seconds of support. Using a remote support model through GrandCare, he can get this support only when he needs it and feel more independent the rest of the time.

This not only improves Marco’s quality of life, but improves the lives of your caregiving team and organization.

Talk about a win-win!

Learn more about how GrandCare’s remote support features can help reduce in-person caregiving hours and overnight staffing. Contact us now to schedule a demo.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, states received extra funding for home and community-based services. This helped providers retain workers and allowed states to provide HCBS to more people. But with the additional funding ending, many people will lose access to HCBS and their independence.

What is HCBS?

According to CMS, “Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) are types of person-centered care delivered in the home and community. A variety of health and human services can be provided. HCBS programs address the needs of people with functional limitations who need assistance with everyday activities, like getting dressed or bathing. HCBS are often designed to enable people to stay in their homes, rather than moving to a facility for care.”

HCBS with Technology Supports

At GrandCare, we know the value of enabling people with disabilities to live independently. The GrandCare platform uses 17” touchscreens placed throughout the home. Residents rely on these touchscreens for medication reminders, to-do checklists, instructionals and one touch video calls with family and remote caregivers. GrandCare also uses activity monitoring sensors to alert the remote team if something needs attention. Wireless telehealth devices track vitals and can send notifications if they are outside designated thresholds. At GrandCare, we have personally witnessed how our technologies create better outcomes and happier residents, with far less strain on caregiving staff.

Who pays?

Fortunately, Congress has introduced a new bill, The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Relief Act. The bill introduced by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, would increase much-needed funding for people with disabilities. If passed, it would provide dedicated Medicaid funds to states for two years to stabilize their HCBS service delivery networks, recruit and retain HCBS direct care workers, and meet the long-term service and support needs of people eligible for Medicaid home and community-based services.

You can help!

The Arc of the United States, a non-profit that promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is asking for people to send a message to Congress and ask them to pass the HCBS Relief Act.

Read more about the HCBS Relief Act of 2023 released by Senator Casey.