Tag Archive for: Knute Nelson

elderly care monitoring system

GrandCare benefits all areas of elderly care

Caring for a loved one who is facing end of life is a difficult situation for all parties involved. Time or geographic constraints can sometimes prevent family members from being physically present, but modern technology is changing the way the nation looks at quality health care.

Knute Nelson, a nonprofit, Christian-based organization that specializes in senior care, has teamed up with local telecommunications providers such as Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association (Brandon, Minn.) to offer an in-home technology solution that connects seniors and Hospice patients with their loved ones, caregivers and medical team.

Through the use of the GrandCare System, a simple touch platform enables in-home residents to view pictures, receive incoming messages, watch videos, listen to music and video chat with family. The system uses a variety of wireless activity and telehealth devices that also can alert designated caregivers by phone, email or text message if anything seems amiss.

Daphne Karpan, Knute Nelson palliative care manager, said the system has been particularly helpful and beneficial to the health-care organization’s Hospice clients, who generally have a one- to nine-month life expectancy. Being able to connect them with their loved ones at such a critical time has been a rewarding experience for all parties involved, she said.

Testing Out Telehealth Services

The GrandCare System requires an Internet connection to work. Because most of the affected patients are not existing customers, Dave Wolf, chief executive officer/general manager of Gardonville Cooperative Telephone, said that his team makes it a top priority to install the low-cost broadband connection “without a bunch of red tape.”

Karpan noted that Knute Nelson is only able to offer this service through the support of a Blandin Foundation grant. The private foundation is the state’s largest rural-based, rural-focused foundation that seeks to strengthen communities in rural Minnesota.

Karpan said hospice nurses are able to work with clients to set up Skype sessions and to upload pictures for families to share. In addition, the device can be programmed to monitor vital signs and activity. There are also sensors to alert caregivers if someone falls or needs to take their medicine.

“We have been proactively redefining the health-care paradigm over the last decade and have found great value in how technology helps to enrich the lives of our patients. With GrandCare, patients are able to become more involved in their own health care, stay living in their homes, and be connected to families and friends in meaningful ways,” said Mark Anderson, president/chief executive officer of Knute Nelson. “Partners and leaders in the field such as Dave Wolf … understand the value in delivering this technology. Making it available to their customers helps to spur economic development and vitality in our region—and, most importantly, adds significant value in the lives of our patients.”

Doing the Right Thing

Reflecting on the decision to partner with Knute Nelson on this initiative, Wolf said it was an easy decision to make despite the fact that it’s not a revenue generator. “These people are facing end-of-life,” he said. “It would require a one- to three-year triple-play package in order to break even at best. Everyone—the patient and their family members— is grateful and becomes loyal to the co-op for providing this service.

“There are 100 economic reasons not to get involved … but we have the means and the network already in place,” he said, explaining that Gardonville Cooperative Telephone is promoting the service as a low-speed data package that runs on 1 Mbps and doesn’t require those in home care or Hospice to sign a contract.

“Not everything has to be a slam-dunk,” Wolf said. “In this case, loyalty is a measurable outcome.”

 

By Tennille Shields, NTCA Senior Writer/Editor

Technology paves the way to tackling the senior care crisis

According to the U.S. Department of Health Human Services and the Administration for Community Living, the elderly population in the United States is expected to more than double from 39 million to 72 million by 2030. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing also predicts that there will be a serious nursing shortfall in the next few years as there will not be enough to meet these increasing demands. These issues along with the rising costs of long-term care leads many seniors and their families seeking alternatives to allow the elderly to remain independent and aging at home for as long as possible.

Prairie Business Magazine

This is where home care providers and technology can bridge this widening gap. A recent article by Kris Bevill in the July Issue of the Prairie Business Magazine, in Grand Forks, ND talks about these issues that are becoming a big concern for the northern Plains where much of the population is in the 65 years plus range.

This new and growing demand, combined with a region-wide health care worker shortage, means the fairly young home health care industry is often racing to keep up with patient loads and regulations, but providers say they are confident they will continue to meet demand, thanks in part to new methods of care delivery. – See more at: http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/24157/#sthash.akar3ksu.dpuf

In the article, Patti Cullen, president and CEO of Care Providers of Minnesota talks about how “congregate settings allow fewer workers to care for more patients. She also points to technology as a great potential aid in allowing seniors to remain in their home with limited personnel visits.”

Anne Major, president of Fargo-based Ethos Home Care agrees that technology can aid the industry by confronting staffing challenges while providing top-notch care to patients.

Major points out that Ethos has been advertising for a licensed practical nurse and another RN “for quite a while,” but finding staff is an ongoing problem. “The hospitals are feeling it, the care centers are feeling it, and home care is feeling it as well,” Major says.

She adds, “incorporating technology into home care not just for the staffing benefits, but for the additional well-being that remote monitoring can provide for families. Technology can be utilized in a variety of ways for senior care. Medication dispensers can send an alarm to caregivers if medicine is not dispensed at the correct time, motion sensors can automatically trigger lights to turn when a person enters a room or steps on the floor as they get out of bed. Major offers another example she’s seen firsthand, where a child was concerned about his parent leaving home and becoming disoriented, so a sensor was enabled to alert the child whenever the parent’s garage door opens or closes.” – See more at: http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/24157/#sthash.akar3ksu.dpuf

Knute Nelson, based in Alexandria, MN utilizes the GrandCare Systems technology to meet their care giving needs by providing a touch screen in the patient’s home.

The grandCARE product is a complete care system that combines telehealth, activity monitoring, digital health management, medication reminders, remote patient monitoring and entertainment/social engagement features into a single, easy-to-use touchscreen designed to keep seniors aging in place.

Technology like grandCARE can actually be more affordable than you think. For home care, senior living and other healthcare organizations, grandCARE offers special enterprise solution programs that can make implementation of this type of technology a reality. Jerry Furness, Chief Operating Officer at grandCARE systems says, “we believe in the benefits of our system and want to provide organizations an opportunity to reap the benefits which is why we have these special enterprise programs in place. Our goal is to make implementation happen in a meaningful way by partially or fully eliminating the up front cost hurdles for these groups.”

Caregiver showing grandCARE user new task list feature.

Caregiver showing grandCARE user new task list feature.

System Comp HR

The article concludes: Andrea Jung, president of Elk River, Minnesota-based Guardian Angels Elimm Healthcare and Hospice added, “I’m really excited about the potential there is for home care….I think technology is going to be a big impact and change the way we deliver care and how many people we’re reaching. There are so many things going on in this industry that I’m really excited about.”

About grandCARE:

GrandCare Systems LLC, founded in 2005, offers the most comprehensive and holistic professional care giving and health coordination tool on the market.  grandCARE is a large touch platform which provides health instructions, secure video chat, wireless vital recordings and analytics, medication compliance, activity sensing, and family communications into one intuitive and expandable platform.  grandCARE focuses on true individual centered care, enabling better experience, better engagement, and better outcomes. For more information, visit: www.grandcare.com or call 262-338-6147.

 Media Contact:

Amy Schwengels       262.338.6147   media@grandCARE.com

grandCARE receives 9.7 out of 10 on the Senior List Product Review

Product Review: grandCARE

The Senior List (read the entire review here)

GrandCare Systems
9.7 out of 10

I get really excited about new technologies, systems, and emerging companies.  Especially if they’re built with the goal of making peoples lives more livable.   GrandCARE Systems is one of those companies that’s easy to get behind!  GrandCARE Systems is a communication tool, care management asset and activity-sensor-hub all wrapped up in an easy-to-use touchscreen device.

Connectivity Tools For Seniors

The grandCARE System offers connectivity for seniors.  It keeps them connected to family members, caregivers, and healthcare providers alike.  Family members are able to share photos, videos, and messages through the care portal (which can be accessed through any device with an internet connection).  Caregivers can set up activity reminders and medication prompts.  Medication reminders take on a whole new look with photos of pills and dosing information.

Healthcare providers are able to set up sensors around the home that can detect motion, establish sleep patterns and even send an alert if the refrigerator door has not been opened in the morning.  The system also supports telehealth devices such as blood pressure monitors, scales, pulse oximeters, glucometers, and thermometers.   All of this can be done while monitoring and engaging even the most technology-averse seniors.GrandCare Systems offers connectivity to seniors

GrandCARE allows every person involved with the senior to contribute in their own way.  It allows people to feel more integrated into their loved ones lives. — Daphne Karpan, Home Care RN

Thegrandcare systems communication tool grandCARE touch screen interface is very easy for the front end-user, presumably an older adult that may not be familiar with computers or modern tech.  It’s also easy for family, caregivers and providers who are connected on the back-end.  Monitoring seniors at home can make a great deal of sense.  GrandCARE just makes it easier!  Personally, I can also see this system being a welcome addition to any long distance family member situation.  Family members can easily send photos, videos and personal notes to share.

We reviewed a competitor of grandCARE in the past called Video Care.  Even though Video Care isn’t around anymore, their users have been incorporated into the grandCARE system.

 VideoCare used different hardware than grandCARE but we invested in testing our software to the point we can simply send VideoCare customers a USB drive that installs GrandCare on their current VideoCare touch PC.   It has made a number of people happy and we are proud to almost seamlessly migrate clients and their caregivers from VideoCare to grandCARE with almost no interruption in service. — Jerry Furness, COO of grandCARE

GrandCare Systems Monitor

GrandCARE Systems (grandCARE) recently released MediKall, which is a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant video chat for providers to talk to clients and patients about medical conditions.  HIPPA compliance means your medical and personal information is protected/safe. GrandCARE can be used with a wired or wi-fi internet connection, so it’s a very flexible solution.

Buying a grandCARE System

Cost is $699 for the system and requires a $49 monthly subscription.  There are no additional charges for use of health devices, sensors, or alerts.  Some users are able to access this system through their home care, home health, hospice, or senior care living facility at a reduced cost.  Ask your provider if they have grandCARE connected into their network.  If you’re interested in the grandCARE System for a family member or a friend, by being a member of The Senior List community, you can receive 10% off of the purchase price.  Tell them you read about it here!

GrandCare Systems

$699 + $49 monthly

GrandCare Systems
9.7

Easy of Use 9.5/10

Scalability 9.8/10

Access from Anywhere 9.9/10

Accessible from Multiple Devices 9.9/10

Pros

  • – Can be used in any setting
  • – Socialization
  • – Activity Monitoring
  • – Telehealth Recording
  • – Medication Management

About Amie

Mom, Business Owner, and Blogger. Expert on senior-care issues, particularly senior housing solutions. Loves a good challenge and tough obstacle courses. Co-founder of The Senior List and The Senior Resource Network.

Comments

    • Thanks Amie. I did speak to the director of product development at GrandCare today to determine if my grandmother’s dementia would prevent her from using this. The interface is completely customizable so that we are able to remove all but video conference button. If she is still unable to understand how to use the unit, it can be controlled remotely so that we can launch the video conference and also control sound remotely and my grandmother would not need to do anything.

Minnesota-based Aging Services Group exclusively selects GrandCare for member organizations

Aging Services Group Chooses GrandCare to Help
Senior Living Providers Better Serve Older Adults at Home

Innovative Technology Empowers Consumers, Removes Distance as Barrier to Care

“GrandCare was a natural choice for us. We are seeing an exponential increase to our aging population, while the relative number of caregivers and physicians is in decline,” said Jared Schei, Executive V.P. of Aging Services Group.”

Aging Services Group, a subsidiary of Aging Services of Minnesota, the largest association of organizations serving Minnesota seniors, has partnered with GrandCare Systems, to change and enhance the way traditional caregiving services are deployed for older adults in the state.

GrandCare Systems utilizes digital health and socialization technology to reduce health care costs and improve outcomes by enabling designated family members, caregivers and healthcare professionals to remotely care for individuals in their home, regardless of location.

Aging Services of Minnesota is eager to equip their member organizations with a comprehensive, fully-featured and flexible platform, helping them to provide better, more efficient and more cost-effective care.

“GrandCare was a natural choice for us. We are seeing an exponential increase to our aging population, while the relative number of caregivers and physicians is in decline,” said Jared Schei, Executive V.P. of Aging Services Group. “We believe technology will greatly help amplify care giver efforts and promote patient empowerment and family participation. With its extensive capabilities, GrandCare fits the needs of our members across the long term care continuum, whether they are providing home-based, facility-based, short-term stay or hospice care services.”

Minnesota caregiving organizations like Knute Nelson and LB Homes already utilize GrandCare’s digital health and activity monitoring technologies.

“GrandCare has changed the way we offer care,” said Daphne Karpan, Palliative Care Manager, Knute Nelson in Alexandria, MN. “Knute uses it to remotely monitor our clients’ vitals and quickly identify if a physical nursing visit is needed. It’s been a valuable resource for our hospice clients who use it for end-of-life conversations and video chatting with family.”

Dell Med Prompt
The heart of GrandCare is a large, easy-to-read touchscreen placed into the client’s residence providing medication prompts, family communications, one touch HIPAA compliant video chat, messaging, patient assessments, discharge information, scheduling, care plans and more. It is designed to empower and engage the resident, while providing information to improve health and outcomes. A series of optional wireless telehealth sensors can be used to automatically report and graph vital readings, and even notify a staff member if readings are outside of designated thresholds.

“GrandCare is a holistic platform, customized to address all human needs from physical to emotional to spiritual,” said GrandCare co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Laura Mitchell. “With remote telehealth monitoring and virtual visits, distance is no longer a barrier to providing efficient, secure and professional care.”

About Aging Services of Minnesota
Aging Services of Minnesota is the state’s largest association of organizations serving Minnesota seniors. Together with more than 50,000 caregivers, Aging Services members serve 63,000 older adults every day in all of the places they call home, including home care and services, independent senior housing, assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities. Aging Services of Minnesota is the state partner of LeadingAge and state affiliate of Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA).

Aging Services of Minnesota Media Contact:
JODI BOYNE
Vice President of Public Relations
jboyne@agingservicesmn.org
651.659.1430 (direct)

About GrandCare
Since 2005, GrandCare Systems has provided the most comprehensive caregiving technology on the market, enabling care professionals to provide safer, faster and more affordable care. GrandCare’s simple, touch platform enables a Resident to self manage chronic conditions, follow health instructions, view family pictures, receive incoming messages, watch videos, and participate in secure video chat sessions. Using a series of wireless activity and telehealth devices, GrandCare can alert designated caregivers by phone, email or text if anything seems amiss (medications not accessed, glucose levels not taken, abnormal vitals, etc.)
GrandCare Media Contact:
media@grandcare.com 262-338-6147 @grandcare

Knute Nelson uses GrandCare Systems to Keep Seniors at Home

By Amy Chaffins
Today at 7:01 a.m.
www.echopress.com

Remote monitoring means home sweet home for seniors

New technology is helping people live at home healthfully and independently as long as possible.

Echo PressFor one year, Knute Nelson has been using GrandCare [Systems] – a home-based technology that provides remote patient monitoring – primarily with its home care and hospice patients.

“It can go in any residence, no matter where the person lives, to provide them support on a variety of platforms,” explained Daphne Karpan, nurse and palliative care manager for Knute Nelson.

In most cases, the system is set up as a touchscreen monitor for patients to use. The program provides a customized intuitive, user-friendly interface for things like health and lifestyle assessments, medication reminders, on-screen messages, news and weather, therapeutic games and puzzles, appointment reminders, daily checklists and more.

It also remotely monitors vital signs using wireless health devices that can measure, track and report things like blood pressure and blood sugar testing.

Test results that are detected outside of a normal parameter – like low blood sugar – would be reported immediately to a nurse and caregiver.

“A nurse can then check in with the patient and assess what’s happening before a doctor visit or ER visit,” said Katie Perry, foundation executive director and vice-president of Knute Nelson.

“GrandCare is more of a consistent and steady approach to monitoring the clinical and socialization aspects, rather than the episodic check-ins, monthly or whenever,” she added.

“We’re keeping them in preventative, more cost-effective care rather than the more expensive ER or hospitalization,” Karpan said.

“Home is the preferred setting for care,” she added. “Even among the 85 and older group, as of 2005, 75 percent of 85 and older Medicare beneficiaries were living at home. It’s where they want to be and where they are so this is how we can keep them there safe and keep the caregiver supported so that they’re able to go to work.”

SERVING CAREGIVERS TOO

GrandCare certainly serves the patient, but the caregiver is also the customer.

“There’s an interest from adult children being actively involved in managing care or having some degree of involvement with their parents’ care,” Perry said.

Caregivers access GrandCare’s online portal to also monitor or receive alerts on the patient’s health and status. There are also sensors that link to the system to detect motion, opening of things like doors or cupboards and bed sensors to determine if the patient has gotten out of bed.

The patient dictates who is allowed access to the information. From that, the caregiver determines which notifications they’ll receive when an event occurs. The system can be accessed from any Internet-connected device.

There are currently about 40 GrandCare systems in use across Knute Nelson’s 26-county coverage area. Users range in age from 7 to 99 years old, but the average age group is 75 and older.

“I have a lady in Little Falls whose son lives in California and he’s her primary caregiver… he’s able to help monitor her activity, provide reminders, provide contact, give her some photos to look at to keep her mind functioning,” Karpan said.

When it comes to training patients who are not at all familiar with computers, staff said they use a delicate approach. In fact, they don’t use terms like “email,” instead it’s an electronic “letter.”

Cadi Breun, a nurse and technical care specialist for Knute Nelson, recently used GrandCare’s video chat feature with a client who has some memory issues.

“She has a daughter in California so we Skyped her daughter for the first time and the look on her face when she saw her daughter on the screen – it’s burned into my memory. She said, ‘Is this real? Is this sci-fi? Is this recorded?’ She was just so happy to have that conversation with her daughter,” Breun said. “Her daughter contacted me and said if it wasn’t for this, she wouldn’t have had the good conversations and good memories with her mom.”

Currently, costs associated with GrandCare and remote patient monitoring don’t qualify for Medicare reimbursements.

However, a bipartisan bill moving through Congress is aimed at boosting telehealth use, which reportedly has the potential to reduce Medicare spending on hospital readmissions.

Remote monitoring technology like GrandCare is used worldwide.

GrandCare chosen to be showcased by Knute Nelson at MN State Fair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Tuesday, August 19th, 2014, Alexandria, Minnesota –
Knute Nelson will be located on the “Front Porch” of the Older But Wiser Living exhibit on Friday, August 22, 2014. Knute Nelson was selected to showcase their use of GrandCare technology based on experiences incorporating into their approach to delivering health care.

“We are excited to be working with such an innovative and forward-thinking organization like Knute Nelson,” said GrandCare’s CEO, Dan Maynard. “Home care and long term care agencies across the nation should watch how Knute Nelson so seamlessly integrates the GrandCare technology into their service offerings.”

Knute NelsonKnute Nelson has seen significant results using GrandCare, including increased direct patient care coordination and transitions for patients and their caregivers, reducing hospitalizations by establishing and monitoring vital sign parameters for daily living. By monitoring vital signs, earlier detection of changes in disease process and engagement of patients and their caregivers. Knute Nelson has developed our smart home programming using GrandCare technology with the assistance of several grants (the Blandin Foundation, Home and Community-based Services Performance-based Incentive Payment Program and CS/SD from the MN Department of Human Services).

A day of education and innovation is planned for Friday, August 22 at the Minnesota State Fair, with presentations on the “Front Porch” running hourly from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The presentation schedule is as follows:

10:00 “It Takes a Village!” Overview of Aging Services.
A broad overview of products and services with a focus on technology. This session will provide highlights of other sessions throughout the day.

11:00 “What Can Technology Do For Me?” –Our GrandCare Demo.
This will include a robust demonstration of GrandCare, highlighting features like telemonitoring, patient education, socialization, cognitive stimulation, and remote family caregiving.

12:00 “Who Pays for This?” Acknowledging Innovation in Older Adult Services.
We will demonstrate a variety of ways in which families can fund technology use in their home, with a focus on proposed legislation designed to enhance Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services.

1:00 “What Can Technology Do For Me?” –Our GrandCare Demo.
This will include a robust demonstration of GrandCare, highlighting features like telemonitoring, patient education, socialization, cognitive stimulation, and remote family caregiving.

2:00 “The New Bucket List.” Supporting Adults with Life-Limiting Illness.
This session will discuss the ways in which technology and home based services can support those living with life- limiting illness with focus on family communication, safety, audio content and life review process.

3:00 “I Want To Live At Home” Supporting Seniors at Home.
We will discuss the ways in which technology and services can support those wanting to live safely at home as long as possible, with a focus on vital signs monitoring, chronic disease management, patient education, socialization, cognitive stimulation, and remote family caregiving.

4:00 “How Can I Connect with my Family in California?” Utilizing Technology for Distance Caregiving.
During this session, we will provide an overview of how important remote connectivity is and the value in family communication, then focus on the need for telecommunication industry providers to provide affordable, unbundled telehealth packages for seniors.

5:00 “A Second Brain” Technology Enabling and Prompting Clients with Memory Loss
Laura Mitchell, Chief Marketing Officer, and Scott Feldstein, Director of Product Management, both of GrandCare Systems will be presenting. Their focus will be on new technologies that support activities of daily living for today’s seniors.

About Knute Nelson
Knute Nelson, a 501c3 non-profit, faith-based corporation, is an innovative leader in senior housing and health care that offers a full family of services to the West Central Minnesota region. For information on Knute Nelson visit www.knutenelson.org or call 320-763-6653.

System Comp 2About GrandCare Systems
GrandCare Systems, founded in 2005, combines digital health assessment, biometric readings, activity of daily living sensing, medication management, smart home automation, video chat and virtual touch-based communications into the most comprehensive and fully featured technology in the private home market. GrandCare is designed for individuals seeking a caregiving solution for an aging loved one or for professional in-home, long term care or clinical caregiving providers. For more information, visit: www.grandcare.com or call 262-338-6147.

GrandCare Systems Announces Significant Investment in Professional Caregiving Sales Program

GrandCare Systems, a leader in the digital caregiving technology industry, is delighted to announce an increased emphasis and investment on a sales program directed towards professional in-home caregivers, long term care, and healthcare providers.  In order to build and maintain a strong and dynamic sales team, the organization has organized a robust outside sales program including territory directors and an inside sales team.

esther GCSAlthough GrandCare remains available direct to consumer through the GrandCare online store or on Amazon, the company’s focus is on professional caregiving organizations including non-medical homecare providers, home health providers, long-term care organizations, and newly formed accountable care organizations (ACOs).

“Moving away from our previous direct-to-consumer model, the mentality of this new configuration and strategy is to better align our inside and outside sales team to drive strategic growth and, in the end, better serve and support our aging population by arming caregiving experts with the best in innovative technology,” said GrandCare CEO, Daniel Maynard.  “The technology is affordable and has proven revenue success with professional caregivers, enabling them to offer extended caregiving services beyond the traditional hands-on care hours.”

GrandCare is designed to increase profit margins for non-medical and home health providers by allowing for new service models and helping to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and readmissions.

“Our home care agency has seen significant results using GrandCare technology, including patient and caregiver satisfaction, reduction of emergent care utilization as well as enhanced care coordination and education for the patient” comments Anne Major, Knute Nelson’s Vice President of Home Care and Hospice. “Our services span 26 counties in West Central Minnesota and GrandCare has allowed us to better connect individuals living in rural areas with health care tools that help to manage their care in their own homes.”

System Comp HR NEWOrganizations like Knute-Nelson also use it as a competitive advantage and a socialization connection resource for families.

“It’s a great way to feel like I’m in touch even though I am across the country from mom,” said a Knute-Nelson customer. Another chimed in “[GrandCare has] the ability to continuously receive current pictures from family and friends, from any computer to my mother’s. The GrandCare system has greatly contributed to my mother’s overall mental health. “

GrandCare Systems starts at just $699 and $49 per month for retail consumers and offers volume discount packages for professional caregiving, long term care, and healthcare organizations.

 

About GrandCare Systems:

GrandCare Systems, founded in 2005, combines digital health assessment, biometric readings, activity of daily living sensing, medication management, smart home automation, video chat and virtual touch-based communications into the most comprehensive and fully-featured technology in the private home market. GrandCare is designed for individuals seeking a caregiving solution for an aging loved one or for professional in-home, long term care or clinical caregiving providers. For more information, visit: www.grandcare.com or call 262-338-6147

GrandCare showcased on Lakes Area News

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9hhQPs8X9M?rel=0&w=420&h=315]

GrandCare Systems and Knute-Nelson were recently featured on Lakes Area News. Anchor Chelsea Nelson explored how technology is changing the way we take care of our seniors, often in the comfort of their own homes.

Knute-Nelson Home Care provides personalized health care to individuals in their own home. Services are tailored to meet the needs of each individual and are provided on a one-to-one basis. They use GrandCare in both home care and hospice.

GrandCare starts with a central touchscreen hub that acts as a source of information, communication, video chat and medication reminders. A series of telehealth and activity of daily living monitoring devices report wirelessly to designated care partners. GrandCare can be an opportunity for new revenues, a way to extend staff through virtual care services, and a method to reach more clients at once (a dashboard view allows an omniscient view of several clients at once). GrandCare can also be a bridge/opener to new clients that may not be ready for hands-on care yet. Rather than replace on-site caregivers, GrandCare enhances caregiving and offers a new model of delivery.

 

For more information on GrandCare visit: www.grandcare.com

 

Knute Nelson awarded $350,613 for GrandCare technology incorporation

Today Knute Nelson of Alexandria, MN welcomed the MN Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson to hear about their successful implementation of GrandCare technology into their home care service model.

Jesson announced $3.5M in grants to 27 home and community-based services, shining a spotlight on Knute Nelson, who received the largest amount of funding at $350,613.

“Home and community-based service providers are key to helping people with disabilities and older adults live independently, which is what most people prefer,” Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson said. “We have found that initiatives like this promote greater, lasting quality and efficiency and a better overall experience for people being served.”

MN Department of Human Services Press Release:

Alexandria site recognized for using technology to help for people with chronic diseases    July 01, 2014

ALEXANDRIA – Numerous providers of services to older Minnesotans, people with disabilities and the deaf and hard of hearing community will receive funding this summer to implement innovative projects designed to improve service quality.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services today announced $3.5 million in performance-improvement funding to 27 projects in 39 Minnesota counties. To be eligible for funding under the Home and Community-based Services Performance-based Incentive Payment Program, authorized by the 2013 Legislature, providers must put strategies in place to improve in a measurable way recipients’ quality of life and/or service quality, or deliver good, quality service more efficiently.

“Home and community-based service providers are key to helping people with disabilities and older adults live independently, which is what most people prefer,” Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson said. “We have found that initiatives like this promote greater, lasting quality and efficiency and a better overall experience for people being served.”

Jesson visited recipient Knute Nelon’s Grand Arbor senior housing facility in Alexandria today to announce the program and see a demonstration of the organization’s GrandCare technology. Knute Nelson Home Care is receiving $350,613 under the program to improve efficiency of services for people with chronic diseases living at home, including implementing GrandCare, an interactive touchscreen used as a communication portal between the client and family caregivers. Since 2012, Knute Nelson has used GrandCare to promote aging in place for older adults with support from a DHS Community Services/Services Development grant. 

  • Knute Nelson Home Care, $350,613 to incorporate GrandCare technology, an interactive touchscreen used as a communication portal between the older person and family caregivers, for people with chronic diseases living at home in Douglas, Grant, Stevens, Traverse, Big Stone and 20 other neighboring counties.

Digital Caregiving? Why would we ever do that?

Have you wondered how you can use new technologies within your existing in-home care business while ensuring a return on investment?

FREE Webinar: Why Digital In-home Caregivers will win with a proven ROI

Learn practical knowledge of what caregiving technologies are available, what services you can’t afford to not offer and how technologies can improve your bottom line without disrupting your current service model

This free 45 minute educational session cover how innovations in digital caregiving can redefine productivity and customer satisfaction for home care and hospice providers.

Hear directly from one homecare provider that has successfully used GrandCare and other technologies to improve client care, leverage a bridge to new clients and differentiate from the competition.

Make sure to Register below for a chance to win a Toshiba Tablet!

Thursday April 17, 2014
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM CDT
Event information

Do you ever wonder…

  • How to set yourself apart from the hundreds of in-home caregiving service providers?
  • How do you leverage technology and make money?
  • How to ensure client/family peace of mind?
  • If a crisis pendant is “peace of mind” enough?
  • How to improve staff and family/client communication?
  • How to PROVE the integrity of your staff and organization?
  • How to make your caregivers more efficient for less cost?
  • How to build new client channels without having to add more staff?
  • How to provide “zone caregiving” vs. man on man?
  • If you answered yes to any of these, this webinar is for you!!

Presenters

Laura Mitchell, VP Business Development, GrandCare SystemsLaura Mitchell, VP Business Development, GrandCare Systems
Laura is a founding member of GrandCare Systems. A significant part of her initial role was to bring the product to market in 2006 through the development of a nation-wide distribution network. She travels nationwide, providing educational presentations on digital home health, social media, using technology to mitigate hospital readmissions, and go-to-market strategies. She has also authored various magazine articles on the digital health market and go-to-market strategy. Laura is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Karpan, DaphneDaphne Karpan RN, BS, BA, Palliative Care Manager, Knute Nelson Home Care
Daphne is the project coordinator for GrandCare with Knute Nelson. Her previous experience as a home care nurse, home care branch manager, ER nurse, and inpatient staff nurse, as well as her volunteer work as IT manager for a family business, uniquely qualifies her to address the aging client’s medical and technology concerns. Daphne is a member of the national and local chapters of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Cloud State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies with an emphasis in Jewish Studies from Hamline University.

Contact

GrandCare Systems
262-338-6147
info@grandcare.com