“It has been a big and exclusively positive change for us,” says department manager Solgunn Eide Dybvik. “Before we got the sensor mats, we often had to check on the users several times during the night to ensure they were okay. This could lead to waking them up, while also creating extra stress for the caregivers.” The sensors detect when a user leaves the bed and alert via an app if they do not return. “Now we know that the resident is lying safely without having to disturb them,” explains Dybvik
“The staff have seen how the sensor mats actually make the job easier and safer. They feel that the technology supports them, instead of replacing them.”
Department manager Solgunn Eide Dybvik
Sleep is important for health, and the service provides a more objective assessment of sleep patterns. “By looking at actual data on sleep onset time and awakenings, we can better tailor the care. If someone has gone to bed before a planned check, we can postpone the visit,” says Dybvik. “We can now use our time where the need is greatest, instead of making rounds that are not necessary. We know exactly when someone needs help,” says Dybvik.
New technology can meet resistance among employees, and initially, some were also concerned at Sula municipality. They feared that technology would replace close contact, but they have experienced the opposite. “The technology supports them in their work and makes the workday safer. The app is easy to use, and both permanent employees and substitutes have quickly adopted it. Now no one wants to be without it,” smiles Dybvik. “We know that technology can meet resistance at first, but when employees see the benefits in practice, they understand that this is a valuable tool for detecting changes in the user’s needs,” says Diana Myrstad Meldal, CEO of Varda Care.
With the sensor mats, employees get a detailed overview of the residents’ health and activity patterns, without the residents noticing it, explains Dybvik. “The solution is discreet and non-intrusive, while providing us with valuable insights into health parameters such as restlessness, respiratory rate, and heart rate. Now we base our assessments on objective data instead of judgment,” she says. Previously, employees had to assess needs based on short home visits. Now they receive continuously updated information. An unexpected advantage is that the service also documents the workload in the home services. “This provides both caregivers and relatives with greater security. And with this insight, we can plan better and adjust our duty schedules during periods of high demand,” says Dybvik.
Relatives have also had questions. “Some were concerned that we would not come as often, but after seeing how the system works, the feedback has been exclusively positive,” says Dybvik. “They see that we are still present, but in a smarter way, and they know that we always have an overview and can react quickly if something happens.”
After a year with Varda Care’s sensor mats, there is no doubt that both employees and users in Sula municipality experience a better everyday life. “For us, this has been an important step towards a more modern, safe, and efficient future,” concludes Dybvik.
