Being Independent With Dementia
Hear From Our Partners: Part 3
We recently sat down with Stacey Pierce, Director of LIVE@HOME Technologies to get the inside scoop on how she has seen technology change people's lives. Pierce started the Senior Solutions business in March 2008 and at the same time started researching technology, deploying her first unit with a client in late 2008. She found SimplyHome on her quest for researching new and innovative technology to better serve her clients. She says she has many success stories. Here is another example she wanted to share.
Being Independent With Dementia
By Stacey Pierce, Director of LIVE@HOME Technologies
"Often times when a person with Dementia is moved, there seems to be increased confusion due to unknown surroundings. We have had the opportunity to place technology in a home where the lady has been diagnosed with dementia and her family had made the choice to move her from her home in the community to an independent living area at a local CCRC. The concern of the CCRC was if she wandered out of her house in the middle of the night she could possibly get lost on the 700 acres of surrounding property. The family was made aware of the concerns but chose to continue the move, feeling that she would be safer there than in her private home. Along with the technology, the family hired a private caregiver to stay with her at night to redirect her if there was any increase in confusion.
This is when we were able to go into the home and assess the situation and place motion sensors, bed sensors and door sensors around the house. We were able to monitor her activity for a couple of weeks so rules could be set according to her activities. One rule that has been established is that if she goes out of any door after 10 PM to 7 AM on campus security is notified. After one month, her nightly activity has become routine and only gets up one time a night around 3 AM and then goes back to bed."
About Stacey Pierce
Pierce is a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) working with pediatric, orthopedic and geriatric patients. In 2007, she joined The Methodist Oaks Staff as Director of Senior Solutions, a new home service business for the community. While successfully growing the Senior Solution business, she and the CEO of the Methodist Oaks, recognized the impact that technology could have, and would have, on helping seniors stay at home longer while giving both the senior and the family peace of mind. “The key was to research for reliable technology that could be adapted to each individual client's needs. We continue the constant research even today, seeking out the newest product to make a difference in a person's life,” said Pierce.
With both her technology expertise and therapy background she has been afforded the opportunity to play an active role in aging people in place around SC. She spends time researching, educating, and bringing awareness of the many options that are available to the aging population. She is currently working with the University Of South Carolina School Of Gerontology in connection with its Smart Home project. They partner with USC and other providers to submit grants to use Senior Solutions, Technology and CAPS to establish a pilot utilizing multiple disciplines to age people in place. Currently, they are part of a two-year University study on immediate fall detection using passive technology. (no action required by the person)
“I am dedicated to providing services such as in-home care, innovative technology, and home renovations to seniors wanting to age in place with independence, safety and peace of mind,” said Pierce.
About The Methodist Oaks
The Methodist Oaks has more than 50 years of experience of mission and ministry with seniors giving care and services at our Faith Based Continuing Care Retirement Community (www.theoakssc.com). In the last few years, recognizing the need to expand our care giving to a greater community, the Board of The Oaks made the decision to offer our expertise in the integration of Care and Technology throughout South Carolina and portions of North Carolina and Georgia.
The Oaks created LIVE@HOME Technologies to offer the latest in rapidly changing technological advances to assist people in staying at home. LIVE@HOME Technologies constantly researches and test variously technologies which are available and utilizes that which best suits the client's situation. L@HT learned early on that the most critical step of helping people stay at home rather than moving to an Assisted Living or other living option is the evaluation of the needs and desires of the potential client and the family. There is no ONE answer. Each situation is different. Some may need fairly simple technology while others will need a much more involved array of technological applications. We have also have situations where our free evaluation reveals that technology is not needed, just some in-home personal care.