Heather Poore, RN, and resident Cal Peoples Part of what helps United Methodist Retirement Center (UMRC) provide good care at Willson House is the use of an emergency call system. This system allows residents to push a button on a pendant they wear or pull a cord in their room to alert a caregiver that they need assistance. All long term care communities have some sort of system like this. Currently, Willson House has an emergency call system that is manufactured by 3M, called “Home Free.” It has been in place since the building of Willson House in the early 1980s. In February, 3M told all the communities who use the “Home Free” system that they will stop supporting the product as of December 31, 2013. This means Willson House will be unable to buy replacement parts or have technical support for this old system. Without the ability to get new parts or technical help, “Home Free” is quickly becoming obsolete and potentially unsafe.
Willson House has researched several products and narrowed down the possibilities. The newly designed product will enable Willson House to be far more technically advanced and safer for residents. The new emergency call product has single radios provided to caregivers that will receive alerts and calls from residents who wear mobile pendants (right now caregivers have to carry both a radio and a pager, which is cumbersome). This system would also alert caregivers if someone has fallen, whether or not they have pushed their pendant button. It will also show caregivers exactly where a person is anywhere on the grounds, inside or out. We believe this product would be a cornerstone for improving safety and service to Willson House residents.
“Although installing a new system would provide upgraded safety features and efficient technology, costs for a project like this run about $75,000” says Cathy Parkinson, Executive Director. As a nonprofit, the mission of UMRC is to help provide low to moderate income seniors’ quality care regardless of financial means. We simply do not have the money needed for a system like this.
But with your help, the safety of Willson House residents would be assured. You would be dramatically improving the quality of life for residents with improved technological advances that would provide safer care by reducing falls and alleviating unnecessary hospitalizations. In addition, it will offer peace of mind to our families— the adult children of our residents. That’s why your help is so critical! Won’t you help us raise the money needed for this essential equipment and provide a safer environment to these vulnerable seniors at Willson House?
Join us in donating online to the Spare A Buck campaign to raise the needed funds. You may also drop bucks in the jar at the front desk at Willson House. Call Cathy Parkinson for more information at 503.585.6511. Don’t forget that your donations are tax free since we are a 501(c)3 organization. Thank you for helping us one buck at a time!
Willson House has researched several products and narrowed down the possibilities. The newly designed product will enable Willson House to be far more technically advanced and safer for residents. The new emergency call product has single radios provided to caregivers that will receive alerts and calls from residents who wear mobile pendants (right now caregivers have to carry both a radio and a pager, which is cumbersome). This system would also alert caregivers if someone has fallen, whether or not they have pushed their pendant button. It will also show caregivers exactly where a person is anywhere on the grounds, inside or out. We believe this product would be a cornerstone for improving safety and service to Willson House residents.
“Although installing a new system would provide upgraded safety features and efficient technology, costs for a project like this run about $75,000” says Cathy Parkinson, Executive Director. As a nonprofit, the mission of UMRC is to help provide low to moderate income seniors’ quality care regardless of financial means. We simply do not have the money needed for a system like this.
But with your help, the safety of Willson House residents would be assured. You would be dramatically improving the quality of life for residents with improved technological advances that would provide safer care by reducing falls and alleviating unnecessary hospitalizations. In addition, it will offer peace of mind to our families— the adult children of our residents. That’s why your help is so critical! Won’t you help us raise the money needed for this essential equipment and provide a safer environment to these vulnerable seniors at Willson House?
Join us in donating online to the Spare A Buck campaign to raise the needed funds. You may also drop bucks in the jar at the front desk at Willson House. Call Cathy Parkinson for more information at 503.585.6511. Don’t forget that your donations are tax free since we are a 501(c)3 organization. Thank you for helping us one buck at a time!
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