Taking The Wrong Medication
Hear From Our Partners: Part 2
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.
Taking the Wrong Medication
By Stacey Pierce, Director of LIVE@HOME Technologies
"We had installed technology in a private room and a local CCRC. We began to monitor the patterns of this resident and noticed that she was up wandering around her room during all hours of the night. We did not notice increase movement in the bathroom so we were able to quickly rule out possible urinary tract infection, which is common in the aging population. I went to this resident and ask how she had been sleeping. She replied by saying, “I sleep like a baby”.
We then called the nurse, who was in charge of her medications, and showed her the findings, along with explaining the increased motion within the room at all hours of the night. The nurse then stated that particular resident had been placed on a sleeping medication, which in some cases reported sleep walking. We were able to contact the doctor and have her medication changed and now she is sleeping throughout the night."
Follow our blog in the coming weeks for more success stories on how technology is being used to change and empower peoples’ lives.
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.