RoomMate creates security for the residents of the district of St. Hanshaugen in Oslo municipality

The district of St. Hanshaugen has approx. 40,000 inhabitants and is called "The district for all". The district is experiencing an increase in the 67-79 age group. In 2013, Bodel St. Hanshaugen "bought" the most nursing home places per inhabitant. The desire from the district as far back as 2015 was that technology could be used in homes that people could live in safely for as long as possible without being "monitored".

Unique apartments with welfare technology for dementia

Welhavens gate consists of 10 unique apartments of different sizes based on the needs of the individual. The district started operating the apartments in the summer of 2016, and the idea was that welfare technology in the apartments should provide life mastery and freedom. At the same time, the technology had to be security-based so that the district's residents and their relatives would experience a greater degree of security when using technology.

Today, around 120 RoomMate sensors are used in total in the district. The number varies based on the needs of the residents.

  Sensors in apartments and hallways pick up where people are. Employees can see outlines on their screens and only enter the apartments if someone needs help. Photo: Kikkut communication

- We had a great need for an adapted apartment building for users with dementia and cognitive impairment. A place where they could live and live as normal and active a life as possible. A place they could manage to live in, where they could go out and in the backyard without health personnel having to be with them all the time, says Svein-Rune Bjørkmo. He is head of health and care in the district of St. Hanshaugen in Oslo.

He says that they saw that they did not have a good offer for this user group during autumn and winter. They were often admitted to a short-term ward when they suffered a functional decline and so on to a long-term home (nursing home). They were quickly affected by being in an institution and it was then difficult to return home to their own home.

RoomMate essential tool for the night watch

- The fact that the main focus was that the farm was not too large, so that there can be one person during the day/evening makes it quieter. The fact that dinner is prepared in the common areas means that those who live there have a more normal everyday life. That we can map out the night with RoomMate, for example, so that we can put the right measures in place for each individual. The advantage of the latest updates in RoomMate is that more functions have been added that allow us to adapt the various notifications when a user experiences a function loss/change. This means that those who work outside at night receive relevant notifications and can take measures quickly if necessary, explains Svein Rune.

"By using RoomMate, those at work can put in the right measures based on the needs of the user."

Svein-Rune Bjørkmo, Head of Health and Care in the District of St. Hanshaugen in Oslo.

- Those who have RoomMate technology get the right help at the right time. When you work with this user group, you know that it is important to approach each individual at the right time is extremely important, for example in grooming situations/showers. Using RoomMate gives us that opportunity, says Svein-Rune.

- Those who come on day duty check how many notifications there have been throughout the night and possibly put in extra measures so that there is no "unrest" 2 nights in a row. For example, if a user has wandered a bit one night, then it is important to go for a walk during the day/evening and check if the person has eaten, concludes Svein-Rune.

  Svein-Rune Bjørkmo shows how RoomMate detects movement and falls. Photo: Kikkut communication