Osby local authority is located in southern Skane in Sweden, with Malmo, Kristianstad and Helsingborg as the nearest major cities. Osby is known for its toy industry and its proximity to tranquil coniferous forests and lakes rich in fish. According to a report from Region Skane, about 12 percent of Osby's residents over the age of 80 live in care homes.
Ellinor Johansson (pictured) is one of the Unit Managers in Osby. She describes why they have chosen to invest in sensor-based technology and the "digital first" work method.
"For us, it's never been about reducing the number of employees, but about being able to provide better and more individualised care," says Ellinor Johansson and continues:
"I'm actually the worst at technology," she laughs, "but I think it's exciting and I'm curious. The fact that I'm not a technology expert means that I set better requirements; the technology must work in practice and be easy to use."
Engaged employees from the start
As early as 2022, Osby local authority took a big step towards a more updated working method by installing Sensio's care technology solutions, which include the multi-sensor RoomMate. The Bergfast care home was the first, and today the technology is used in five care homes in the local authority: Soldalen, Solhem, Bergfast, Rönnebacken and Lindhem.
"The introduction has gone smoothly and the employees were involved from the start in our "digital first" initiative. For us, it's been a natural and fairly easy transition," says Ellinor Johansson.
Customized alarm for each individual resident
Previously, Osby used a somewhat simpler motion alarm. With Sensio's solution, care teams can now customize the alarm individually, for example if someone is getting out of bed, lying still for too long or spending too much time in the bathroom. This makes inspections more accurate and relevant.
"Previously, we set an alarm and didn't think much more about it. Now with RoomMate, we customize the alarm for each individual and adjust it as needed," says Jessica Johansson, Care Manager and Administrator at Osby local authority.
The care team and managers in Osby now have more data about the residents when they meet to coordinate. From left: Ellinor Johansson (unit manager), Jessica Johansson (care manager) and Camilla Gustafsson (registered nurse).
Data that provides new insights
Osby recently adopted Sensio Insight, an innovative e-health solution that provides smart decision support for care teams through data-driven insights. Camilla Gustafsson (pictured), registered nurse at Osby local authority, is one of those using the tool.
"The most valuable thing for me is that it makes it easier to see how a resident reacts to adjusted medication. For example, I can see if the person moves too much or too little in bed," she says.
"Based on the resident's data, we can decide to make changes, such as turning the person more often at night or adding more activities during the day."
Collaboration in the care team has also evolved.
"Previously, we mostly looked at the care team's notes when we followed up the residents. Now I go into the meeting with insights based on data. This allows me to ask more specific and follow-up questions," says Camilla Gustafsson and continues:
"We also look at the data together, which means that we are in agreement when we adjust the care and treatment. For example, it could be about introducing a treatment plan for a resident who moves little at night," she says.
The next step is better insight and better collaboration
In the coming months, the team in Osby will further develop how they use RoomMate and Sensio Insight (pictured). The plan includes testing new features, strengthening collaboration between authorized personnel and care teams, and exploring the possibility of including doctors in the work with data insights.
"We have a great tool in place. Now it's about making full use of it," concludes Ellinor Johansson.
All photos: Rebecca Olausson.
