Morris Care selected by Amazon for pioneering Alexa product
Nursing home group, Morris Care is working with Amazon to integrate Alexa Smart Properties for Senior Living, into Isle Court Nursing Home in Shrewsbury.
Alexa Smart Properties for Senior Living was designed with privacy in mind. No personal information is shared with Alexa to use the device, and voice recordings are not saved. Morris Care has worked with Alexa Smart Properties Solution Provider, The Digital Line, to create an experience designed specifically for the needs of their residents and those caring for them. Residents and staff can simply make requests by voice, providing an intuitive way to interact with technology. For example, residents can keep up to date with daily activities in the Home, check on menus for lunch or make video calls to a loved one.
The new innovation can support residents to achieve greater independence with Smart Home features, such as smart lighting, blinds or thermostats that allow residents to control their in-room environment with just their voice, also saving staff time and allowing them to focus on care.
Care staff and team members can communicate more efficiently with residents using Alexa communication features, which enable them to make announcements, voice and video calls to other Alexa-enabled devices throughout the property.
Lucy Holl, Chief Executive of Morris Care was delighted to be asked to take part as an early adopter in the initiative.
“We are strong believers in providing innovative ways to empower residents to stay informed and entertained and this exciting new product offers just that.
“As a family run company, we are passionate about ensuring our residents remain connected to our staff, other residents and their families and the introduction of Alexa Smart Properties at Isle Court is already being embraced and enjoyed.”
The innovation also enables residents to stay in touch with others outside the property thanks to Alexa-to-Alexa calling. Family members can easily get in touch and see their loved ones via video calling, bringing them peace of mind. Alexa Smart Properties can also help property managers to tailor resident experiences and support engagement within their properties by displaying activities, menus and reminders with Amazon Echo Show devices (devices with screens).
Lucy added: “From a business perspective this has the potential to reduce costs whilst ensuring that the resident experience remains at the heart of life in our Homes.”
Martin Green, CEO of Care England, the leading representative body for small, medium and large Care Providers in England said: “We in the care sector need to invest resources in innovation in order to provide the best possible experience for residents and to thrive in the current environment where our clients demand the best service possible. Alexa Smart Properties for Senior Living reminds us all that it doesn’t matter what age you are, voice technology is a powerful, easy to use tool. There is so much potential to integrate Alexa Smart Properties with property services, care planning and other care and operational systems that it could revolutionise how care providers provide best quality care.”
Each specialist Amazon Echo Show device offers multiple layers of privacy protection, and residents can disable Alexa’s ability to respond to the wake word at any time by simply pressing the Microphone off button on top of their Echo device.
