For individuals who reside in affordable housing, independent living, and assisted living communities in the U.S., emergency call systems are critical for safety. Yet many systems that are currently in use are outdated and lack the features necessary to meet the needs of today’s older adults and their caregivers.
Since most older emergency call systems are hard-wired, they are unreliable, difficult to maintain, and cannot be integrated with modern technologies. These systems not only pose resident safety risks, but they increase the workloads of already overburdened staff and take them away from what they do best: deliver quality care. Â
89% of nursing homes are actively trying to hire RNs.
Upgrading to advanced emergency call systems is no longer optional, but necessary for driving efficiency, improving care quality, and preparing for the future. Â
Challenges With Caring for Older Adults
Individuals who live in affordable housing, independent living, and assisted living communities have unique needs. Some include:
Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs): nearly 20 million adults aged 55 and older have difficulty with one or more ADLs.
Fall risk: for those 65 and older, falls are common, with over 14 million, or 1 in 4, who report falling every year. Executives and care providers among assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) report an average of 260 patient falls each year across an organization.
$50 billion is spent each year on medical costs for non-fatal fall injuries among older adults
Wandering: more than one-third (36%) of people with dementia will leave a safe area or a caregiver, whether inside or outside their homes.Â
What Are Emergency Call Systems?
Emergency call systems allow older adults and those with disabilities to quickly call for help when they need it. By pressing a button—either mounted on the wall or integrated into a wearable device—residents can alert staff when there’s an emergency, they need assistance, or help when they become disoriented.Â
More modern emergency call systems include additional features such as fall detection, real-time location tracking, and 24/7 monitoring—offering residents and their families peace of mind. These newer systems also integrate call center staff who provide wellness checks and efficiently dispatch help when needed.Â
Challenges of Outdated Emergency Call SystemsÂ
While emergency call systems are critical to caring for those in communities, older systems often rely on outdated infrastructure, which creates inefficiencies and poses safety risks. Some of the key challenges of these outdated systems include:Â
- Limited functionality: many systems only support one-way communication, which prevents staff from assessing the situation before they respond.Â
- Inefficient: without a way to differentiate between routine requests and emergencies, staff resources are often misallocated.
- High maintenance costs: hard-wired systems are prone to breakdowns and require costly repairs.
- Compliance risks: outdated systems may fail to meet regulatory requirements, putting facilities at risk for penalties, and potentially affecting the community’s reputation, and retention and referral rates. Outdated systems that fail to function during emergencies can result in costly citations and lawsuits.
- Additional staff burden: nearly all (99%) of nursing homes in the U.S. are hiring, with a majority (90%) that have increased wages to recruit and retain staff, one report found. Without enough staff, increased administrative burden, and working overtime and extra shifts, nurses are experiencing high levels of stress and burnout. Oftentimes, residents inappropriately use emergency buttons which can prevent nurses from promptly responding to real emergencies and take them away from delivering care. Falls, in particular, can also decrease care quality, increase staff burden, and lead to staff attrition, with 85% of executives who say falls significantly impact turnover. Â
Benefits of Upgrading Emergency Call Systems
Decommissioning outdated systems and implementing new, integrated digital emergency call systems can improve efficiency and safety, ease staff burden, and help communities prepare for the future. Here are some of the benefits of upgraded emergency call systems.
1. Improved safety and satisfaction
Modern emergency call systems include capabilities that prioritize residents’ health safety. Some include:Â
- Wireless pull cordsÂ
- Wearables Â
- Fall detection and location trackingÂ
- 24/7 monitoring and caregiver appsÂ
These features allow residents to feel secure and well cared for, which improves their overall satisfaction, and in turn, leads to higher retention rates and referrals.Â
2. Regulatory compliance and risk mitigation
Communities that decommission outdated systems and transition to upgraded emergency call systems ensure compliance with NSPIRE and REAC certifications while reducing liability risks. Proactively implementing modern systems also minimizes operational disruptions and enhances safety protocols.
3. Increased efficiency
With staff shortages showing no signs of slowing down, efficiency is a priority. Advanced emergency call systems:
- Allow staff to differentiate between emergency and non-emergency alertsÂ
- Provide detailed data insights via apps and portalsÂ
- Ensure staff are allocated appropriatelyÂ
- Reduce unnecessary workloadÂ
Modern systems allow nurses and caregivers to focus on delivering patient-centered care while minimizing stress and burnout. Â
4. Future-proof your facilities and workforce
With a growing aging population and an increased demand for care, upgrading emergency call systems is essential to meet the evolving needs of these populations. Digital solutions provide scalability and software-based updates, ensuring facilities can make the transition without significant hardware reinvestment’s. Investing in advanced emergency call systems is more than an upgrade—it’s a commitment to safety, efficiency, and the future of senior living care.
Upgrade Outdated Emergency Call Systems With MGLivingÂ
MGLiving’s wireless, configurable emergency call systems integrate into existing operations. From decommissioning outdated systems to providing 24/7 support, MGLiving simplifies the transition to modern connected care. To learn how our solutions can help your community thrive while enhancing resident safety and operational excellence, contact us today.Â
