In Stjärnhuset, digital technology will contribute to increasing the residents' independence. Jill Mattsson, director of Karlstad's sheltered housing, talks about a paradigm shift - where technical aids are also needed to make hand strength enough.
In the newly opened shelter, there is technology that enables greater independence for the residents. Examples of this are armchairs with electric control for lifting assistance that makes it easier when you have to get up, automatic flushing and drying bidets and security cameras.
According to Jill Mattsson, different professions in nursing can sometimes be characterized by a certain "need for help". Security alarms are, for example, good from the point of view of security, if something urgent happens, but are often also used for more everyday issues and can then stress the staff. Therefore, Jill Mattsson thinks that a new, digital communication service could be interesting to develop in DigitalWell Arena's demand accelerator.
Digital Sunday coffee
- Which companies could present such a solution? Such a digital service could also offer Sunday coffee with the grandchildren via the Internet. It is interesting from the perspective of pandemic times, but also because many have relatives who are spread across the country, says Jill Mattsson.
Karlstad is one of SKR's model municipalities for testing welfare technology. Together with DigitalWell Arena, there is also an ambition to develop new digital services in Stjärnhuset.
- In Karlstad, we have introduced well-being hosts at all sheltered housing, both for customers within the housing, but also as a contact for others who want to come in and participate in various social activities. We also have display cabinets for smart products and welfare technology, to show how it can contribute to a more independent life even when you live at home, says Jill Mattsson.
The basic idea of Stjärnhuset is about increasing the independence of the individual, but there is also another side of the coin. A rapidly growing proportion of the elderly means a challenge in getting the workforce to be sufficient, where digital aids can be an important support.
- We must not save resources, but we must use technology where possible and use hands where hands are needed. Technology is an important aid, for example, it does not need to be a nurse who distributes medicines if it can be managed just as efficiently with a medicine dispenser and at the same time make the customer independent in it, says Jill Mattsson.
The individual's needs in focus
That approach also connects to being able to meet the individual, and not treat everyone the same. This may mean that you get help with everyday physical effort, to conserve energy for an activity you look forward to.
- It's a bit of a paradigm shift, from a function-preserving way of working to a person-centred way of working for the entire team around the customer. Over the years, we have experienced that many people feel lonely and that the days are long. There needs to be a meaningful everyday life and things you want to get up to, says Jill Mattson.
Technology based on needs
The residents at Stjärnhuset have been taken from the regular sex to special housing, and thus have not wanted housing with a higher technological standard.
- I think it's about not selling a lot of new technology, but starting from the needs that exist. The staff group is extremely important, if we don't get them with us as innovators we will get nowhere, then we can have as much technology as we want. The staff are basically our most important tool, and they are very excited!
