There has been a lot of media discussion this week on new in-home technology that will deliver ‘support’ to residents.

An example is the Samsung Smart Home system that watches, learns and talks to the resident – following their movement and daily routine and reminding them to take their medication.

This seems like a great idea but as Robin Lyons of Minter Ellison explained in his presentation at our LEADERS SUMMIT last month, village operators need to be alert to the business risks just beneath the surface of any new ‘care’ service or system.

The village that presents itself as having systems in place to support care immediately opens itself for legal challenge on the extent of that care. Who is responsible if the resident did not take their medication despite the in-home system reminding them to. If the village promoted this as a care benefit of joining a village the operator is legally exposed.

The quiet achiever in this technology space is the Australian company INS. It provides all the technology but with human backup and systems and processes specifically designed to manage the risk for village operators. They have been doing it since 1984.

Check out this page on their website HERE to appreciate the services they have developed to deliver a technology result while minimising risk. It is the best example we have seen.