Improving daily life for patients and caregivers in care homes with LoRaWAN
Global population ageing is placing increasing pressure on care facilities. According to demographic projections, the number of people aged over 80 is set to double by 2050*. Yet care homes are already struggling with staff shortages, tight budgets and a growing demand for personalised care.
In this context, every repetitive, unoptimised task represents precious time lost for caregivers, time that could be devoted to the human support residents need. To address this challenge, Ontex, a global leader in personal hygiene solutions, has implemented a connected solution using LoRa technology and Kerlink connectivity to help care staff optimise their interventions and improve residents’ comfort. More recently, Henkel, a German leader in consumer brands and adhesives technologies, has entered a commercial partnership with Ontex and reinforces the vision for scaling the solution in the European market.
The challenge: balancing care quality with operational reality
Managing incontinence care in residential facilities is one of the most time-consuming and least optimised tasks in the sector. Precautionary checks mobilise staff at regular intervals, regardless of residents’ actual needs.
The result: On one hand, changes that happen too late expose residents to skin irritation and the risk of infection. On the other, premature changes generate significant waste of disposable products and drive up laundry costs for facilities.
In both cases, staff are kept busy without any real visibility into the actual condition of the products. So how can the right care be delivered at the right time, without adding further burden to already stretched teams?
The solution: connected absorbent products via LoRaWAN
Ontex met this challenge by developing Orizon, a solution designed specifically for incontinence care. Absorbent products are embedded with humidity sensors that transmit data over a local LoRaWAN network, alerting caregivers as soon as a change is genuinely needed.
To deploy this connectivity across numerous facilities throughout Europe, Ontex partnered with Kerlink and its Wirnet iFemtoCell-evolution gateways. In a typical facility, one to three Kerlink gateways are installed per building to ensure optimal radio coverage.
Beyond hardware supply, Kerlink also provides full network management through its Operate offer: gateway and network server management, monthly reports, optimisation recommendations and more. Ontex teams benefit from minimal operational overhead, allowing them to focus on their core business.
“With its equipment and comprehensive service offering built on the reliability of LoRaWAN networks, Kerlink enables our users to fully benefit from Ontex’s connected adult care solutions, thanks to simple, fast installation and complete network coverage across our clients’ facilities.” Annick De Poorter, Director of Innovation and Sustainability, Ontex
The Results: optimised care and controlled costs
The Orizon solution, connected via Kerlink LoRaWAN gateways, delivers notable benefits from the very first weeks of deployment:
- Operational efficiency: caregivers receive real-time alerts enabling them to prioritise their interventions; a major advantage in facilities facing staff shortages.
- Cost reduction: fewer unnecessary changes mean less waste, lower product consumption and reduced laundry costs.
- Resident comfort and dignity: changes take place at the right moment, preventing skin irritation and improving quality of life.
- Fast deployment: thanks to the plug-and-play nature of Kerlink gateways, facilities can be up and running within hours of the deployment decision.
A scalable solution to support the evolving needs of healthcare facilities
The Orizon platform has been designed as an open, scalable ecosystem: as Ontex continues to innovate, new features can be seamlessly integrated into the existing LoRaWAN infrastructure, building on the investments already made by facilities.
The partnership with Kerlink ensures reliable, secure connectivity ready for future expansion, whether that involves new types of sensors, new care applications, or rollouts across new sites throughout Europe.
Source: World Health Organization