Easing resident loneliness with Canadian made technology
The challenge
Social isolation and loneliness are serious health risks for residents in long-term care. The impact is undeniable, with isolation significantly increasing the likelihood of dementia, mental health challenges, and physical decline.
Recreational activities reduce loneliness and improve well-being. A report from the International Council on Active Aging found that participation in wellness programs increased a resident’s average length of stay in independent living from 6.1 to 8.8 years. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, LTC providers have found it increasingly difficult to engage residents in recreational activities.
To address this challenge, Saint Elizabeth Health Care (SE Health) tried implementing a broad range of personalized recreational activities but found that they needed a digital solution that could help improve the process and save staff time by allowing them to:
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Plan and track personalized recreational experiences
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Monitor participation
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Assess the impact of these activities
The solution
The CAN Health LTC Innovation & Scaling Network connected SE Health with Welbi, an Ottawa-based company that provides a resident engagement platform designed specifically for senior living and long-term care.
Welbi's assessment tools and real-time analytics empower recreation teams to gain a comprehensive understanding of residents. With their robust planning tools, Welbi helps teams deliver and evaluate programming effectively, fostering a more engaged community.
Welbi also identifies changes in residents' wellness and habits, helping staff to conduct prompt follow-ups and reduce the risk of isolation.
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Screenshots of the Welbi digital platform
The results
By the conclusion of the SE Health project, 76 percent of residents had increased their participation in recreational activities, with the percentage of residents deemed “moderately lonely” decreasing and the percentage of residents deemed “not lonely” increasing.
Staff had a positive experience using Welbi, with 89 percent rating their likelihood of recommending it at seven out of 10 or higher. Welbi also reduced the time it took staff to locate and interpret resident information by 13.5 minutes and made it easier to monitor goals and progress, and track attendance.
Welbi reports that their clients save an average of 25 hours per community each month and report a 12 percent improvement in resident satisfaction within the first quarter of using their solution.
Overall, Welbi improves both resident and staff experience by increasing engagement, streamlining recreational activity management, and increasing capacity for tracking and personalization.
