How ECH are Creating Person-Centred and Innovative Aged Care Solutions

In 2014, ECH made a radical decision, one that set them apart from many others in the sector. Instead of maintaining their traditional residential aged care facilities, they sold their 1,200 licensed beds and redirected their focus towards helping people live independently at home. This wasn't just a business strategy, it was a value-driven response to what people truly consistently said they wanted - choice, autonomy, and the ability to age in place.

Innovative Solutions: Billy and Dandelion

Two standout innovations showcase ECH's approach reimagining aged care through thoughtful, client-focused design. 

Billy, a home monitoring system, uses movement sensors to track daily routines and predict potential health issues. Imagine detecting a urinary tract infection before it becomes serious, simply by monitoring bathroom visits. The system offers peace of mind to the families by providing real-time updates about their loved ones.

The other one is Dandelion, challenges traditional ideas of what care environments should look and feel like. Their “care hotel” concept offers another groundbreaking solution. It's not a hospital or residential care facility, but a home-away-from-home where people can receive higher-level care. It's designed to bridge the gap between hospital and home offering clinical support in a comfortable environment. Using cutting-edge technologies like facial recognition and radar sensors, Dandelion prioritises safety without compromising privacy.

Putting Clients at the Center

ECH's commitment to client-centered care goes beyond technology, it’s embedded in the way the entire organisation thinks and operates. They've implemented a "lived experience group", a panel made up of clients, carers, and members of their support networks actively participating in decision-making.

Every six months, even non-client-facing staff must shadow client-facing colleagues, ensuring everyone understands the real-world experience of their services. This hands-on immersion gives everyone, regardless of their role, a clear understanding of what it's like to walk in the shoes of an older person receiving care. It also fosters empathy, accountability, and a shared purpose across the organisation.

Creativity Beyond Technology

AT ECH, innovation is much about social connection and community well being. Take their “walking footy initiative”, developed in partnership with a local sports organisation. This modified version of Australian rules football allows people in their 80s or 90s to continue enjoying team sports, the rules are modified to reduce physical strain, but the sense of camaraderie and competition remains strong. It is complete with post-match coffee gatherings that combat social isolation.

A Philosophy of Respect

At the heart of ECH's approach is a fundamental respect for individual autonomy. Their role is to provide information and support, not to make decisions for clients. Whether it's keeping a cherished rug that might be a trip hazard or supporting a client's desire to visit the pub, they prioritise personal choice.

ECH demonstrates that innovative aged care isn't about implementing the latest technology or creating restrictive environments. It's about listening, adapting, and empowering people to live their lives on their own terms. 

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