Jari Tuokko
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CUSTOMER CASEHome Care
Hoiva Mehiläinen: Cutting False Alarms by 90% with Smart Wander Management
How 9Solutions’ Patented Sensor Technology Optimizes Resource Allocation in Elderly Care
2025-01-14
2 min read
In elderly care, "door peeking" is a common habit that often triggers expensive and unnecessary security visits. Hoiva Mehiläinen, a leading Finnish care provider, has solved this challenge using 9Solutions’ intelligent wander management system. By distinguishing between a resident checking the hallway and a resident actually leaving the premises, the system has eliminated up to 90% of unnecessary site visits, saving significant costs while respecting the privacy of seniors.
Hoiva Mehiläinen – Experiences with the 9Solutions Solution
Elderly individuals, particularly those living with memory disorders, frequently open their front doors just to look out. While this may seem like a minor action, it is a costly issue for telecare service providers. In traditional systems, every door opening triggers an alarm, requiring a security assistant to make a physical site visit to ensure the resident's safety.
9Solutions has developed a patented solution to this problem. Their Smart Wander Management system, equipped with advanced sensor technology, can determine whether a resident has stayed inside after opening the door or has actually left the apartment. If the system detects that the resident remains at home, no alarm is triggered. This eliminates "false" alarms and unnecessary physical check-ups.
Kimmo Karhu, Development Manager for Telecare Services at Hoiva Mehiläinen, is highly satisfied with the results. In the city of Joensuu, where Hoiva Mehiläinen provides telecare and Med-Group handles physical response visits, the impact has been dramatic.
"Based on our experience, the system cuts out approximately 80–90% of unnecessary site visits." — Kimmo Karhu, Development Manager, Hoiva Mehiläinen Oy
Eliminating the Burden of Manual Verification
With traditional door monitoring, the alarm center receives a notification every time a door is opened. Staff must then attempt to contact the resident via a two-way safety phone and dispatch a security assistant to the location.
"A verification visit cannot be skipped, even if the client says they are home and everything is fine. You cannot always determine the true situation over a phone connection alone," Karhu explains.
To understand the scale of the problem: in the Joensuu region alone, Hoiva Mehiläinen has approximately 1,000 telecare clients. A single resident "peeking" out the door can trigger up to ten verification visits in a single day. Previously, the Joensuu alarm center received around 400 monthly alarms, more than half of which were unnecessary.
These false alarms are expensive, as every physical visit carries a cost. They also strain the resources of alarm centers and security assistants, diverting time away from genuine emergencies. Furthermore, residents themselves often find these unnecessary interruptions to their daily lives bothersome.
Increased Security and Independence at Home
The 9Solutions system allows for personalized wander management. The monitoring can be programmed to alert immediately or after a 15-minute delay if the resident does not return.
"This allows residents to safely check their mailbox or step outside briefly without triggering a full-scale emergency response," says Karhu. Relatives and home care assistants are also instructed on how to bypass the system during visits, ensuring their arrivals and departures do not create false alerts.
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