Orange Valley to trial aged-care technology with partners

One of the technologies that Orange Valley is testing out is moto tiles, pressure-sensitive tiles with various lighting options, which can help the elderly with their agility, flexibility and concentration. Senior Minister of State for Health and Tra
Senior Minister of State for Health and Transport Lam Pin Min being briefed about fall prevention, accompanied by Mr Anthony Tan, chairman of Orange Valley and deputy chief executive of SPH (far right) and Ms Lyn Edel Yip, chief executive of Orange Valley Nursing Homes (left in blue dress). PHOTOS: LIANHE ZAOBAO
One of the technologies that Orange Valley is testing out is moto tiles, pressure-sensitive tiles with various lighting options, which can help the elderly with their agility, flexibility and concentration. Senior Minister of State for Health and Tra
One of the technologies that Orange Valley is testing out is moto tiles, pressure-sensitive tiles with various lighting options, which can help the elderly with their agility, flexibility and concentration. PHOTOS: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Private nursing home operator Orange Valley Nursing Homes is partnering with companies such as StarHub and ST Engineering to trial aged-care technology to improve staff productivity and service delivery.

Orange Valley is a subsidiary of Invest Healthcare, which was acquired in April last year by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), the parent company of The Straits Times.

One initiative announced yesterday involves Orange Valley working with StarHub to trial a fall prevention management solution.

This uses motion-detecting and Internet of Things technology to send out instantaneous notifications via a mobile app to nursing staff when a resident is trying to climb out of bed.

This is part of StarHub's expansion into healthcare, under an agreement signed between SPH and the telco in January.

Other technologies being tested include an automated visitor registration system, which uses facial recognition to allow one-time registration.

These tests will be put in place in three to six months' time, said Orange Valley, Singapore's largest private nursing home operator.

The initiative was announced at the official opening of its first smart nursing home yesterday.

The five-storey building in Balestier will be the sixth nursing home managed by Orange Valley. It offers 118 beds, including two beds for quarantine and isolation purposes.

Besides open wards, there are single, two-bed and four-bed rooms as well as two deluxe suites.

Mr Anthony Tan, chairman of Orange Valley and deputy chief executive of SPH, said: "Singapore is facing an ageing population, and even as a commercial entity, we also recognise our social obligations to serve a bigger purpose - that all Singaporeans have access to quality elder care to live in comfort and with dignity."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 03, 2018, with the headline Orange Valley to trial aged-care technology with partners. Subscribe