Question 1

Why are nurses tracked?

Accepted Answer

Tracking nurses and residents is about making work smoother and safer. The system's biggest benefit comes from information flowing automatically through positioning, without any extra communication.When a nurse goes to help a resident who has raised an alarm, the resident's call is automatically acknowledged by the nurse's presence.Nurses also have a button on their own locator that lets them request extra help or raise a nurse alarm.Nurse help requests:A non-urgent request for extra help is sent with a single button press.In an emergency, an urgent nurse alarm can be raised from the locator with two presses.Colleagues immediately hear and see where help is needed.Help arrives faster.Alarms raised by nurses are automatically acknowledged when another nurse arrives.Resident calls:Alarms raised from resident rooms are automatically acknowledged when a nurse arrives.It is immediately clear where help is needed.Help arrives faster.The system brings peace of mind to both residents and nurses and makes everyday work smoother.

Question 2

Is direct care logged automatically?

Accepted Answer

Yes – the system uses positioning to collect data on the amount of direct care given and on nurses' workload. This information can be used, for example, in shift planning, workload distribution and assessing residents' care needs. The system is not intended for monitoring individuals and must not be used to track an individual's work performance.

Question 3

Where does positioning work?

Accepted Answer

Positioning works in the spaces where the system has been installed (for example a single unit or the whole building).

Question 4

Does positioning work outdoors or outside the building?

Accepted Answer

No. Positioning only works indoors, within the areas covered by the system.

Question 5

Can positioning be restricted (for example in a bathroom)?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Positioning can be adjusted according to the unit's needs and policies.

Question 6

How accurate is the positioning?

Accepted Answer

Iiwari's positioning operates with sub-metre accuracy.

Question 7

How are alarms acknowledged?

Accepted Answer

An alarm is acknowledged automatically when the caregiver arrives in the resident's room – the system recognises the caregiver's tag and closes the alarm on its own. There is no need to pick up the phone at any point, so the caregiver can focus on the resident.

Question 8

How does the system reduce unnecessary alerts and noise?

Accepted Answer

A resident's call creates only one alert, even if the button is pressed several times in a row. No alert is sent at all when a nurse is already with the resident. Unnecessary alarm sounds disappear and the noise level in the care home drops considerably.

Question 9

What happens if Iiwari Care isn't working (for example over the weekend)?

Accepted Answer

We aim to start work on major system faults promptly. During a fault, the unit follows the procedures it has prepared for exceptional situations. For non-urgent support requests, technical support is available on business days.

Question 10

What happens during a power outage?

Accepted Answer

The system does not work during a power outage, nor if the wifi network goes down. In that case, the unit follows the procedures it has prepared for exceptional situations.

Question 11

What if a device breaks?

Accepted Answer

When Iiwari or the customer detects a device fault, the broken device is replaced with a new one. The unit keeps spare devices for this purpose, and nurses are shown how to swap tags themselves. Devices installed in the building, such as anchors, are always replaced by Iiwari's service team.

Question 12

What if a resident can't press the wristband button?

Accepted Answer

Residents benefit from positioning even if they cannot press the button. Positioning makes it possible, for example, to measure how much care a resident receives and to ensure a resident does not leave the building without staff knowing. If needed, an accessory is available that makes the button easier to press.

Question 13

Is the wristband easily lost?

Accepted Answer

No. The wristband is designed for continuous use, and a lost wristband can be found on the map using positioning. If a wristband is lost or breaks, a replacement can quickly be provided from the care home's spare devices.

Question 14

Is the wristband waterproof?

Accepted Answer

Residents' locators are water-resistant to some degree, but they must not be submerged in water. We always recommend taking the wristband off before showering.

Question 15

Can the wristband be washed?

Accepted Answer

If the wristband needs cleaning, the locator can be wiped with a damp cloth and disinfectant; the wristband strap and the locator holder can be washed in a washing machine.

Question 16

What if a resident doesn't want to be tracked?

Accepted Answer

Positioning is based on consent and on improving safety. The unit is responsible for ensuring safety and always acts in accordance with legislation.

Question 17

Do residents' wristbands need to be charged?

Accepted Answer

No, the wristbands never need charging. Iiwari's locators run on batteries that typically last around two years.

Question 18

Do nurses need to carry both a phone and a safety button?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The phone is the nurse's work tool: resident calls and alarms arrive there, and it shows the real-time view of where help is needed and where other staff are. In addition, each nurse carries their own tag, which doubles as a safety button: one press calls for backup and colleagues immediately see the exact location. The tag is best clipped to clothing at chest height for the whole shift – that gives the most accurate positioning and keeps both hands free.

Question 19

Is nurses' activity or working time monitored?

Accepted Answer

No. The system must not be used for time tracking or for monitoring individuals.

Question 20

Does the system store nurses' location data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We collect historical data for care data and system development. Only Iiwari staff have access to the historical data – we do not use it to monitor employees. When needed, the data can be used to secure legal protection: for example, after an accident the sequence of events can be reviewed from positioning data. Historical data also helps us fix errors detected in the system.

Question 21

Is it permitted to track nurses' locations?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as long as tracking has a clear and justified purpose, such as occupational safety and smoother workflows.It's important that:Introducing positioning is discussed with staffEmployees are told openly how the system worksPositioning is not used to monitor individualsIn an employment relationship, tracking is not based on consent but on the employer's obligation to ensure safety.

Question 22

How have nurses responded to the system?

Accepted Answer

The response has been largely positive: the system significantly improves both staff and resident safety, and makes everyday work easier and smoother.

Question 23

How can the system help on night shifts?

Accepted Answer

The system is especially useful on night shifts. The nurse sees on the map in real time where residents are, so it is easy to notice quickly if a resident leaves their room, for example. During the night shift, we route calls according to the customer's wishes, for example to a single night-shift phone only.

Question 24

What does the system need in order to work?

Accepted Answer

From the customer, the system requires a working wifi connection and smartphones (we recommend four per unit). Maintaining the wifi connection on the customer's premises is the customer's responsibility.Anchors that receive the tags' signals are installed in the premises. Residents wear wristbands with a built-in tag. Nurses get their own tags, clipped to clothing at chest height, which gives the most accurate positioning.

Question 25

Does the solution work in large care homes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The system is at its best in large buildings. Resident and staff calls can be distributed according to the customer's wishes, for example by floor or by area.Every site gets its own installation plan based on floor plans and a survey visit: we go through rooms, corridors, exit doors and other critical areas and dimension the anchor network accordingly. After installation, positioning accuracy is tested and fine-tuned on site.

Question 26

Do the positioning signals interfere with other devices?

Accepted Answer

No. Iiwari's positioning is based on UWB radio technology, which uses a different frequency range than Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The signal is extremely short and low-powered, so it does not interfere with other devices or load the building's Wi-Fi network.The technology is well suited to spaces where many wireless systems run at the same time – such as care homes and hospitals with medical equipment.

Question 27

Can the system be installed in an old building?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Installation works regardless of the age of the building – including old and protected properties. The anchors are small and network wirelessly, so no data cables need to be run. The anchors need a power supply, but no major structural changes are needed.We have also completed installations in multi-storey care homes with thick walls and complex layouts. During the survey visit we confirm how the anchor network is best implemented in that specific building.

Question 28

Is the system difficult to use?

Accepted Answer

No, we have designed the operating software – the Iiwari Care app – around nurses' needs. We have aimed to make the system as easy and simple to use as possible. The system mainly works by everyone carrying a locator, so calls are acknowledged simply by someone's presence. Using the Iiwari Care app is only a small fraction of using Iiwari's nurse call system overall. The system also includes onboarding training for staff and Finnish-language support, so no one is left alone with a new system.

Question 29

How long do the locators' batteries last? Can batteries be replaced by staff?

Accepted Answer

The locators' batteries last around two years and can easily be replaced by staff.

Question 30

Where is the data stored?

Accepted Answer

On servers located in Finland.

Question 31

Is the system GDPR-compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Data privacy has been fully considered and the system meets all legal requirements.

Question 32

Is tracking staff permitted from a data-privacy perspective?

Accepted Answer

Yes – when it's based on occupational safety and carried out transparently.The key requirements are that:the rollout is discussed with staffemployees know how the system worksuse is limited and purpose-specificThe model is the same as for many other work tools: the employer is responsible for safety.

Question 33

Is it permitted to track residents?

Accepted Answer

Tracking a resident is legally a restrictive measure that is never taken lightly. Positioning is always based on consent, on improving the resident's safety and on the unit's own policies, and its use is limited and transparent.The system can also be implemented so that residents are not tracked at all. In that case residents only have a call button for requesting help. This is how it is done, for example, in supported housing units for people with intellectual disabilities.

Question 34

How can the data be used?

Accepted Answer

Data collected through positioning can be used, for example, to measure the amount of direct care and alarm response times. This lets the care home be managed on the basis of real information.

Question 35

Does the system detect falls?

Accepted Answer

Not yet, but the feature is in development. Connecting a motion sensor to the system is already possible, which triggers an alarm if a resident gets out of bed at night.

Question 36

Is audio or video included?

Accepted Answer

Two-way audio is a possible add-on feature, allowing staff to ask a resident who raised an alarm what's wrong. Adding video depends on the unit's own policies.

Question 37

Can the system monitor vital signs?

Accepted Answer

Not medically, but activity and sleep tracking are on the way.

Frequently Asked Questions – Iiwari Care for care homes

What real benefits does positioning bring to everyday work?

Positioning – how does it work?

Alarms

Residents

Nurses

Devices and system

Data privacy and data

For management

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