KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and SportsProgram helps seniors live well at home

There's a new program being tested in Siouxland to help seniors live more independently and stay in their homes longer. It's in the trial stages, but they need more people in Northwest Iowa to sign up and take part.

Shirley Jacobsen has battled with her health for years. Ten years ago she had a heart attack. A long recovery later, she still uses oxygen to get around. But now she has technology helping make sure her recovery is going well. "This is the future of health care for seniors," said Debbie Heesch.

The Living Well at Home program through the Good Samaritan Society is a trial program to see if technology can help people like Shirley. "No cameras, no microphones, but it allows us after we have a trend to identify changes, which would eventually help us identify a change in their health," said Heesch. It includes three things: a Phillips Lifeline button to alert help in case of a fall, a Telehealth machine to report vital signs, and sensors mounted on the walls. "If a person gets up in the morning they typically have a pattern or routine that they have in their home," said Heesch. That's what the sensors track... where a person moves. There are no cameras or microphones, just the ability to know how often someone has been in a certain room of the house. "Activity in the bathroom area increases. We don't know why they're going in the bathroom, whether it's hand washing, toileting, lotion; but we notice an increase in that and then we can address the change," said Heesch.

To address that change a registered nurse, who monitors the data daily, is sent to the home to check on the client. And they make those visits whether or not there's a problem, developing a relationship with the clients they serve. "And it's just kind of nice to go and visit her once in a while. Not that she ever really had any problems with her routine, or the sensor problems, but just to go out and visit her," said Connie Ortmann. "I like that. I get lonesome," said Shirley Jacobsen. But in case there is a problem, Shirley knows someone's got her back. "Does it give you any sense of security?" asked Christy Batien. "I think it does, especially in the bathroom and the laundry room and places like that where you spend time," said Shirley Jacobsen. Security that someone else may notice if Shirley's not feeling her best.

The Good Samaritan Society Living Well at Home program is recruiting clients until the end of March. They serve 13 counties in Northwest Iowa... highlighted blue on this map. To be part of the program, you need to have been recently discharged from the hospital, a skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation center, or be eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and have been in the hospital in the last two years. They're looking for 1,200 people, so there is still plenty of room left in the program. They also need control homes that will report information, but not have the sensors. If you'd like to be a part, call the Good Samaritan Society at 1-800-832-5342.