What is the Daily Call Service and who does it benefit?
.avif)
The Daily Call Service: An extra layer of reassurance for independent living
For many people, living independently means enjoying the freedom and comfort of their own home. But it can also raise an important question: what happens if something goes wrong and nobody knows?
That's exactly what the MePACS Daily Call Service is designed for.
The Daily Call Service is an optional wellbeing check-in service available with a MePACS Home Alarm. Each morning, clients press a button on their Home Alarm to let MePACS know they are okay. If a check-in isn't received, the MePACS team follows up.
Simple, reassuring and non-intrusive, Daily Call provides an additional layer of support for clients, peace of mind for families, and greater confidence for healthcare professionals supporting people to live independently.
Why a daily check-in matters
While a personal alarm provides access to help in an emergency, the Daily Call Service focuses on what happens when a client doesn't follow their usual routine.
For many people, maintaining a daily routine is an important part of living independently. The Daily Call Service creates a simple wellbeing ritual that becomes part of each morning, much like making a cup of coffee. When that routine is interrupted unexpectedly, it can sometimes be an early indication that something isn't right.
The Daily Call Service helps ensure those changes don't go unnoticed by triggering a follow-up process when a check-in is missed. For clients, it's a simple way to start the day. For families and healthcare professionals, it provides reassurance that there is a process in place if a person doesn't follow their normal routine.
How Does the Daily Call Service Work?
The Daily Call Service follows a simple three-step process:
1. Client checks in
Each morning between 6am and 11am, the client presses the Call button on their Home Alarm base unit.
This lets MePACS know they are safe and well and records their daily check-in.
2. MePACS follows up on missed check-ins
If a check-in has not been received by 11am, the MePACS Response Team begins the follow-up process.
The team will attempt to contact the client directly. If they cannot be reached, nominated contacts will be contacted to help confirm the client's wellbeing.
3. A welfare check is arranged if required
If the client's wellbeing cannot be confirmed by 3pm, emergency services will be contacted to conduct a welfare check.
This process helps ensure that missed check-ins never go unnoticed.
For families: Peace of mind between visits and phone calls
Family members often do everything they can to support their loved ones, but daily visits aren't always possible. For adult children, there can be a constant underlying question: "What if Mum or Dad needs help and nobody knows?"
While the Daily Call doesn't replace family involvement, it provides reassurance that there is a clear follow-up process if a check-in is missed. That can be especially valuable when family members live interstate, work full-time or are unable to visit regularly.
Rather than relying solely on family members to notice something is wrong, the Daily Call provides an additional safety net and reassurance that loved ones are well looked after.
For clinicians: Supporting independent living
For clinicians and support providers, the Daily Call can be a valuable addition to the support plan. It helps cover periods of limited contact and provides an additional touchpoint that may help identify concerns sooner and complement existing risk management strategies.
It may be particularly beneficial for particpants who:
- Live independently
- Have limited informal supports
- Spend long periods of time alone
- May be vulnerable if they become unwell and cannot seek help
- Require additional oversight between visits
- Need extra reassurance to continue living confidently at home
When combined with a personal alarm, the Daily Call provides another layer of support that can strengthen risk management strategies while supporting choice, empowerment and independent living.
When can the Daily Call make a difference?
A missed check-in doesn't always mean an emergency has occurred. Sometimes people simply forget.
However, there are also situations where a missed check-in may be the first sign that someone needs help.
For example:
- A person wakes feeling dizzy, unwell or confused and is unable to get out of bed.
- A person experiences a fall or medical emergency overnight and cannot reach their phone or personal alarm.
- A person may have become disoriented, wandered from home or cannot be located.
In situations like these, every hour matters. The Daily Call Service helps ensure that missed check-ins don't go unnoticed by triggering a follow-up process when a client hasn't checked in as expected.
Affordable daily reassurance
The Daily Call Service is available as an optional add-on to a MePACS Home Alarm for just $6 per month and can be activated remotely, with no additional equipment required.
For less than the cost of a cup of coffee each month, clients, families and healthcare professionals gain the reassurance of knowing there's a process in place if a daily check-in is missed.
Funding options for the Daily Call Service
The Daily Call Service may be funded through a range of programs, including:
- Personal Alert Victoria (PAV)
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
- Support at Home (SAH)
If you're unsure about eligibility or the right funding pathway, our team can help you explore the options available to you.
Conclusion
While The Daily Call Service is simple and easy to use, its value comes from consistency. A regular daily routine creates an opportunity to identify when something may not be right and trigger follow-up sooner.
For most clients, completing their Daily Call becomes a natural part of the morning routine. On most days, it is simply a quick button press. However, if that routine is unexpectedly interrupted, there is a clear process in place to help ensure the client's wellbeing can be checked on.
Combined with a MePACS Home Alarm, The Daily Call Service provides an additional layer of support that helps people continue living independently with greater confidence. It also provides valuable peace of mind for families and reassurance for healthcare professionals involved in a client's care.
|
.avif)
