Camera-free monitoring – questions and answers

OloSeuranta is Hoivita’s camera-free sensor-based service for care homes, assisted living and home care. Here we answer common questions about what the sensors can detect, what information the system handles and how OloSeuranta can support care work.

What is OloSeuranta?

OloSeuranta uses sensors placed in the living environment to detect selected everyday events and changes.

Depending on the use case, the system can monitor movement, night-time activity, door use and environmental conditions.

The purpose is not to continuously monitor a person, but to provide care staff with useful information when a defined event or change requires attention.

Does OloSeuranta use cameras?

No.

OloSeuranta is a camera-free solution. It does not create images or video of the resident.

Does the resident need to wear a wristband or another wearable device?

No.

Standard OloSeuranta room and movement monitoring does not require the resident to wear a device.

The resident does not need to remember to wear, carry or charge anything.

How can an older person’s night-time movement be monitored without a camera?

Night-time movement can be detected using a motion sensor placed in the room.

In OloSeuranta, the sensor position and settings are selected according to what needs to be detected. For example, the aim may be to detect movement related to getting out of bed or leaving the room during the night.

The information can be used both for individual events and for reviewing changes in night-time activity over a longer period.

Can OloSeuranta detect when a resident gets out of bed?

A correctly positioned motion sensor can detect movement related to getting out of bed.

Sensor placement is important. The purpose is not to react to every normal movement while the resident is sleeping, but to detect the movement that is relevant to the agreed monitoring need.

Can changes in night-time activity be monitored over time?

Yes.

In addition to individual events, sensor data can be reviewed over a longer period.

This can help identify changes, for example when a resident’s night-time activity begins to differ from their previous pattern.

The information supports professional assessment by care staff. The system does not make a diagnosis.

Can toilet visits be detected without a camera?

Yes.

A motion sensor placed in the toilet or bathroom can detect movement and provide information about the use of the room.

The purpose is not to monitor what the person is doing in the toilet. The sensor detects movement without creating an image.

Can the system detect when a door is opened?

Yes.

The OloOvi solution can detect when a door is opened or closed.

It can be used, for example, on an external door or another selected door.

Can OloSeuranta detect if a resident leaves their room at night?

Room and door sensors can be configured to support monitoring of night-time movement or a resident leaving their room.

The exact setup is always defined according to the care environment and the individual use case.

Does every detected movement generate an alert?

No.

Sensor settings and OloSeuranta alert rules are configured according to the situations in which care staff actually need information.

The aim is not to generate as many alerts as possible, but to provide useful information for care work.

How can unnecessary alerts be reduced?

Correct sensor placement and settings are important.

For example, in a resident’s room the aim may be to detect movement related to getting out of bed rather than every normal movement in the room.

A resident’s room and a corridor also have different purposes, so different sensor settings may be appropriate.

How does a caregiver receive an alert?

OloSeuranta alerts can be delivered to Hoivita SafeApp.

The caregiver can see the relevant alert and act according to the situation.

What is SafeApp?

SafeApp is Hoivita’s interface for receiving and handling alerts.

Its purpose is to provide care staff with the information they need in a clear way without requiring them to understand the technical sensor data.

What is OneView?

OneView brings OloSeuranta information together for care staff.

It can provide an overall view of the OloSeuranta system, its devices and relevant events.

Do caregivers need to see technical sensor information?

No.

A normal user does not need to understand the technical sensor settings.

For the caregiver, the important information is what has happened, where it happened and whether the situation may require action.

Technical settings are managed by authorised users responsible for the system.

Does OloSeuranta record speech?

No.

A sound sensor can measure sound level in decibels (dB), but it does not record or listen to the content of speech.

Can room temperature and humidity be monitored?

Yes.

Depending on the sensor used, OloSeuranta can monitor environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.

Some sensors can also measure additional environmental parameters.

Does every resident room need Wi-Fi?

Not necessarily.

OloSeuranta sensors can use LoRaWAN communication, which means that a separate Wi-Fi connection is not required for every sensor or every resident room.

What is LoRaWAN?

LoRaWAN is a wireless communication technology designed especially for sensors and small amounts of data.

It enables battery-powered sensors to send measurement and event information wirelessly without requiring a traditional Wi-Fi connection.

Does the resident need to know how to use the system?

No.

Room sensors operate in the background.

In normal sensor-based monitoring, the resident does not need to open an application, press a button or operate a technical device.

Can OloSeuranta support the care of a person with memory impairment?

OloSeuranta can be used in situations where it is useful to detect events such as night-time movement, leaving a room or opening a door without using a camera or requiring the resident to wear a device.

The appropriate type of monitoring should always be assessed as part of the person’s care and services.

Does OloSeuranta replace a caregiver?

No.

OloSeuranta is designed to provide additional information about what is happening in the resident’s daily life and when there may be a need to check on the resident.

The caregiver assesses the situation and decides what action is needed.

Can OloSeuranta be used in home care?

Yes.

OloSeuranta can also support the monitoring of everyday activities for a person living at home.

Depending on the use case, it can monitor events such as movement, toilet use or door activity without a camera.

Home care has different needs from residential care, so monitoring and alerts are configured according to the situation.

Can family members use OloSeuranta?

The way OloSeuranta is used and the user access rights depend on how the service is implemented.

In care environments, access to personal and sensor information is limited to authorised users who need the information.

Does the system store video or images for later review?

No.

OloSeuranta does not create video recordings or images of the resident.

What does a sensor actually know about a person?

A sensor only detects what it is designed to measure.

For example:

• a PIR motion sensor detects movement

• a door sensor detects a change in the door status

• a temperature sensor measures temperature.

OloSeuranta can use these observations to provide information relevant to the agreed use case, but the sensor does not see the person in the way a camera does.

Why is camera-free monitoring important?

In a care environment, monitoring should support care staff while also respecting the resident’s privacy.

Camera-free sensor monitoring can detect selected events without continuously creating images of a resident’s daily life.

Who is OloSeuranta suitable for?

OloSeuranta is intended for situations where there is a need to receive information about movement, night-time events, door use or environmental conditions without using a camera.

The solution can be used in care homes, assisted living and home care according to the specific need.

How is OloSeuranta implementation started?

The first step is to define what practical situation needs to be monitored.

Suitable sensors, their placement and the required alerts are then selected.

The aim is to start from a real care need rather than simply installing as many sensors or generating as many alerts as possible.

Where can I get more information?

Hoivita Oy can provide more information about whether OloSeuranta is suitable for a care home, assisted living or home care environment.

Tell us what kind of situation you would like to monitor, and we can discuss how it could be implemented.