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NCIS Group is helping to revolutionise fall prevention in aged care with Talius

For older Australians, falls are the single leading causes of injury, extended hospitalisations, and sadly leading to death. NCIS Group is leading the charge when it comes to fall prevention and A.I prediction in aged care, by helping providers integrate the latest lifesaving radar and sensor technologies.

Working with our partners at Talius Group, NCIS will install and commission Bluetooth gateways and numerous Talius RTLS sensors through a selected Whiddon’s residential care facilities. These sensors will provide real-time alerts to Whiddon staff when a resident is likely to fall, so the team can intervene as fast as possible to prevent injury and harm.

Talius suite of tech-enabled care solutions use AI and technology and cutting-edge radar, capable of not only detecting falls – but also predicting when a person is likely to fall – and sending an alert to staff. With the help of innovative technology, the sensors can also be partnered with other devices in the Talius A.I Engine designed specifically for monitoring the health of aged care residents.

This project is part of a national trial known as BEST CARE (Building Excellence in Sensor Technology: Clinical Assessment Response Experience), which will test the effectiveness of these world-class sensor and data analytics technologies, measuring their impact on fall prevention. Read the full article from Australian Ageing Agenda here.

“NCIS Group is thrilled that we can help bring the Talius Group’s lifesaving technologies to Australia’s aged care facilities,” says Dean Beaumont, NCIS Group’s Managing Director.

“Keeping aged care residents safe requires round-the-clock monitoring, and providers need to be quick on the pulse. By commissioning and installing the most effective sensor technology available, we’re proud to be using Talius technology to prevent falls and ultimately keep our residents safe and well.”

Looking to integrate the latest radar and sensor technology for your aged care facility? Our solutions easily track resident care so you can meet Royal Commission implementation plan requirements in minutes. Talk to us about how you can integrate the Talius suite of technologies to meet the unique needs of your facility and its residents.

NCIS Group to implement this transformative aged care technology upgrade across part of the Retirement and Independent Living portfolio of Uniting NSW.ACT


NCIS Group Pty Ltd is pleased to announce it has been selected to supply and install next-generation assistive technology solutions to Uniting NSW.ACT’s Retirement Living division in NSW and ACT.

Following a complex assessment process, covering technical, service, I.T security, financial and delivery assessments, Uniting NSW.ACT recognised the substantial advantages of partnering with NCIS Group to implement this transformative technology upgrade across numerous sites.

This upgrade will replace the existing PERs (Personal Emergency Response Systems) communications technology with our partners Talius Group Limited suite and the Talius Smart Care Platform establishing a future-proof “Ageing in Place” platform for Uniting NSW.ACT addressing critical technology recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

“We are very proud to have been awarded this long-term project with Uniting NSW.ACT. As Uniting NSW.ACT is one of Australia’s leading aged care service providers, being selected as their technology delivery partner echoes our devotion to the Aged Care Industry, by demonstrating how our communication technologies from PER’s to Gigabit Passive Optic Networks can assist to in ageing in place for our Australian ageing population.”
Dean Beaumont, Managing Director – NCIS Group Pty Ltd

NCIS Group will be working collaboratively with Uniting NSW.ACT to roll out the installation of the technology, onboarding the Uniting NSW.ACT team and providing ongoing 24/7 support to its team and residents alike.

Additionally, NCIS Group has selected Sapio, one of Australia’s largest 24-hour emergency response providers to deliver A1 monitoring and response services as part of our turnkey solution.

To find out more about how the Talius Smart Care Platform and next-generation sensor technology can support your resident’s health, wellbeing and independence, please reach out and book a demonstration meeting today.

Transformative PERs Aged Care Technology

Telstra has announced that it will shut off its 3G capability effective as of June 2024. The shutdown will impact all devices and medical alarms that currently operate on Telstra’s 3G wireless mobile telecommunications network, including hundreds of thousands of Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERs). Those providers who are too slow to upgrade their solution could put aged care residents at risk when their safety devices suddenly fail to work overnight, which is why acting fast is so essential.

The time to act is now

While mid-2024 might seem like a long time away, it’s critical that aged care providers move fast in transitioning to 4G or 5G. The shutdown will impact approximately 300,000 PERs, across thousands of aged care organisations all around Australia. While this means we’ll need to upgrade roughly 400 a day to meet the demand, our estimates show that it’s only possible for us to install around 100 per day at a single site.

Demand for these devices is already outweighing supply, because so many facilities are being forced to make the transition at the same time. This is also occurring during a period of significant and increasing global supply chain issues. Even with these supply constraints aside, shifting hundreds of residents to 4G-enabled devices is already a large and time-consuming undertaking. The process of installing and testing each new device, as well as providing adequate training for staff and residents, can take several months.

Working with elderly end users

Older people tend to be more averse to tech adoption – making technological upgrades more of a nuanced and lengthy procedure when they are direct users of these devices. It’s important to remember that residents will require more time to learn and adapt to their new PERs. Even if two devices appear to be quite similar, even small things, like new devices having different light features or sounds, can leave residents feeling confused or distressed. It’s crucial to allow sufficient time for aged care end-users to learn and adapt.

With coverage and capacity of 3G networks also being impacted in the lead-up to the 3G network shutdown, there is really no benefit to waiting any longer to make the shift. After all, Personal Emergency Response Systems are critical life-saving healthcare devices: they are simply not the type of thing that you can allow to lapse, even for a short period of time.

What does the shift to 4G mean for aged care providers?

While this initial period of transition is likely to be disruptive, those currently still utilising PERs on a legacy 3G network will immediately notice the benefits that 4G and 5G provides. As higher-performance network technologies, these networks are much faster, far more robust and highly efficient. They also offer expanded network coverage and are capable of better-supporting the latest features.

Providers should see the shutdown as an opportunity to upgrade patients to the latest ageing in place assistive technologies. Long-term, these advanced monitoring devices are not only much more efficient at providing life-saving health interventions, but can also help enhance residents’ quality of life, creating opportunities for greater independence and flexibility.

What should providers look for in a 4G upgrade?

Many of the current 3G devices on the market are only effective at sending simple alerts after incidents have occurred. The latest 4G/5G-enabled next-generation devices, on the other hand, are far superior, providing significantly enhanced monitoring of residents’ movement and activity. Advanced 4G/5G devices utilising predictive AI and machine-led monitoring, are capable of providing more proactive and less reactive responses, so care providers can intervene much quicker in health emergencies.

Simply opting for a 4G version of a personal alarm system is likely to be a mistake for providers. This technology is already outdated, meaning that further upgrades will probably be needed just around the corner. On the other hand, a smart-based 4G/5G Emergency Response System will future-proof your facility’s emergency response technologies for many years to come.

The Talius™ personal emergency response solution

NCIS Group proudly partners with Talius: Australia’s leading providers of specialised aged care sensors. With a PER solution from Talius delivered on the NCIS GPON network, providers will be able to accurately process real-time data at scale, to provide the fastest outcomes for residents. This will ensure nurses and care staff are able to act quickly to deliver the very best in safety, care and peace of mind. You can learn more in the video below.

Ready to upgrade to Talius Aged Care Technology, the future of aged care?

Talk to us today about migrating your emergency response system to a next-generation solution.

Total Construction logo

NCIS are proud to announce our event partnership with Total Constructions and look forward to their upcoming Aged Care Leaders Industry Breakfast on Thursday, 14th of July 2022.

This intimate and national event has an impressive lineup of influential speakers with extensive knowledge in aged care design and innovation, construction and property.

This event will be hosted from Total Constructions Sydney Head Office and streamed directly to their networking venues in Melbourne and Brisbane. If you are interested in attending please fill out the form below.

Find out more

Event details

Date – Thursday 14th July 2022
Time – 7am to 11am (AEST)

Guest speakers

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Upcoming NCIS roundtable

The importance of technology in aged care has been felt once again as we experienced yet another Covid-19 outbreak in NSW.

When families are split apart physically, virtual connectivity is the only way to keep older Australians connected to their loved ones. Over the past 18 months, we’ve seen aged care facilities with excellent ICT infrastructure maintain quality of life for their residents and a greater end user experience, while those who’ve relied on legacy infrastructure have lagged behind. Not only can upgrading your ICT infrastructure provide better care outcomes, it can also reduce ongoing operational costs – providing a significant return on investment.

Join our roundtable at Aged Care IT Summit NSW

NCIS Group is excited to announce that we are the proud sponsors of this years’ Aged Care IT Summit which will take place on the 28th of March at Dockside Darling Harbour Sydney. We will also be presenting a roundtable discussion on the topic ‘How transforming ICT infrastructure, reduces cost and improves user experience’.

Attendees will hear from experts about why holding onto an ageing infrastructure is not only a direct cost to the bottom line, but also harms the user experience for staff, residents and families. You’ll gain key insights about how you can replace legacy infrastructure with technologies such as GPON – to reduce ongoing costs and enjoy a more pandemic-proof, future-proof organisation.

About Aged Care IT Summit NSW 2022

This years’ Aged Care IT Summit NSW will focus on how to achieve an integrated and connected digital ecosystem in aged care. It will deliver important insights about how to avoid the common barriers to achieving this, such as ‘disjointed systems, lack of data visibility and interoperability, which can result in a deterioration in consumer experience.’

From the event page: ‘As the sector looks to address the recommendations from the Royal Commission final report, now is the time to prepare, plan and implement future-ready systems and technology. The Aged Care IT Summit NSW will analyse how aged care providers can best implement and utilise new technology systems to improve their operational efficiency and consumer outcomes.’

Learn more about the Summit

Event details: Aged Care IT Summit NSW 2021

Where: Dockside Darling Harbour Sydney
When: 28th March, 8:30- 17:00

Looking to attend our roundtable event?

Registration is essential. Click the button below to register to secure your place in this exciting discussion.
Register Now

NCIS has two Guest passes to give away for Aged Care Facilities please email Dean Beaumont at [email protected] to express your interest

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Final Report: What are the technological issues facing Aged Care in 2021?

There is a significant spotlight on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the newly released Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Final Report. This highlights how increasingly important it is for Aged Care providers to strengthen their digital infrastructures and enhance the ICT skills of their workforce. Here are some of the core technological issues the Report points out, and what providers can do about them:

Insufficient bandwidth

In any given organisation, technology is crucial to business operations, but we see the importance of ICT magnified further in aged care because the entire health, safety and wellbeing of residents, and their families reliance on these systems. Aged care providers with adequate and efficient bandwidth are better-placed to track and report incidents, adopt the latest e-Health advancements and promote a level of independence in daily living tasks and reduce risks for residents. Unfortunately, a staggeringly large number of providers simply can’t meet their technological compliance requirements because they don’t have the bandwidth within their infrastructure to do so. Many do not have the bandwidth to efficiently support basic communications applications like FaceTime, Skype or even mobile phone calls for residents. This is impacting their quality of life, care and costing organisations in the long run.

Duplication of services

Duplication happens when multiple networks have been installed on the same premises, compromising speed, efficiency and workspace. It is common for aged care providers to run a number of essential services like Wi-Fi, Security, Mechanical, ICT and Electrical Systems on the disparate system. Unfortunately, these duplicate systems do not interoperate and share information very well. This can often cause a flow of effect causing duplication of effort, that ultimately impacts quality of care. It’s crucial that providers consolidate their technological networks onto one interconnected, accessible and scalable communications system that provides client-centric care to their ageing communities.

The NCIS Solution: transforming ITC in aged care

State of the art fibre infrastructure is a solution to the technological issues facing providers in 2021. NCIS Group leads the way in Aged Care Information Technology. We equip providers with a future-proof, reliable and low-maintenance fibre GPON network that drives innovation and transforms providers’ capabilities. This pressure on organisations to provide high-quality, high-speed IP and cloud-based infrastructure will only increase.

NCIS Group can help you not just meet but exceed your compliance obligations, while enhancing quality of life and care for residents and gaining better outcomes for staff. Contact us to find out more.

Australia’s aged care population is growing rapidly, placing an enormous strain on the sector to accommodate new residents. Broadband technology is the solution to this challenge, helping elderly Australians live longer while giving them more independence and choice. It’s also making life easier for providers, by enabling them to do more with less, to communicate more efficiently, and better interpret their data. It’s crucial for providers to jump on board with the latest technologies, or they’ll face being left behind. Robotics, science and eHealth are only going to become more and more important. To remain relevant in the future, setting up infrastructure that doesn’t only accommodate the innovations of today, but also those of tomorrow, is imperative. Here are just a few ways internet technology is revolutionising the aged care sector at this very moment:

Quality of life

Broadband technologies are already enhancing residents’ social connectivity. They can now enjoy video calls with their loved ones, which provides a chance to connect face-to-face, bridging the distances between families. This has a huge impact on residents’ state of mind, helping to reduce loneliness and increase overall happiness. Plus, internet technologies have also already started giving residents more choice in their day-to-day lifestyles. Thanks to wearable technologies and more devices being connected to the internet, day-to-day activities can now be customised based on the needs and lifestyle preference of the individual. Residents can now live on their own schedule, giving them greater freedom and independence, even as their care needs increase with age.

Quality of Care

As more and more objects become connected to the Internet of Things, healthcare appliances are becoming even more intelligent. This has created some exciting opportunities to improve care. Residents’ rooms are becoming active health hubs: residents can video-call their doctors from the comfort of their rooms. Providers can currently access all kinds of information about the resident, from their temperature to medicine intake, activity level and heart rate, and you can monitor and track this remotely across the facility. Any changes or abnormal behaviours can be discovered as they emerge. This can be fast, helping save lives in emergencies, and it can also be slow, picking up gradual deterioration that might have otherwise gone under the radar. This is only going to improve as more and more appliances join the Internet of Things, which is likely to lead to better reporting and even faster diagnosis in the future.

Better performance

The latest broadband technologies are also helping facilities become more productive, efficient, and profitable so that they can deliver the better quality of care to a greater number of residents. Providers can streamline processes through better data analysis and monitoring, allowing them to make more informed business decisions. Meanwhile, the dream of end-to-end care management is now being realised, and staff are no longer burdened by as much admin, thanks to mobile and tablet technologies. This has freed up more time for them to provide care, as opposed to being bogged down by admin. Plus, network technology is becoming more sustainable, offering smoother migration to solutions of the future. This will eliminate the need for core refurbishment, so residents can age in place, without having to move as their care requirements change.

NCIS leads the way in aged care technology. We deliver reliable and efficient communications solutions that transform providers’ capabilities, pushing them into the future, and ahead of the industry. NCIS can help your business grow with highly scalable, effective communications infrastructure. To learn more about the advantages of installing an award-winning Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) solution, enquire now or give us a call on 1800 NCIS GROUP.

NCIS was mentioned in the Australian National Construction Review for our work on MYVISTA Mirrabooka. Five years in the making, this holistic, multi-storey aged care and retirement living development is at the forefront of design and technology.

We proudly implemented a NCIS GPON high-speed IP transport layer, capable of providing the highest level of residential and ageing in place services: FTA, Satellite TV, MATV solution, full IP Nurse Call, IP Security, CCTV, Access control and Wireless Access points.

Thank you to MYVISTA , Total Project Management (Australia), Pindan, Silver Thomas Hanley (STH) and all our peer contractors on site who made this team such a success. This was another terrific aged care project for NCIS.

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How are aged care providers building COVID safe networks of the future? NCIS provided our expertise on this, for a webinar hosted by ACAN, featuring other Aged Care industry thought leaders. View our submission to the ACAN COVID toolkit below.

Internet technology is make or break in this pandemic

COVID-19 has thrust Aged Care into an era of great technological change. The Aged Care facilities with exceptional communications infrastructure continue to come out on top, while those who’ve relied on legacy infrastructure or slow disparate systems lag behind. The migration to internet technologies, advancements e-Health and the virtual connectivity have been the saving grace for Aged Care providers in the pandemic, proving just how vital it is to have robust commercial-grade communications infrastructure.

What is NCIS Group’s GPON solution?

The pressure on organisations to provide high-quality, high-speed IP and cloud-based infrastructure is only increasing. It’s never been more important for providers to invest in a future-proof network that supports innovation and growth. The NCIS GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) Solution does just this. It provides organisations with a safe and reliable network infrastructure that connects to IP building services, enabling the control and integration of third party building systems like IP Security, IP Nurse Call, Lighting Control, Energy Metering, BMS, alongside standard systems like VoIP, Data, WAPs, IP MATV.

GPON key benefits for Aged Care providers:

  1. Enhanced quality of life
    Feature-rich entertainment and enhanced social connectivity to keep residents in touch with their loved ones
  2. Enhanced quality of care
    Improved care – from eHealth to remote monitoring and big data
  3. Improved security
    Ironclad protection against network security breaches
  4. Space, efficiency & cost savings
    Quality infrastructure that takes up less physical space, increases workflow and reduces capital and operational expenditure
  5. Future-proofing
    Residents can ‘age in place’ with highly sustainable infrastructure that migrates smoothly to network solutions of the future.

e-Health offers opportunities for advanced virus detection

Organisations with advanced communications infrastructure can turn residents’ rooms into pandemic-safe health hubs. They can monitor and check residents’ vital health information from afar, helping reduce the need for face-to-face contact. Everything from residents’ temperatures, to their activity levels and heart rates can be accessed remotely and in real time. This ensures anything abnormal can be detected as it emerges, assisting facilities to notice and contain a potential COVID-19 outbreak before it can spread out of control.

Connectivity is crucial to mental health

Keeping elderly residents safe in a pandemic sadly means reducing residents’ contact with their loved ones, staff and other residents. This has left many elderly people feeling lonely, isolated and disconnected. Connectivity via video calling and other internet services have the potential to reduce this social isolation and increase connection between residents and families. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has placed immense stress on Australia’s public internet network, causing delays and outages in Aged Care facilities across the country. Many providers have found their facilities do not have the bandwidth to support basic applications like FaceTime, Skype or even mobile phone calls. By investing in high quality tele-communications technology, facilities can strengthen connection between residents and families, bridging the distance between loved ones. This can have a massive impact on mental health for those who need it most – increasing overall happiness in a time where it is uncertain when residents will next see their families or friends.

NCIS Group leads the way in Aged Care IT and GPON technology. We deliver reliable and efficient communications solutions that transform Aged Care providers’ capabilities, setting them up for the future advancements in their industry. NCIS Group can help your facility’s portfolio grow with highly scalable communications infrastructure. Contact us to learn more today.