RICHMOND, VA, September 21, 2010 -WellAWARE Systems, the leading developer of next-generation wellness solutions for care providers, announced it strengthened its relationship with Retirement Unlimited, Inc. (RUI), based in Roanoke, by converting two of its retirement communities from pilot projects to partners. RUI was founded in 1984 and its seven retirement communities offer different combinations of independent living, assisted living, and specialty care for those with dementia. Both the Heatherwood Retirement Community (located in Burke, VA) and The Towers Retirement Community (located in Richmond, VA) have independently converted from a pilot project to a partner and have expanded their use of WellAWARE’s technology across their care continuum. In addition, The Towers has established itself as a Center of Excellence for WellAWARE to test new features and technologies in a real-life setting before making them commercially available.
After testing the WellAWARE solution in its assisted living facility, both communities quickly realized the benefits of offering passive technology that does not require residents to wear, push or activate anything. It allowed their care providers the ability to identify leading indicators of potential health issues before they fully developed, and ultimately offered peace of mind to the families of their loved ones. The WellAWARE solution is available in all units at Heatherwood and The Towers.
"Simply put, we are now able to have clearer indications about what is happening with our residents without being intrusive," said Susan Green, Administrator of Heatherwood and Board Member of the Virginia Health Care Association. "The families of our residents are convinced this technology provides the caregivers with a better understanding and greater insight into what is happening in their loved one’s life."
In addition to providing innovative technology to its residents, The Towers took the additional step of becoming a Center of Excellence for WellAWARE. Residents and care providers will have the added benefit of testing new features and technologies in “beta” before they become commercially available. Also, having the close proximity of The Towers to WellAWARE’s corporate headquarters in Richmond, VA will allow more onsite feedback and interaction with providers and residents.
"By utilizing all levels of care – independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing – we are able to offer WellAWARE an environment where it can see how new features and technologies work across multiple settings," said Tara Davis Ragland, Executive Director of The Towers Retirement Community. "We are honored to extend our relationship with WellAWARE and, as a Center of Excellence, help further its mission to improve the quality of care and quality of life for seniors and allow them to age in place even longer."
"We are very proud to extend our partnerships with RUI," said Jeff Noce, CEO of WellAWARE Systems. "Both Heatherwood and The Towers are setting the standard for high quality senior care communities by offering its senior residents innovative technologies which complement their great hands-on care. We look forward to a long relationship with both communities and further expanding our relationship with other RUI properties."
Built in collaboration with the senior living industry, WellAWARE™ Systems utilizes innovative passive technology to provide caregivers with a directional guide to proactively identify changes in key wellness indicators such as sleep quality, activity level, bathroom visits and more which significantly improves health related outcomes. For more information on WellAWARE Systems, please visit www.wellawaresystems.com.
Heatherwood Retirement Community, a member of the Retirement Unlimited family of properties, is a gracious senior living community nestled in a charming residential setting in Burke, Virginia. Residents of Heatherwood enjoy the independence of an apartment lifestyle with spacious floor plans and the security of twenty-four hour nursing staff. For more information on Heatherwood, please visit www.rui.net/heatherwood/heatherwood.php.
For almost 30 years The Towers Retirement & Assisted Living Community has provided a comprehensive and comfortable environment for seniors who want to enjoy their retirement in Richmond, VA. By offering independent, assisted living and memory impaired programs for residents who need supportive services, residents are able to maintain their independence. For more information on The Towers, please visit www.thetowers.net or visit them in person at 7015 Carnation St. Richmond, VA 23225.
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