New cloud-based service aims to bridge communications gap

Among the many products on display in the Idea House at the LeadingAge annual meeting is Panasonic Corp. of North America's On4Today non-clinical, cloud-based service designed for assisted living and other long-term care communities, which will be commercially available in November.

The service, which has been pilot-tested in several communities, aims to bridge potential communications gaps between residents and their families, care providers and friends in an effort to improve staff efficiencies, reduce resident anxiety, promote peace of mind among family and friends and encourage stronger levels of resident engagement.

“As the aging population increases, there is growing demand for flexible healthcare solutions capable of addressing a range of needs unique to this group,” says Bob Dobbins, vice president, new business development, who leads Panasonic’s new Health and Wellness Solutions group.

On4Today is delivered to residents on a tablet that connects through WiFi, making it portable and enabling flexibility in use. The customizable device provides residents options to manage daily activities with calendar appointments and reminders, view photos and videos, and participate in video chats and messaging. A large font size, audio and visual prompts and touchscreen scrolling features are designed to simplify site navigation and message access.

Community staff members and families can access and interact with the service and residents via their personal computers or smartphones.

Photo: The On4Today tablet used by residents.