DRK Equips Retirement Homes with Alexa
Amazon’s voice technology is set to be used in retirement and nursing homes, as well as by the Red Cross’s outpatient care services.
With Alexa Smart Properties, the U.S. company has developed a solution designed to enable retirement homes to implement a voice-controlled system tailored specifically to the needs of residents and their caregivers. The rollout is being managed by DRK-Service GmbH, with the IT service provider DiscVision serving as the technical partner.
Market Promise: Better Quality of Life
The solution is already being used in the LeNa project, run by the Müllheim district association of the German Red Cross. The project primarily targets senior citizens in the district association’s area who live alone and require care and assistance in their own homes. Its goal is to create new opportunities for social participation through an Alexa-enabled Echo Show device from Amazon.
Residents will be able to access information about their facility via voice or touch, browse entertainment programs, set appointment reminders, and stay in touch with relatives—whether through Alexa-to-Alexa calls or video calls. External cultural or exercise programs can also be made available, according to Amazon. Additionally, the solution is designed to help seniors control their environment, from lighting to room temperature.
Care staff can utilize special communication features to interact with residents, make announcements, and conduct voice and video calls within the facility. This technology aims to empower senior citizens to live more independently and inclusively. Another goal is to save time for care staff, allowing them to focus more on providing personal care to residents.
Roadmap
As part of an awareness campaign, DRK-Service will inform DRK retirement homes across Germany about the new technology and its benefits. DiscVision Solutions, as the solution provider, will be responsible for the technical implementation in DRK facilities. Using the tools and application interfaces of Alexa Smart Properties, DiscVision will be able to quickly and efficiently configure and manage a wide range of Alexa-enabled devices, ensuring seamless integration on-site.
Amazon emphasizes that the system was developed with strict adherence to data protection regulations. No voice recordings are stored, and no account information is required for use. Each Amazon Echo device includes multi-layered data protection features, along with a microphone-off button to completely deactivate the microphones.
