IFOZ promotes implementation of Momo App & BedSense

The mission of the Elderly Care Innovation Fund (IFOZ) is to accelerate innovation in elderly care. The fund does this by investing in start-ups and scale-ups that contribute to the self-reliance of the elderly at home or to more efficient deployment of workers in elderly care. When IFOZ invests in a company, it becomes partly responsible for the future development of that company. This is achieved through a powerful network of affiliated VVT organizations (Nursing, Care and Home Care). A recent investment by IFOZ concerns the Momo App and the Momo BedSense from Momo Medical, and the first results are promising.

The Momo App provides healthcare workers with insight into various aspects at a glance, such as: the presence of the elderly in bed, the duration of their current position, their movements to get out of bed, their overall rest level, and whether specific actions are needed, such as adjusting their attitude. In addition, the Momo App provides therapists and practitioners with information about the sleep and rest patterns of the elderly, which can contribute to better services and injury prevention.

The Momo App uses data generated by the Momo BedSense, a sensor plate that is placed under the mattress of the elderly at chest height. Elderly people do not experience any discomfort from this. The sensors detect pressure, posture and small vibrations caused by breathing and heart rate, among other things. This gives healthcare workers insight into changes in posture and movement, leaving the bed, as well as the presence of a heartbeat and breathing.

Within the IFOZ network, seven VVT organizations have already implemented the Momo App and the Momo BedSense. An 'implementation and impact assessment' by IFOZ has revealed that these organizations are collectively deploying more than 2,700 BedSenses. Four of these organizations started after investment by IFOZ.

The Momo App and the Momo BedSense are mainly used in nursing or care homes, with an emphasis on people with dementia, but they are sometimes also used briefly by elderly people without dementia. Ideally, they are implemented for all residents in a department, as this can best streamline work processes. The use of Momo is mainly concentrated at night.

Most organizations praise the implementation support that Momo Medical provides, as well as their service orientation and accessibility. In general, no major technical obstacles were identified. The BedSense itself functions well in most cases, while the accompanying app is experienced as very user-friendly, even by people with limited mobile phone skills. However, there are some areas for improvement, such as vulnerable wiring and reduced performance in exceptional lying positions.

Success factors for implementation in VVT organizations include:

1. Adequate guidance from Momo Medical, which invests a lot of time in supporting organizations with implementation.
2. The involvement of our own employees, which creates intrinsic motivation to work with Momo.
3. A high-quality and accessible internal project leader, preferably with a nursing background, who shows enthusiasm.

The use of the Momo App and the Momo BedSense has changed the work processes for healthcare employees at most IFOZ partners. It provides detailed insight into the situation of the elderly, allowing work to be carried out in a more targeted manner. This has led to time savings and more attention to personal care and other tasks in the department. Some organizations have even implemented schedule changes and are experimenting with new schedules.

The data generated by the Momo App offers opportunities for more data-driven approaches, such as tailoring care to recorded sleep patterns, although this is currently receiving little attention.

Some healthcare workers experience greater job satisfaction thanks to the improvements, while others notice no significant change in their job satisfaction or workload. However, managers are almost unanimously of the opinion that the app and the sensor have a positive influence on the feeling of rest and workload. Elderly people seem to experience better sleep and receive care at the right time, which benefits their privacy.

The IFOZ partners have plans for further developments of the Momo system, such as the integration of notifications from smart incontinence materials. Five of the seven partners want to scale up implementation within their organizations, while two partners still want to resolve bottlenecks before deciding on further expansion.