In this case study, learn how Crataegus, an innovative care community in the Netherlands, is using Nobi's smart lights to promote independence and safety for their residents. We discuss the experiences of staff and residents, discover how easy it is to install the lamps, and highlight the positive impact on daily life within the community.

"These smart lights are very easy to set up and install!” 

Eddy van Gool, director of Crataegus     

Independent living in a community

Crataegus is a small-scale care community with four studios and 25 apartments, located in Dorst, near Breda in the Netherlands. Residents of different generations live independently in their own apartment or studio and decide for themselves to what extent they participate in common activities. And Crataegus provides care support where needed, always in consultation with the residents.

Owner of their lives

At Crataegus, independence is central. Residents retain ownership of their lives. They choose when to get up and what activities to do. Taking a walk with a staff member, receiving visitors at the apartment, going to the store ... residents continue their lives as they used to. Staff, residents, visitors ... everyone treats each other as equals. 

Minimal failures, maximum peace of mind

But how do you combine that independence with quality care and safety? Night rounds, unexpected check-ins during the day ... these disturbances in private life Crataegus wants to avoid as much as possible, but at the same time they obviously want to provide a safe environment and the right care. Nobi's smart lights therefore fit perfectly into this care community. The lamps not only provide automatic light, they also detect any fall incident and, in doing so, automatically send a notification to a staff member. This ensures prompt assistance. This ensures peace of mind for both residents and staff. 

Easy installation and user-friendly system

Crataegus is a diverse residential community, with residents of all ages and care needs. Not every resident needs a Nobi lamp, and so it is not uncommon for lamps to move from one apartment to another. 

  • “Nobi is very easy to place and install. So we are very flexible. Sometimes we have a tenant who doesn't need Nobi, well then we remove the lamp from the apartment and hang it somewhere a resident does choose to use it. The installation? We do that ourselves. It's all very simple!”

    Eddy van Gool, director of Crataegus

  • “It's a very easy system. Click and go, so to speak. It's just important to set the lamp to factory settings before you remove it from the ceiling."

    Peter, enthusiastic volunteer in the technical department

On an adjacent piece of land, Crataegus plans to expand the community with a farmhouse with apartments. In time, there will be mini-care communities nearby that will be served from a central location. For this to succeed, technology such as Nobi is crucial. It allows residents to continue living independently for as long as possible without sacrificing safety. Nobi is also very valuable for care workers: wherever they are, they know immediately when one of the residents needs help

Thanks to Nobi, we can have our different locations served by the same group of employees, without them having to walk back and forth all the time. In addition, the easy installation of the Nobi lights allows us to complete the expansion quickly and smoothly.

Eddy van Gool, director of Crataegus

Aesthetics and quality of life

At Crataegus, the interior plays a big role. When you look around you think of a boutique hotel rather than a healthcare facility. Nobi also fits in perfectly with this. Research shows that quality of life increases when people are surrounded by warm lighting and beautiful objects. Nobi is a simple, discreet, user-friendly and cozy lamp. And not at all intrusive or stigmatizing, like other solutions.

“Imagine if we saddled our residents with such an ugly call system, you don't want that, do you? That would only generate negative attention. No, just give me Nobi's lamps, they fit our studios and apartments perfectly and in a discreet way.”

Marinka van den Hazelkamp, director of Crataegus

Working independently with the lamps

Crataegus employees get to work independently with the Nobi lights: installing, uninstalling, the app, the dashboard ... they report that the whole system is very user-friendly. 

“In the beginning, I took extensive time to talk to the people at Nobi. I wanted them to get to know us well and conversely, I also wanted to know everything about Nobi and the vision behind it. Today I have little contact with the people of Nobi. This is mostly a good sign because it means we can work on it ourselves. And rest assured, the relationship is still very cordial! Team Nobi is always there when we need them.”

Eddy van Gool, director of Crataegus

Peace of mind is priceless

“Residents tell us they are very satisfied with the lamp. If they have fallen, it reassures them that the voice immediately tells them that help is on the way. That way they know they will be helped quickly. That peace of mind in priceless, even for their family members and friends.”

Desiree van Velthoven, employee

Conclusion

The smart Nobi lights support Crataegus in providing independence and safety to their residents while minimizing disruptions to private life. Usability and aesthetic benefits make these lamps a valuable addition to this special care community. Because the lamps are easy and simple to install, they fit perfectly with the flexible way of working.

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