For more than 30 years, Guild & Spence Technologies has been one of the largest leading technology businesses in New Zealand. Specialists in the aged care and healthcare sectors, they support customers across the North Island with nurse call, access control, audio visual, CCTV, Master Antenna Television (MATV), and telecommunications/data systems.
Steve Cooke, Sales Manager for the Central North Island in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, sat down with Certified Channel Partner, Guild & Spence Technologies’ Managing Director, Michael Pope, and Waikato Branch Manager, Phil Simmonds, to learn more about the 250 aged care sites the company supports, and the biggest challenges the industry faces now and in the future.
Q: What are the biggest security concerns or challenges for aged care sites?
Michael: We have seen technology develop at a rapid pace. 10 years ago, technology was a nice to have, but today, it is a necessity. Living through a pandemic means the need to stay connected with friends and family is more important than ever. Not only is a fast Wi-Fi network important but having effective security solutions in place is vital too. Reliable access control, CCTV, and a good nurse call system have become more important in recent years – and it’s great to see facilities recognising the need to invest in these systems, to ensure the safety of their people.
In terms of access control, there is a requirement to minimise and maximise access for different groups of people – whether it be staff, contractors, or residents. If you think about an aged care environment, you have different levels of care. People in independent living, people in hospital care, and people who need specialised dementia care – so facilities need an easy-to-use solution that enables them to manage these different access requirements.
Phil: Additionally, CCTV is an effective deterrent against malicious behaviour – and enables facilities to review footage when investigating incidents. In recent years, we have seen a huge uptake in CCTV in common areas to stop petty theft and bad-natured behaviour.
Q: What integrations are most popular among aged care customers?
Phil: Gallagher’s security solution integrates with a range of systems and hardware. The most common integration we install is wireless locking solutions. Gallagher’s Aperio integration provides cost-effective, wireless access control for independent living in an apartment or village environment – helping residents feel safe and secure within their gated community.
Q: What do you consider to be the overall value of security solutions for aged care providers?
Michael: Gallagher’s solutions have always been our preferred choice due to their flexibility and support. They offer an extremely flexible integration platform, which is very important when integration with critical systems, such as Nurse Call, is required.
The system is easy to install, reliable, and we have next to no issues with it. Additionally, it’s easy for facility staff, who may not be overly technical, to use.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to aged care facilities about their security, what would it be?
Michael: We recommend you choose an enterprise grade solution, that is scalable. The aged care industry isn’t projected to slow until 2031, and with more apartment complexes popping up – these villages are getting bigger and bigger. You want to be able to scale your security solution as you grow.
If you’d like more information about security solutions, please visit security.gallagher.com or phone Gallagher’s Steve Cooke on 021 477 175.