Author: smartfutureAdmin

In the dynamic world of healthcare, nursing homes play a crucial role in providing care for the elderly and those with chronic conditions. As the demand for nursing home services continues to grow, so does the need for efficient management and high-quality care. One of the most transformative advancements in this space is the integration of real-time monitoring systems. At Smartfuture, we recognize how this technology is revolutionizing nursing home management and ensuring better outcomes for residents.

The Need for Real-Time Monitoring in Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are tasked with the responsibility of providing around-the-clock care to some of the most vulnerable populations. This includes managing complex medical needs, ensuring the safety and well-being of residents, and responding promptly to emergencies. Traditional methods of monitoring, which often rely on periodic checks and manual record-keeping, can fall short in meeting these demands.

This is where real-time monitoring comes into play. By offering continuous, real-time data on residents’ health and well-being, these systems enable nursing home staff to make informed decisions quickly, improving both the quality of care and operational efficiency.

Enhancing Care with a Customized Platform

A customized platform is essential for implementing real-time monitoring in nursing homes. Such platforms are tailored to the specific needs of the facility, ensuring that the data collected is relevant and actionable. At Smartfuture, we offer white-label solutions that allow nursing homes to brand and adapt the platform to their unique requirements. This flexibility ensures that the technology seamlessly integrates into existing workflows, enhancing rather than disrupting daily operations.

By using a customized healthcare platform, nursing homes can track vital signs, medication adherence, and other critical health metrics in real time. This not only allows for immediate intervention when necessary but also supports long-term health management by identifying trends and potential issues before they become serious problems.

The Power of Remote Patient Monitoring Solutions

Remote patient monitoring solutions are a cornerstone of effective real-time monitoring in nursing homes. These solutions enable the continuous collection of health data such as heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels, which can be automatically transmitted to healthcare providers. This real-time data collection ensures that any changes in a resident’s condition are detected immediately, allowing for prompt response and adjustment of care plans as needed.

Smartfuture’s healthcare platform incorporates advanced remote monitoring tools that are designed to meet the specific needs of nursing homes. This integration not only improves the quality of care but also enhances the efficiency of nursing home operations by reducing the need for frequent physical checks and manual data entry.

Ensuring Safety with Telehealth Platforms

In addition to monitoring health metrics, real-time monitoring also plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and security of nursing home residents. Telehealth platforms offer a valuable tool for conducting virtual consultations, monitoring the environment, and even tracking the movements of residents within the facility. This is particularly important in preventing accidents, managing behavioral issues, and ensuring that residents are safe at all times.

Our telehealth platform at Smartfuture is equipped with features that support comprehensive safety monitoring, from fall detection to location tracking. By integrating these capabilities into the daily operations of nursing homes, staff can respond quickly to any incidents, thereby reducing the risk of injury and improving overall resident safety.

Streamlining Nursing Home Management

The benefits of real-time monitoring extend beyond resident care; they also streamline the management of nursing homes. By automating data collection and providing real-time insights, these systems free up valuable time for staff, allowing them to focus more on direct patient care rather than administrative tasks. This not only improves job satisfaction for caregivers but also enhances the overall efficiency of the facility.

Smartfuture’s white-label solutions are designed to support the specific needs of nursing home management, providing tools that facilitate better resource allocation, improve communication, and enhance decision-making processes. By leveraging our customized platform, nursing homes can achieve a higher standard of care while maintaining operational efficiency.

A New Standard for Nursing Home Care

Real-time monitoring is not just a trend; it is becoming the standard for modern nursing home management. By offering continuous insights into the health and safety of residents, this technology empowers nursing homes to provide higher-quality care, reduce risks, and operate more efficiently. At Smartfuture, we are dedicated to supporting this evolution with our healthcare platforms, telehealth solutions, and remote patient monitoring technologies.

As the demands on nursing homes continue to grow, the adoption of real-time monitoring systems will be essential in meeting these challenges. With the right tools and technology, nursing homes can ensure that their residents receive the best possible care in a safe, supportive environment.

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, the concept of “Hospital at Home” is emerging as a transformative model of patient care. This innovative approach is reshaping how patients receive treatment, offering them the comfort and convenience of being treated in their own homes without compromising the quality of care. At Smartfuture, we understand the power of this model and how it’s revolutionizing the healthcare industry.

The Rise of Hospital at Home

The traditional model of hospitalization often involves patients being admitted to healthcare facilities for extended periods. While this approach ensures constant monitoring and immediate access to medical care, it can also lead to unnecessary stress for patients and increased healthcare costs. “Hospital at Home” turns this model on its head by providing acute care in the patient’s home environment. This method not only improves patient satisfaction but also reduces the strain on hospital resources.

The Role of Customized Platforms in Hospital at Home

At the heart of the Hospital at Home movement is technology, and a crucial component of this technology is a customized platform. A customized healthcare platform enables healthcare providers to offer personalized care plans that cater to the unique needs of each patient. This is particularly important in a home setting, where the environment and patient circumstances can vary significantly.

Our white-label solutions are designed to empower healthcare providers with the flexibility to brand and tailor these platforms to their specific requirements. By leveraging our technology, healthcare providers can seamlessly integrate the Hospital at Home model into their existing operations, enhancing the patient experience while maintaining the high standards of care expected in a traditional hospital setting.

Remote Patient Monitoring: A Cornerstone of Success

One of the key drivers behind the success of the Hospital at Home model is the ability to monitor patients remotely. Remote patient monitoring solutions allow healthcare providers to track vital signs, manage chronic conditions, and detect potential health issues in real-time, all from a distance. This continuous monitoring is essential in ensuring that patients receive the right care at the right time, without the need for constant physical presence.

Our healthcare platform integrates advanced remote patient monitoring tools, enabling healthcare providers to deliver high-quality care to patients in their homes. This not only improves patient outcomes but also reduces the overall cost of care by minimizing hospital readmissions and emergency visits.

The Power of Telehealth Platforms

Another critical component of the Hospital at Home model is the use of telehealth platforms. Telehealth allows for virtual consultations, follow-ups, and communication between patients and healthcare providers. This level of accessibility is crucial for the success of the Hospital at Home model, as it ensures that patients are never out of reach of their healthcare team.

Smartfuture’s telehealth platform is designed with both patients and providers in mind, offering an intuitive interface and robust features that facilitate seamless communication. Whether it’s a routine check-up or a more urgent consultation, our platform ensures that patients receive the care they need without the inconvenience of traveling to a healthcare facility.

A New Era in Patient Care

The Hospital at Home model represents a significant shift in how we think about patient care. By leveraging technology such as remote patient monitoring solutions and customized platforms, healthcare providers can offer a level of care that was once only possible within the walls of a hospital. This not only enhances the patient experience but also drives efficiency and cost savings for healthcare systems.

At Smartfuture, we are committed to supporting this revolution in patient care. Our white-label solutions and state-of-the-art healthcare platforms are at the forefront of this movement, enabling healthcare providers to deliver exceptional care in the comfort of the patient’s home. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, we believe that Hospital at Home will play a critical role in shaping the future of patient care.

By adopting the Hospital at Home model, healthcare providers can offer a more personalized, efficient, and patient-centered approach to care. With the right technology and support, the future of healthcare is not only smart but also home-based.

Before 2020, mental disorders were already the leading causes of global health-related burdens, particularly depressive and anxiety disorders, according to The Lancet’s review on global mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic created an environment that exacerbated determinants of poor mental health. Notably, the locations hit hardest by the pandemic — quantified by decreased human mobility and daily infection rate — saw the greatest increase in the prevalence of major mental health issues.

With the ongoing vaccinations and the lifting of lockdown measures in many parts of the world, we’re slowly moving towards an approximation of post-pandemic life. Still, many people are struggling to cope with the losses incurred over the past two years, and appropriate healthcare services may not be easily available. The remote management of mental health — counseling, therapy, substance abuse support delivered through communication channels — is essential. Here are some ways you can monitor and manage mental health symptoms:

Set a routine for yourself

According to an article published in the Journal of Global Health, regular routines serve as a buffer against stress exposure on mental health. Primary routines are behaviors that are necessary to maintain biological needs, including hygiene, sleeping, and eating. These should be combined with secondary routines like exercise, leisure, socialization, and work or study practices. With the disruptions caused by the pandemic, it’s important to adopt a routine that suits your current situation and pays attention to safety protocols like longer handwashing or masking up. If you’re struggling with building an effective routine, you can make small changes and take notes of any weak spots, then talk to your therapist for any recommendations.

Keep track of your red flags

One good mental health habit to cultivate is to be mindful of what bothers you. We mentioned in our Smartfuture post on managing mental health how it helps to recognize any symptoms of stress or anxiety, such as feelings of frustration, worry, sadness, or physical discomfort. Sometimes, mental health issues can also manifest as unexplained actions like sudden outrage or compulsively checking the news. Pay attention to your patterns, and keep an eye out for what may have triggered these moods — it could help your therapist better work with you. For immediate relief, try to distract yourself from negative emotions by stretching, journaling, listening to music, or practicing breathing exercises.

Take a mental health day

Working remotely means the lines are blurred between our working spaces and home. It’s tempting to stay at our desks and work longer hours because we want to feel more productive. To keep our mental health in shape, it’s best to set boundaries by having a set start time, end time, and break times every day. Lifestyle writer James Gonzales also points out that we will still need dedicated time off, even if it’s just a free day to lounge around and rest the mind. Make the most out of your employee benefits and take a mental health day. You can opt to do relaxing activities like yoga, massage, swimming, or hiking — or simply stay at home and lounge around. The key is to listen to your body and mind on when to take a breather.

Attend therapy sessions regularly

It’s great if you already have a therapist and you’ve resumed in-person sessions. But what if you can’t see your therapist face-to-face, or you don’t have a therapist at all? Fortunately, we now have options for remote treatment. Freelance writer Karen Hoffman notes that online therapy is expected to continue and grow as a form of mental health support in the coming years, post-pandemic. Telehealth practices provide patients access, quality, and cost advantages to therapy. You don’t have to delay treatment, and you can work through personal problems with your therapist — so long as you attend virtual sessions and actively participate in them.

Smartfuture is a Singapore-based company that offers solutions to connect healthcare with their patients, so they can adequately manage their conditions. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services.

Specially written for OurSmartFuture.com
By: Raizel Jaelynn

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. With sleep apnea rising up to be one of the most prevalent sleep disorders worldwide, sleep apnea is becoming more common than you think. But how much do you know about sleep apnea?

Here are 8 myths about the condition debunked to better your knowledge.

1.  Sleep Apnea is harmless
While symptoms of sleep apnea like snoring or waking up to pee in the night may appear relatively harmless – Sleep apnea, when left untreated in the long term, can significantly increase your risks for diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes.

2. Sleep Apnea is caused by a blocked airway
The most common type of sleep apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), as the name proposed, is caused by a collapsed airway. However, Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) is caused by the brain signals to the muscles that regulate breathing is not properly transmitted, resulting in sleep apnea.

3. Sleep Apnea only occurs in the elderly
While it is somewhat true that the risk of sleep apnea significantly increases as we age, sleep apnea does not only occur in the elderly. Children and young adults may also experience sleep apnea.

4. Alcohol can help you sleep and improve sleep apnea
Contrary to popular belief that alcohol can help you sleep better, studies have shown that under the influence of alcohol, our muscles relax more than usual, which in turn increase the tendency for collapsed airways, leading to the development of sleep apnea.

5. Children do not experience sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is common in children, affecting 1-10% of children. Common risk factors include premature birth, down syndrome, and obesity. If your child experiences sleeping difficulties or frequent lethargy, it is advisable for them to go for a sleep test.

6. Lean people will not have sleep apnea
Although obesity is a major risk factor for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), it is estimated that non-obese patients constitute 20% of the OSA patient population. Worryingly, non-obese patients with OSA have greater than fourfold risk of hypertension and cardiovascular conditions than obese patients.

7. Sleep Apnea only occurs in snorers.
While heavy and loud snoring is one of the symptoms of sleep apnea. It has been observed that patients with central sleep apnea rarely snore.

8. Only men experience sleep apnea
While men do have a higher risk factor of sleep apnea than women, it does not rule out the fact that women can suffer from sleep apnea too. However, the risk for sleep apnea increases for women who are overweight or have experienced menopause.

Surprised by the results? While sleep apnea common may be more common than you think, the condition is totally preventable with early intervention. If you are worried about your sleep, get your FREE sleep assessment here.

While it is inevitable to start feeling all depleted or experiencing moments of intense fatigue at some point of our life, it is not normal when you find yourself extremely tired despite the full 6 to 8 hours of sleep or that no matter how many cups of coffee you had in the single hour and you still find yourself yawning away.

There are many reasons that could possibly contribute to the fatigue, and knowing what causes them will be key to addressing the issue. Here are some reasons why the tiredness is not going away.

Symptoms of an Underlying Medical Issue

Many conditions list tiredness as a symptoms. From thyroid conditions (where patients struggle to find an energy balance) to mental conditions (such as depression), to kidney diseases or Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

In the case of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), patients are unable to get a full night of uninterrupted sleep, which in turns causes daytime fatigue.

Speaking to a general practitioner will help you to rule out health problems and make a diagnosis and receive treatment and also learn how you can pace yourself and increase your energy. Online screeners are also a great way to get yourself started, here is an OSA Assessment that you can try – https://oursmartfuture.com/get-sleep-check/

Diet

For those that decide to go on a diet, cutting off sugar is a definite NO. Skipping meals may not allow the body to get enough calories which are needed to keep the energy level up. Long gaps between meals also deplete the blood sugar which will also decrease the energy.

For those going on a sugar spike diet, a sudden surge of sugar will cause a rollercoaster effect on the blood sugar. While you will feel the surge of energy after consumption of sugar, the rebound effect will hit after as the blood sugar crashes. What comes after is the sluggishness and the little bit of energy holding itself together.

Additionally, vitamin deficiency because of the change of diet can cause major fatigue as well. Experts advise that a better approach to diet will be also to include foods that take longer time to digest – sweet potato, bananas, nuts, and beans for example – these food tends to release sugar steadily throughout the day.

Hormones Changes

When you are under stress, your body goes into a fight-or-flight mode. Which causes an increase in the stress hormone, cortisol. In small doses, this response is safe but in the case of it being long-term, it takes a toll on the body in the form of poor sleep and low energy.

To tackle the issue, first, you have to identify the stress issues and learn how to control the way you face the problem. Learning different techniques of deep breathing and meditation can also help you stay calm in stressful situations.

Sedentary Lifestyle

A sedentary lifestyle with nowhere to expel causes a buildup of energy that last beyond bedtime, keeping you awake.

Adding in some simple exercises in your daily routine, such as taking a 20mins walk after a meal or doing yoga routine before sleeping are a great way to get rid of the excess energy. Researches have also indicated that exercise does not only help boost sleep duration but also the quality of sleep.

Bad Habits

It can be tempting to take that seemingly harmless after meal nap or playing another round of PUBG on the phone but these are the reasons that contribute to the lack of sleep during bedtime.

Using the phone, for example before sleep, increase alertness at night and long period of looking at the blue-light can be detrimental to your eyes.

Inculcating good sleeping habits such as ensure that your bedroom is quiet, dark, and at a comfortable temperature and also not lying awake on your bed for more than 10 minutes are some important habits to introduce to your lifestyle. Here are more ideas for you to consider : https://oursmartfuture.com/change-the-way-you-sleep-with-5-easy-sleep-tips/

While extreme fatigue may seem like a fairly harmless condition, with the occasional dozing off during meetings or lost of attention during a conversation. Studies have also shown that extreme fatigue has also been the cause of car accidents and also attribute to suicidal behaviour. If you find yourself or a friend displaying symptoms of extreme fatigue, its time to practice good sleep hygiene or consult your general practitioner.

Globally, the number of people with diabetes have rapidly risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. Just in Singapore alone, one in nine Singapore residents aged 18 to 69 years were affected by diabetes in 2010 and the number is set to grow bigger in the coming years. While diet and lifestyle changes greatly contribute to the number, getting your facts right can help you to be more aware of the ways to prevent diabetes. Here are the top 5 of the biggest myths about diabetes – busted.

“Only Adults Are Prone to Diabetes”

Type 1 diabetes also known as Juvenile Diabetes gets its name because it is usually prevalent in young children. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune chronic condition and is usually inherited and cannot be prevented.

Although Type 1 diabetes tends to occur in children and young adults – it is also possible for Type 1 Diabetes to occur at any age.

“Prediabetes is Not a Serious Medical Condition”

Prediabetes occurs when one’s blood glucose level is higher than normal and is a warning health condition. Neglected prediabetes symptoms and the continuation of lifestyle and diet habits can lead to the development of Type 2 diabetes.

Luckily though, prediabetes is reversible and can be prevented by better lifestyle management and healthy eating.

“All Types of Diabetes Are the Same“

While there are several types of diabetes, the most common amongst people are Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and also Gestational diabetes.

• Type 1 Diabetes (also known as Juvenile Diabetes)
  Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune chronic condition and is usually inherited and cannot be prevented. The patient’s pancreas produces little or no insulin and the patient depends on insulin to stay alive. Type 1 diabetes tends to occur in children and young adults – although it is also possible for Type 1 Diabetes to occur at any age.
• Type 2 Diabetes
  Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes that can occur to anyone at any age. While the body still produces insulin, unlike Type 1, the body do not respond to it as effectively as before. While type 2 diabetes occurs most often in middle-aged and older people, it is possible to prevent the onset of the disease with proper management.
• Gestational diabetes
  Gestational diabetes develops in some women when they are pregnant. Most of the time, this type of diabetes goes away after the baby is born. However, if you have had gestational diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Sometimes diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy is actually type 2 diabetes.
• Other types of diabetes
  Less common types include monogenic diabetes, which is an inherited form of diabetes, and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes.

It is advised that should you experience the symptoms of diabetes, it is recommended that you consult your General Practitioner to get a diagnosis to better understand your condition.

“Diabetics Cannot Consume Sugar”

For many of us, we associate a high glucose level with sugar and in a bid to reduce the glucose level in our blood, our first reaction is usually to cut down on sugar in our diet.

But to completely cut sugar from our diet is near impossible as sugar provide energy and help form proteins, or are stored for future use. The brain and red blood cells can only use glucose for energy and for the mother-to-be, sugar also helps form the baby’s cells and produce milk.

People with high sugar level should not just blindly opt for “sugar-free” labels on food and beverages as they may have a high-fat content. Rather, eating in moderation and learning to read your food label will help you to manage diabetes more effectively.

“Artificial Sweeteners is not as Bad as Sugar”

Artificial sweeteners are a kind of food additive that provides a sweet flavour, commonly used as a sugar-replacement. Unlike sugar itself, most sweeteners contain significantly less food energy and hence, making it a zero-calorie or low-calorie replacement.

Although artificial sweeteners do not spike blood sugar levels, studies have shown that they have been linked to the development of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.

Some research has found that artificial sweeteners can change the type and number of bacteria that live in your colon, which may contribute to glucose intolerance, weight gain and in turn, diabetes.

In conclusion, introducing a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and coffee, consuming alcohol in moderation and maintaining a healthy body weight and exercising regularly can help reduce your risk of diabetes and should be made a part of your lifestyle.

As Singapore enters into its second month of the Circuit Breaker, apparent lifestyle changes are beginning to take place on the supermarket shelves. From initiate food piling of snacks and sugary drinks, the shift in the shortage of flour and strangely oatmeal have seen Singaporean moving on to a more conscious diet. Combined with the tightening of the guideline on exercising, we speak to our Sydney-based Nutritionist cum yogi, Maya Butti in some ways you can keep healthy while adhering to the stay-home guideline.

Smartfuture (SF): Hi Maya! Why don’t you share with us a little about yourself?

Maya: I am a qualified nutritionist and yoga teacher. I used to work corporate in a previous life, but after living an unhealthy lifestyle for many years, I felt that it was time to make a change. When I was working in corporate, I practised yoga once a week. This one class came to me like salvation, not only was it a great stress reliever, it helps me find myself again. I then decided to go all in and went to India to study yoga, where I learned about yoga philosophy and Ayurveda (the yogic system of health). This inspired me to pursue natural health and I studied to become a nutritionist. I now treat people holistically- using food, supplements, lifestyle changes and yoga to help people live a healthy life and feel great in their body!

SF: With do you think are some of the modern ailments bothering people?

Maya: Some of the more common issues I notice includes, digestive issues, food intolerances, trouble sleeping, weight loss and weight gain, poor energy and hormonal conditions.

The body systems are interrelated, so an issue in one part of the body an often be caused from somewhere else. For example, when I work with clients to heal their gut, we often see an improvement in skin conditions and mood! Nutrition consultations can help with a broad range of chronic conditions naturally and while treating conditions at their root cause.

SF: With the big migration from working in the office to homes, what are some tips you can share to help us adapt better to this new situation?

Maya: Staying active while adhering to government guidelines is a pretty big lifestyle change. Many of us will now have to find ways to exercise from home – lucky though, there are plenty of online yoga and fitness classes to keep us busy! Lay off the excuses and remember to include them in your schedule! During this time, eating healthy is even more important – find me on Instagram to get some nutritional tips!

SF: What is some advice you have to keep the spirit up during these uncertain times?

Maya: Something that has helped me greatly is to remember that we are all in this together. Not just you and your household or your workplace, but the whole world. We as humans are strong enough and compassionate enough to get through this together and I think that we can even come out stronger. We may be farther away from each other physically but I believe we can be more connected than ever.

SF: With the shortages of snacks and unhealthy food, what is some advice you have for our next grocery run?

While I confessed to having the occasional dark chocolate as my guilty pleasure, often the “feel-good” snacks make us feel good for the few minutes that we are eating them but it will hit us later all and the consequences can hang around for quite a while!

I am all about having a healthy balance and believe that we can indulge every now and then, however it is important to maintain a long-term vision of our health. The instant gratification of eating those foods will never beat the long-term benefit of eating healthy. I think saving those snacks for once a week is a good compromise. This is especially important for those whose physical activity level has decreased.

As a piece of general advice, I would suggest people to remove as much processed foods as possible and get back to eating whole foods. Imagine what your grandmother ate- that is usually a good indication of how we should be eating!