This document is meant as a quick start or reminder for anyone using the Ally Monitoring system. Staff that have not used Monitoring recently or agency staff that need to quickly get familiar with the system should start here.
Step 1: Login to the app at the start of your shift
Click the Ally App Icon on your phone or tablet to open the app and the login screen. Use your Username and password to login.
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You MUST login to the Ally app at the start of your shift. You will NOT receive notifications when residents are active in their rooms unless you are logged in.
Contact your manager or shift leader if you have trouble logging in.
Step 2: Turn On (Activate) Monitoring For EVERY Resident
Once a resident is in bed and settled for the night, turn on the monitoring by pressing the "Activate" button. This will update the resident's status. For example, in the image below, Sally has the monitoring on, but Harold and Charles do not.
Once activated you will receive alerts for the resident based on activity in their room.
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Remember to Activate Monitoring for ALL Residents each night. An orange banner will display at the top of the page if other residents require activation.
Double check All residents are monitored after personal care rounds, e.g. 10pm
Turning the Monitoring on should be done individually for each resident when they are settled for the night (not just at the start of the night shift).
Step 3: Listen for notifications sounds AND regularly check the App
When there is a notable amount of sound or movement in the residents room that is different to their normal sleep pattern you will receive a notification on your phone or tablet.
The notification will make a sound and vibrate.
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You MUST listen out for these, so keep your phone or tablet on you at all times and the volume turned up loud.
If you missed the initial notification, the app will re-alert you once more. However it is worth regularly checking the app to make sure you haven’t missed any alerts.
Step 4: Listen to and action Audio Alerts
A. Open the App and click ‘Review Audio’ to listen to the sounds that triggered the alert.
The audio file will then load and display as shown below:
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You can scroll through the audio.
If you do not see ‘Review Audio’ please refresh the app by either pulling down or pressing the refresh button on the top right corner.
Around 1 in 5 alerts will require you to go & support a resident. So it is important you listen to the audio as this will save you time and reduce disturbance for the resident
The time the alert was generated is listed below the resident's name. E.g. 2 minutes ago for Sally.
B. Press “Dismiss” if the resident DOES NOT need assistance
For example, if a resident is just talking in their sleep or snoring there is no need to undertake a physical check. Choosing to Dismiss means you avoid potentially disturbing the resident and also free yourself up for other residents who may need care.
Upon Dismissing an alert you will be met with this pop up. From here you should select the relevant option based on your reason for dismissal.
If you’ve heard the resident snoring you’d select ‘Resident sounds OK.’ before pressing confirm.
If the system has picked up a noise unrelated to the resident such as a loud noise in the corridor you should select ‘No resident sounds heard.’ before pressing confirm.
In addition to either of these you may also select the optional box at the bottom to flag if you have heard coughing. Please note you must have selected one of the first 2 options in order to confirm the dismissal.
C. Press “Start Check” if the resident DOES need assistance and then go and provide care.
For example, if the the resident sounds uncomfortable, distressed or is calling for help they are in need of care and should be checked on in person immediately.
When you Start Check, this will:
Update the status of the resident as having a ‘Visit in Progress’, letting other staff members know the resident is getting assistance.
Pause the monitoring, which means staff members will NOT be alerted to your conversations / interactions with the resident.
D. Press “Complete” once you have provided assistance.
Pressing complete ends the visit and starts the monitoring up again. This should be done once the visit is complete and you are out of the room.
Similar to the dismissal you have a number of options to choose from in order to confirm the completion of the check.
I provided care. - This can be anything from giving the resident a drink to giving personal care.
Resident awake and settled. - Any time a resident is awake upon the check but requires no assistance.
Resident asleep on check. - If the resident is fast asleep upon the check. system.
NOTE: The sensitivity of the alerts can be increased or decreased for each resident. Please let your manager know if you want the settings modified.
Step 5: Recording a Regular Check or Intelligent Rounds
Regular checks can be done manually or scheduled via the App's Intelligent Rounds settings. When carrying out your regular checks / sightings (2 hourly for example) when it is not scheduled in the app, it is also important to document this in the system.
For a regular check you will see ‘Visit Due’ as shown.
For a regular check you will not have the option to review audio and therefore no option to dismiss. You will just be carrying out the check.
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This means staff members will NOT be alerted to your conversations / interactions with the resident, protecting both your privacy and reducing unnecessary alerts for your team members.
Each resident's check plan may have been updated to be less regular with Ally in place in order to reduce the possibility of disturbing a resident when asleep.
To record a regular check or sighting:
Press “Start Check” BEFORE you provide care. Then press “Complete” AFTER you have provided care to resume alerts.
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If you find the checks/sightings are disturbing residents (i.e. getting an audio alert soon after checking a resident who is asleep) please let your manager know and they can update the check/sightings schedule.