Advocates Partners with Navigating Life to Enhance Care Continuity and Family Connections

Advocates Teams Up with Navigating Life for Enhanced Care

In a progressive move to enhance the continuity of care for individuals receiving residential services, Advocates has recently initiated a pilot program in collaboration with Navigating Life. This technology-based initiative is focused on improving family communication and providing clearer insights into the daily lives of those in care.

The pilot will employ the Navigating Life platform within select Advocates residential programs, marking a significant step towards ensuring families remain engaged and informed about their loved ones. The collaboration is rooted in Advocates' philosophy of person-centered care and aims to standardize communications between care providers and families.

Navigating Life: A HIPAA-Compliant Communication Tool

Navigating Life is a private social networking platform specifically designed for human services organizations, ensuring that all communications and data sharing complies with HIPAA regulations. This allows direct support professionals to share vital updates, photos, and information about activities—a crucial element in maintaining transparency and quality care.

For families and guardians, the platform offers a secure environment to monitor daily activities, progress notes, and significant milestones of their loved ones. As Melissa Lewis, Senior Vice President of Intellectual/Developmental Disability and Brain Injury at Advocates, stated, “This pilot is an opportunity to thoughtfully integrate technology that strengthens transparency, improves communication, and supports the high standards of care our teams provide every day.”

Increasing Visibility and Context

By utilizing the Navigating Life platform, Advocates is able to create a consistent digital record of activities and support services across various programs. This consistency enables staff members to maintain clear communication, which is essential for understanding each individual's context during shifts and care teams.

Laura Graves, VP of DS/BI Residential Services at Advocates, highlights the importance of this tool, saying, “In residential services, continuity of care and communication with families are critical. Navigating Life gives our teams a way to consistently capture and share what’s happening day to day, while providing families with a secure, inclusive space to stay connected.”

This technology aims to empower families, ensuring that even when individuals cannot express themselves fully, loved ones remain informed, granting them peace of mind.

Advocates' Commitment to Innovation

Advocates has long been recognized for its innovative approaches in community care. This pilot program with Navigating Life underscores the organization’s commitment to integrating technology that enhances service quality. Veronica St. Cyr, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Navigating Life, commends Advocates for their forward-thinking and willingness to adopt new tools that foster transparency and connection.

Along with evaluating the effectiveness of the technology in supporting communication, engagement, and documentation in residential programs, Advocates is also dedicated to maintaining high privacy standards and compliance throughout the process. This progressive outlook demonstrates their relentless pursuit of quality care in human services.

Conclusion

For over 40 years, Advocates has dedicated itself to partnering with individuals and families facing life challenges, offering a wide range of services. With initiatives like the Navigating Life pilot, Advocates continues to empower thousands of individuals each year to lead meaningful and connected lives. As they forge ahead with this innovative partnership, the potential for enhanced care and family involvement is more promising than ever.

For more information about Advocates, visit advocates.org. Learn more about Navigating Life at NavigatingLifeApp.org.