December 5th 2025
Dormy Care Communities operates five homes across England and Wales, providing high-quality care for people with a wide range of needs. Like many providers, they were grappling with unreliable falls technology. Wires were a trip hazard, mats often failed, and alerts came too late to prevent an incident. Staff were reacting, instead of anticipating.
We caught up with Jacqui Orrells, Managing Director about their journey. In 2023, the organisation decided to trial Sensio RoomMate, an infrared sensor that detects movement without using cameras, at Foxhunters Care Centre in Abergavenny. The goal was simple: reduce falls and improve resident safety. Over a six-month period, the results spoke for themselves. Falls were reduced by 50 percent, staff were able to respond more quickly, and residents received support before incidents occurred. Based on this success, the technology was rolled out across all five homes.
A more proactive way to prevent falls
RoomMate is mounted discreetly on the wall and monitors activity in a resident’s room. It alerts staff when someone sits up, gets out of bed, or calls out, and it can flag if a resident spends longer than expected in the bathroom. This allows staff to step in before an incident happens, rather than after.
The system has helped the team to:
- Reduce unwitnessed falls by identifying risk early
- Respond faster to alerts through mobile handsets
- Monitor at night without unnecessary disruptions
- Keep residents safe while supporting their independence
Some residents prefer not to be disturbed during the night, so staff can rely on alerts to keep them safe without frequent checks. Others still have regular physical checks built into their care plans, and the technology adds an extra layer of reassurance.
Turning data into evidence
The technology also provides Dormy Care with reliable, detailed data. Every week, the team receives automated reports showing fall incidents, response times and trends over time. This has proved particularly useful during CQC/CIW inspections, safeguarding investigations and when responding to family concerns.
“We can evidence exactly when alerts went off, what our response times were, and how we supported residents,” says Jacqui. “That’s absolutely vital in today’s care environment.”
Homes also hold regular review meetings with Sensio to flag any issues and explore new features. Senior leaders meet monthly with the Sensio team to plan new initiatives and trials.
Continual improvement through innovation
Dormy Care has embraced the evolving capabilities of the technology. At Foxhunters, they are trialing Sensio’s AI mapping feature, which automatically recognises room layout changes, reducing the need for manual checks.
Other homes are piloting the Vista system, which displays names alongside room numbers, making it easier for staff to identify residents and respond quickly.
The team is also exploring the Live Fall function for residents at very high risk. This feature captures anonymised footage only at the time of an incident, offering further insight into why falls occur, without storing or sharing any personal data.
A true partnership
Jacqui credits much of their success to the strong partnership between Dormy Care and Sensio.
“The weekly calls, regular feedback and willingness to trial new things make this a genuine partnership. It’s not a case of one-size-fits-all. Everything is tailored to what works best for our residents.”
Building staff confidence
When RoomMate was first introduced, some staff were understandably cautious. Clear communication and robust training helped build trust. Sensio’s trainer spent several days on site, working across different shifts and involving every member of the team. Because the alerts come through existing handsets, the change felt like an upgrade to everyday routines rather than an added burden.
The feedback has been consistently positive.
“We can respond quickly without constantly disturbing residents.”
“It gives me peace of mind knowing Dad is being monitored safely without compromising his dignity.”
“The visual overview of all 70 rooms tells us at a glance where to head first.”
Lessons learned and top tips for other providers
Jacqui and the team shared their top advice for other care homes considering sensor-based technology:
- Involve your team early to build trust and understanding. Address concerns about privacy clearly.
- Choose technology that enhances care rather than replacing human contact.
- Plan robust training so that every member of staff is confident using the system from day one.
- Integrate with existing systems to avoid extra admin.
- See the technology in action at another care home if possible, and ask plenty of questions.
- Keep residents’ dignity, independence and privacy at the heart of implementation.