Remote Supports are a service provided to people with disabilities that uses technology to connect them with a Remote Support Professional (RSP).
The purpose of the service is to provide a supportive, safe environment for individuals to exercise greater independence without requiring a staff person to be physically present in the home.
Remote Supports gives individuals the opportunity to spend more time alone while remaining supported. It gives them a chance to take more responsibility for more activities of daily life, and allows them to decide to have staff when they really need that in-person support.
Remote Supports gives greater choice and flexibility, putting an individual's day-to-day routine back into their own hands.
Direct interaction between Remote Support Professionals (RSPs) and supported individuals can be used for many purposes. Often, it's used during times when an individual needs help navigating an activity of daily living. RSPs can help provide reassurance and direction.
Even when direct interaction isn't happening, RSPs are still actively engaged with the technology in an individual's home to ensure that they are remaining safe and secure.
The types of technology utilized in a person's home always addresses their specific needs.
Check-ins are a form of direct interaction where an RSP reaches out to an individual for a specific purpose. They could be used to see if an individual had a good day at work, to make sure they've taken their medication, or just to remind the individual that there's a remote staff person there if needed.
Reminders are another form of direct interaction where an RSP reaches out to remind an individual to do something. Often, people are able to complete tasks but just have trouble remembering to do them. Examples could be preparing a lunch for work, taking medications, or feeding their pet.
The types of devices, their placement within the home, how the RSPs are directed to intervene, the hours Remote Supports are used, and many other aspects of the service are all decided based on each individual's unique circumstances and goals. As those circumstances change, Remote Supports can be adjusted to change with it, making sure that Remote Supports remain a safe, supportive service that helps them achieve their goals of independent living.