The future has arrived on the fourth floor of the Kastner Pavilion at Donald Berman Jewish Eldercare, where AI‑powered sensors are helping to enhance resident care.
Discreet, contact‑free devices have been installed in new “smart rooms,” continuously monitoring residents’ heart rate, breathing, sleep patterns and activity levels. The AI‑driven technology, developed by private company Amba, is non‑intrusive. There are no cameras, microphones or wearables.
After learning that the technology was already being used elsewhere in Eastern Canada, the SAPA (Support Program for the Autonomy of Seniors) team began exploring how it could be adapted to the realities of care at Jewish Eldercare.
The Amba technology was launched with vital support from OROT—CIUSSS West‑Central Montreal’s Connected Health Innovation Incubator—and implementation guidance from the Transformation Office. The project was also supported by the envisAGE Network, an initiative co-led by MEDTEQ+ and AGE-WELL, funded by the Government of Canada’s Strategic Response Fund, as well as philanthropic partners such as the Donald Berman Jewish Eldercare Foundation, which helped get the project off the ground.
The fourth floor of JEC’s Kastner Pavilion was the perfect spot to initiate the project. Not only are staff accustomed to introducing new tools and technology, but residents there have higher levels of cognitive impairment and loss of autonomy, as well as an increased risk of falls and sudden health changes.
How exactly does it work? Nurses and PABs (préposés aux bénéficiaires) are alerted to significant changes in a resident’s usual wellness patterns through an immediate phone call or alert to a dedicated cellphone.
The call identifies the issue detected, along with the resident’s name and room number, allowing for rapid intervention in the event of an emergency.
Beyond urgent situations, care teams are also able to provide more proactive and personalized care. When the Amba system identifies early signs of health deterioration or at‑risk behaviour—such as a resident at risk of falling who has left their bed—staff can intervene earlier.
By continuously monitoring vital signs, the system can often eliminate the need to wake residents during the night. This supports improved sleep and overall well‑being.
For families whose loved ones now benefit from the new around-the-clock monitoring, the technology provides added peace of mind.
Stephanie Brown is an only child living in England while her mother, Roslyn, resides on the fourth floor of the Kastner Pavilion. “Security for my mother is paramount, and I think Amba provides an extra layer of safety for residents by allowing staff to react quickly when something happens,” Ms. Brown says.
Sophie Benhamou, whose husband Yoram uses a wheelchair following a devastating stroke at age 50, also views the arrival of smart‑room technology as a major plus. She says Amba gives her greater peace of mind, adding,
“If this helps enhance the human touch and makes it even more efficient, then I think it’s amazing.”
Sophie Benhamou, whose husband is a resident at JEC.
That’s the key. The technology was co‑designed with frontline staff to support, rather than replace, clinical judgment. By delivering timely, meaningful information, it helps teams intervene earlier and prioritize care more effectively, enabling more focused, person‑centred interactions with residents. Ongoing staff feedback ensures the technology remains closely aligned with day‑to‑day care practices.
SAPA Director Jennifer Clarke says AI in long-term care is here to stay. “We have no choice but to find new ways to provide care for older adults and vulnerable people, and this is a perfect solution. Using passive data to inform clinical practice and prioritize care is the future.”
Kathy Malas, Chief Quality, Innovation, Artificial Intelligence and Value Officer and Director of OROT, agrees. “We have no choice but to use AI to help us work smarter. Using data and technology to improve care for patients and save time for our staff is always our goal.”
“This project reflects what matters deeply to us,” adds Caroline Hauguel, Design and Innovation Advisor on the OROT team, who describes Amba as “innovation grounded in real needs and driven by the people who use it every day.”
Once the pilot project is complete, the results will be evaluated. Depending on feedback from staff and families, the system could be expanded to other floors at Jewish Eldercare, as well as to other long‑term care centres in the CIUSSS.
Ms. Benhamou appreciates what the pilot project is already doing—and what it promises for the future. “From what I’ve heard and where I see it going, I think it’s brilliant.”
