Will-Call Enables Reliable Nurse Call Access for Veteran with Parkinson’s Disease
A targeted voice-activated solution implemented by William F. Green State Veterans Home
Administrator Profile
Stephen Davis is the site administrator at the William F. Green State Veterans Home in Bay Minette, Alabama. With a commitment to solving care challenges through practical innovation, Stephen played an essential role in identifying and testing Will-Call for a resident with limited mobility.
Facility Overview
The William F. Green State Veterans Home is a long-term care facility operated by the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, serving U.S. veterans with a range of complex health needs. The facility is equipped with a Tektone nurse call system that uses a standard ¼-inch mono jack interface for call light connections.
Clinical Challenge
One resident, Jerry, is living with advanced Parkinson’s disease. As his motor symptoms progressed, even pressing a traditional nurse call button became increasingly difficult. On good days, he could engage the button using his thumb, but on others, he could not manage it at all. Alternative assistive solutions like pressure pads and sip-and-puff devices were tested but failed to meet Jerry’s needs consistently.
“We have a veteran who has been stricken with Parkinson’s, and our challenge has been his inability to engage his call light… we can put the call light in his hand, and he can engage it with his thumb, but sometimes he can’t even do that.””
Discovering Will-Call
Stephen learned about the Will-Call Test Drive program while researching alternatives online. After evaluating the product’s features, he initiated a pilot setup for Jerry to determine whether voice activation could provide a more dependable solution.
Setup and Customization
To integrate Will-Call with the Tektone system, Stephen used a ¼-inch extension cable to offset the device from the nurse call console and position it closer to the bedside. This simple addition, available from the Will-Call catalog, allowed for flexible device placement and ensured ease of access.
Together with the Will-Call team, the software was fine-tuned to reduce false alarms from TV noise or ambient conversations. The final configuration was optimized to respond to just three clear words: "I need help."
Results and Impact
The change had an immediate impact. Jerry gained back a reliable, stress-free way to call for assistance using only his voice. His confidence improved, and the fear of being unable to reach help during a difficult moment was significantly reduced.
Jerry’s son also expressed deep gratitude for the personalized effort taken to ensure his father’s safety and comfort. For Stephen and his care team, this success represented a powerful example of what patient-centered innovation can accomplish.
Technical Overview: Practical, Plug-and-Play Deployment
Will-Call connects directly to nurse call systems using a ¼-inch mono plug, functioning as a physical call button trigger. The system runs offline, requires no Wi-Fi or networking setup, and is powered using a hospital-grade low-voltage wall adapter. The simple plug-and-play format made it easy to deploy at the bedside without requiring IT support or workflow changes.
Conclusion
Through a collaborative setup and minor hardware adjustment, Will-Call provided a critical communication tool for a resident facing severe physical limitations. Stephen Davis’s proactive approach, combined with targeted software refinements, demonstrated how Will-Call can offer dignity and safety to patients who need a voice-activated alternative.
Watch Stephen Davis Explain How Will-Call Helped a Veteran with Parkinson’s
Watch Stephen Davis reflect on the decision-making process, the results they saw, and why Will-Call stood out among other options.
Discover how Will-Call can fit your facility’s nurse call system: will-call-nurse.com