Case Study: How Clifton Manor Reimagined Night-Time Care and Resident Well-Being
Introduction
At Clifton Manor, a leading care home, the adoption of Ally’s AI-powered resident monitoring technology has delivered powerful outcomes for both residents and staff. Focused on improving resident safety, well-being, and operational efficiency, Clifton Manor’s experience highlights how insight-driven monitoring can transform care.
Key outcomes
Following the introduction of Ally:
- Night-time disturbances were reduced by 30%
- Over five staff hours per night were saved
- Resident sleep quality significantly improved, resulting in better mood, participation, and mental well-being during the day
- Families reported increased satisfaction and peace of mind
Embedding insight-driven care
By capturing changes in sleep and behaviour, the team was able to detect issues far earlier. Leigh Greensmith, the Registered Manager at Clifton Manor, shared:
“Residents are sleeping better, and we’re seeing a real improvement in their mental health — they’re much more engaged in activities and happier overall.”
Through monitoring trends like restlessness, coughing, and environmental disruptions, the team could intervene quickly to prevent deterioration or escalation of health risks.
Improved sleep and mental health
Since adopting Ally, Clifton Manor has seen a marked improvement in residents’ sleep quality, and the benefits extend well beyond the night shift.
“Better sleep is leading to more engagement. Residents are taking more interest in activities, going out into the garden, and their food and fluid intake is improving.” said Leigh who goes on to say
“The Ally system has helped us recognise when someone isn’t sleeping well, which lets us get the right support in place. That changes behaviours throughout the day and improves their overall well-being.”
With fewer disturbances during the night and improved sleep continuity, residents wake up more refreshed and engaged. This has translated into increased involvement in daytime routines, reduced agitation, and a generally more positive atmosphere throughout the home. Staff have also reported less reliance on night-time checks, allowing for a more peaceful environment that supports rest and recovery.
In one example, Leigh highlighted how even a simple sleep pattern report can reveal early indicators of a resident’s mental health needs.
“It shows a resident has been awake most of the night. They’re agitated, and then that gets them medication prescribed to help them throughout the night. So, just a basic sleep pattern can give you an insight into someone’s mental health as well. Do they need support? Can we help them sleep better? And then that changes behaviours throughout the day. And that’s really important—that they get a better quality of life the next day because we’ve highlighted they’re not sleeping. Let’s get them some support.”
By identifying disrupted sleep as a potential flag for deeper issues. Rather than simply limiting it to a night-time concern,the care team is able to act earlier and more effectively, ensuring residents receive the right intervention to support both rest and wellbeing.
Reduced falls and earlier Intervention
The ability to detect subtle changes in resident behaviour—such as increased coughing, irregular sleep, or restlessness—has been crucial in preventing incidents before they escalate. Leigh explains:
“We had an increase of falls throughout our night shifts. These were increasing more as time was going on. Falls have reduced since Ally came in! In December 2024, we had a huge amount of falls in the home, around 19 falls. But by January and February, I’m only getting about four. So there’s a huge difference in falls, and that’s down to the night team getting to know the system.”
Leigh added: “Now we can hear the difference between someone rolling over in bed and someone actually getting up. Before, we wouldn’t have known until they had fallen.”
This proactive approach has helped reduce falls and enabled staff to initiate clinical checks earlier than usual, ensuring residents receive the right support at the right time. It’s an example of how continuous monitoring and timely insights can turn reactive care into proactive, preventative support.
Revealing the unseen
A powerful outcome of using Ally’s resident monitoring system at Clifton Manor has been its ability to surface what would otherwise go unnoticed , especially for residents who are unable or unlikely to verbalise their needs.
The care team has been able to detect pain, distress, and early signs of illness simply by having a clearer picture of what’s happening in residents’ rooms at night.
“We’ve picked up on a couple of residents in pain overnight who wouldn’t ring the bell or ask for help. One lady cries very, very quietly when she’s in pain. Before, I would check on her and think she was asleep. Now I can hear her and offer pain relief, which has made a huge difference to her well-being.”
In another case, monitoring revealed an unusual pattern of behaviour that led to an early medical intervention.
“We had a lady get out of bed 24 times in one night. It turned out she had a urine infection, but we wouldn’t have known that if Ally wasn’t there.”
These kinds of insights have proven invaluable in improving both the immediacy and accuracy of care. Rather than waiting for symptoms to escalate or relying solely on verbal communication, the team can now act earlier to prevent deterioration and avoid unnecessary distress whilst supporting better health outcomes.
This shift from reactive to proactive care is helping the Clifton Manor team deliver more tailored, compassionate support.
Staff empowerment and efficiency gains – transforming the night shift
Hourly checks were a major pressure on night staff, often disturbing residents unnecessarily. The technology enabled more focused, need-based interventions, reducing stress and improving job satisfaction.
“It’s completely changed how the night shift operates — it’s less stressful and far more effective,” said Leigh.
At first, adapting to this new approach required a cultural shift. Some staff were understandably hesitant to rely solely on the system and continued entering rooms out of habit. But that changed quickly once they experienced the reliability of real-time alerts.
“At first, staff were still going into rooms unnecessarily because they were used to visual checks. But after a few weeks, they learned to trust the system. Now, instead of disturbing residents, they can listen in and only respond when needed.”
By reducing routine disruptions and building confidence in the technology, the team saved over five hours each night, time that’s now used to provide more personalised, responsive care. Staff can check in when it truly matters, giving them more space to deliver meaningful support while maintaining a calm, restful environment for residents. Plus this shift has enhanced operational efficiency and also helps foster a more respectful and restorative night-time routine, reinforcing the home’s commitment to dignity in care.
Increased engagement in activities
A noticeable outcome of improved sleep at Clifton Manor has been the rise in resident participation in daily activities. With fewer disturbances at night and more restful, uninterrupted sleep, residents are waking up with more energy and interest in their surroundings.
“So from better sleep comes more interest in activities in the home. We’re finding the residents are taking more interest in the activities, they’ve got more energy. There is a lot more walking with purpose around the home throughout the day, but that’s just leading to more engagement with the staff team and with the activities.”
Improved rest is also helping residents re-engage with their environment, from participating in group sessions to spending more time outdoors. For residents living with dementia or mobility challenges, even small changes in daily routines are having a positive impact on social connection and mood.
“They want to take an interest and they’re wanting to go out into the garden a little bit more as well. And that is through getting that good night’s sleep and recognising when they’re not sleeping well and supporting them so they do sleep—improving their well-being, which leads to them taking more of a role in the home.”
These observations reinforce the broader benefit of a sleep-positive culture: not just better rest at night, but more purposeful, fulfilling days.
Impact on families & transparency
One of the standout benefits of using Ally’s monitoring system at Clifton Manor has been its ability to support transparent communication with families, particularly during incidents or times of concern.
In one case, a safeguarding investigation was required after a resident sustained an injury from a fall. The situation could have created tension or uncertainty, but access to clear evidence helped provide reassurance to the family from the outset as Leigh explains:
“When we had a safeguarding issue with a lady that fell out of bed… her son, I think, is a judge. So this evidence was brilliant. We could give evidence to him straight away. This lady’s fallen from bed. You could hear she fell straight from the bed. You could hear there was no movement previously. And he was really happy with that.”
“I just thankful that I had that information at that point because it was the lady’s first fall with an injury. It was a huge investigation for me as a manager. That family member was really impressed that we had that evidence—that he could hear that evidence firsthand. It wasn’t very nice to listen to, but he recognised staff responded appropriately.”
This level of insight and accountability has proven to be a valuable tool not only for incident resolution but for building trust more broadly with families.
In another case, Leigh used Ally’s monitoring to help reassure a family who were understandably anxious about moving their relative into the home.
“Recently I had a new admission into the home who had left her previous care setting twice, and they’d given her 28 days’ notice to leave because they felt they couldn’t keep her safe. So, I used Ally as a bit of a trick to bring them in. I said, ‘We’ve got Ally in the home and it will tell us if she’s up and walking. And if she’s up and walking, the staff will meet her at her door before she even has a chance to go and walk down the corridors and look for a fire door to get out.’ And the family were really impressed with it.”
By reducing unnecessary wake-ups and increasing confidence in how residents are being supported, Clifton Manor has strengthened its relationships with families — building trust, improving communication, and demonstrating clear accountability.
Unexpected insights
Beyond the expected improvements, the team discovered additional benefits. For example, vibrations from certain bed pumps were disturbing residents’ sleep — an issue identified and resolved thanks to monitoring data. These kinds of environmental disruptions might never have been addressed without clear evidence from sleep insights.
More significantly, the system has helped highlight when poor sleep is not just a comfort issue but a sign of deeper, unmet clinical needs — especially for residents living with dementia who may struggle to communicate how they’re feeling.
“It’s happened for two or three of our residents where they’ve had that mental health support through lack of sleep. And these residents have dementia as well, so they can’t make their needs known in a meaningful way. All they can do is display how they’re feeling by walking around their room and not sleeping. So it’s definitely helped them get the support they need for their sleep.”
In some cases, sleep data has even played a role in unlocking access to external support services.
“We’ve got a lady that fell unfortunately last night and she’s waiting for a referral from the mental health team. I will use Ally to show, ‘Look, she didn’t sleep, and that’s resulted in this fall. Please can we get her some support?’ And at which point, I’m sure we’ll definitely get the support she needs as we have done before.”
The ripple effect of improved sleep has also been seen in residents’ behaviour during the day — particularly around mood, mealtimes, and hydration.
“They’re getting up in a better mood. They’re taking part in activities. They’re going for their breakfast in a happier mood and they’re finishing their meals. There is a reduction in food and fluid charts.”
These insights demonstrate how something as basic as sleep, when properly understood and supported, can influence nearly every aspect of a resident’s daily wellbeing plus serve as an early indicator for when extra help is needed.
Continuous improvement
Clifton Manor’s leadership is now using these insights to further refine care pathways, ensuring early detection of issues like infections, discomfort, and agitation before they escalate. The team has seen the value of sleep data not just in day-to-day care, but also in influencing external conversations about safety and best practice.
In one instance, sleep monitoring helped challenge long-standing assumptions about routine checks and their perceived benefit.
“The only thing that the social workers wanted from me at one point was hourly checks for a resident. And I was able to show them that an hourly check actually disturbed that resident and made them fall. And we evidenced that through the Ally service, and it gives them a better understanding of sleep and interrupting people’s sleep. Regular checks aren’t always a better thing. Regular checks can lead to more falls.”
By backing decisions with real data, the home is fostering a culture of continuous improvement — one that balances safety with dignity, and uses insight to evolve care in smarter, more personalised ways.
Conclusion
Clifton Manor’s experience shows how intelligent, non-intrusive monitoring can elevate care quality. By enabling earlier interventions, improving sleep, and freeing up staff to focus on proactive, personalised care, Ally has created a safer, happier environment for residents and a more empowered workforce
“Ally has genuinely helped us redefine night-time care. It’s a huge step forward — for residents, families, and our staff,” Leigh concluded.