GrandCare Systems and RMS of Ohio Partner to Advance RISE Remote Support

GrandCare Systems is proud to partner with RMS of Ohio to advance RISE Remote Support, a person-directed remote support service powered by grandCare technology.

Through this partnership, grandCare Systems technology works alongside trained RMS Remote Support Professionals to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive responsive, real-time assistance while enjoying greater privacy, independence and choice in their own homes.

RISE Remote Support is a specialized service of RMS of Ohio designed to combine assistive technology with meaningful human connection. Rather than replacing traditional direct support, RISE gives individuals and their support teams another option for delivering assistance based on each person’s unique needs, goals and Individual Service Plan (ISP).

More Than Monitoring: Person-Directed Remote Supports

Remote support is about much more than sensors, cameras or automated alerts. GrandCare’s assistive technology can provide personalized reminders, schedules, two-way communication, safety alerts and connections to remote support staff. The RISE program adds the human element through trained professionals who can respond when assistance is needed.

Depending on the individual and their support plan, an RMS Remote Support Professional may provide reassurance, coaching, problem-solving assistance or help with daily routines and decision-making.

This person-directed approach supports more than physical safety. Remote professionals can help individuals:

• • Manage daily routines and schedules.
  • Receive reminders and prompts when needed.
  • Work through moments of uncertainty or anxiety.
  • Practice problem-solving and decision-making skills.
  • Build confidence and greater independence.
  • Stay connected to people who can provide assistance.
  • Receive timely support without having someone physically present in the home at all times.

The result is a model designed around an important principle at the heart of RISE: Independence without isolation.

Combining In-Person and Remote Supports:

Traditional in-person support remains essential for many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A Direct Support Professional (DSP) may need to be physically present when someone requires hands-on personal care, mobility assistance, certain medical support or other services that cannot be provided remotely.

But not every form of support requires someone to be physically present.

Remote support may be an effective option when an individual primarily needs reminders, encouragement, routine coaching, safety oversight, communication or occasional assistance that can be provided from another location.

For many individuals and provider organizations, the most effective solution may be a hybrid support model that combines both approaches.

Under a hybrid model, in-person DSPs can provide hands-on assistance when it is needed, while RISE Remote Supports can provide coaching, connection, monitoring and responsive assistance during other periods of the day or night.

This approach allows support to be aligned more closely with what an individual actually needs rather than relying on physical staff presence as the only way to provide assistance.

Supporting Greater Independence and Choice:

One of the most important benefits of remote support technology is the opportunity to give individuals greater control over their own environment. Having a staff member physically present in the home may be necessary, but it can also reduce privacy when continuous in-person supervision is not required.

Person-directed remote support creates another option.

Technology can remain available in the background while the individual goes about everyday life. When a reminder, safety alert or request for help occurs, remote support professionals can respond.

This balance can give individuals greater privacy and autonomy while maintaining an important connection to trained support staff. For individuals who are ready for greater independence, remote support can also provide opportunities to practice everyday living skills, make decisions and build confidence while knowing that help remains available when needed.

Helping Disability Service Providers Address Workforce Challenges:

Remote support technology can also help disability service providers make more effective use of their available workforce.

Across the disability services industry, providers continue to face challenges recruiting and retaining enough Direct Support Professionals to meet demand. A thoughtfully designed hybrid model can help organizations use in-person staff where hands-on support is most important while expanding remote support where appropriate.

Depending on an organization’s needs, remote support can help:

• • Reduce the impact of unfilled staffing shifts.
  • Reduce overtime associated with difficult-to-cover support hours.
  • Extend services into rural or hard-to-staff communities.
  • Reduce unnecessary staff travel.
  • Reduce unnecessary on-site supervision.
  • Allow available staff resources to support higher needs individuals.
  • Provide greater flexibility when developing individualized support plans.
  • Potentially lower operating costs while maintaining quality and responsiveness.

Remote support is not intended to eliminate the need for DSPs. Instead, technology can help organizations deploy valuable direct-care professionals more strategically while creating additional options for individuals who do not require continuous in-person assistance.

Technology Strengthened by Human Connection:

Technology alone is not the answer. The value of remote support comes from combining thoughtfully designed technology with professionals who understand the person receiving support.

Through the partnership between GrandCare Systems and RMS of Ohio, RISE brings these two components together.

GrandCare provides the assistive technology platform that helps individuals remain connected, receive reminders, communicate and access assistance. RMS provides the human support through professionals who can respond to each individual’s needs and support plan.

Together, these services can create a support environment centered on safety, privacy, connection, independence and choice.

For individuals, families, guardians, county boards and provider organizations considering new approaches to developmental disability services, person-directed remote support offer another way to think about what meaningful independence can look like.

Learn More About RISE and grandCare:

To learn more about how assistive technology and person-directed remote supports can help individuals live more independently, contact grandCare to discuss remote support technology.

To learn more about RISE remote support services available through RMS of Ohio, visit us at TeamRMS.com.

Individuals, families, guardians, county boards and other organizations interested in RISE services in Ohio can also contact RMS of Ohio for additional information.

GrandCare Systems and RMS of Ohio RISE program share a common goal: using technology and compassionate human support to help people live more independently—without sacrificing the connection and assistance that help them thrive.

For individuals, families, and providers across Ohio, these January 2026 updates offer more clarity about how Remote Support and Assistive Technology should work in practice. They reinforce the idea that supportive technology can be both practical and empowering.

They also remind teams that good implementation requires thoughtful planning, clear consent, dependable backup, proper documentation, and a continued commitment to person-centered care.

At RMS, we know that support is about more than services alone. It is about helping people build fuller, safer, and more independent lives in the ways that matter most to them. As Ohio’s Technology First efforts continue to evolve, these updates are a meaningful step toward giving individuals more choice in how support is delivered at home and in everyday life.

When technology is used well, it does not replace relationships. It strengthens them by helping people stay connected, supported, and in control of their own routines and goals. That is a future worth building together.