Compare
The call bell, now with words.
Call bells are essential. They tell staff someone needs help — not what, and not who's going. Here's an honest comparison, and why the answer is both.
Side by side
Call bells, AskLight, or both?
| Capability | Traditional call bell | AskLight | Both together |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signals that a resident needs help | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tells staff what is needed | No | Yes | Yes |
| Shows who is handling it | No | Yes | Yes |
| Records time to claim and complete | Depends on system | Yes | Yes |
| Works without speech | Yes | Long-press button | Yes |
| Designed for emergencies | Yes | No | Call bell |
| Several requests in one call | No | Yes | Yes |
| Flags repeated requests | No | Yes | Yes |
| Needs Wi-Fi in the room | No | Yes | — |
Call bell capabilities vary by manufacturer and model. This compares a typical bedside call bell.
Why both
A call bell is simple and dependable: press it, a light and tone tell staff someone needs help. That simplicity is exactly why it should stay — especially for emergencies.
What a call bell can't do is tell staff what the resident needs. So staff walk to the room to ask, walk away to fetch, and walk back. Nobody else can see who's already on it.
AskLight fills that gap for everyday requests: the resident says what they need, it appears as a task on phones and the board, one person claims it, and the response is recorded.
Frequently asked questions
Should we replace our call bells with AskLight?
No. Call bells are designed and often required for emergencies and bedside calls. AskLight adds detail and ownership for everyday requests. Use both.
Does AskLight integrate with our nurse call system?
Not today. AskLight runs alongside it, which means no integration project is needed to start a pilot.
See AskLight on one of your units.
Tell us about your nursing home. We'll walk through how a pilot works and whether AskLight is a fit — no commitment.