Solutions

What is Telecare?

Telecare uses sensors to monitor for potentially dangerous situations such as floods, fire, gas leaks, falls, and intruders. When a sensor is activated, by smoke or a fall for example, it sends a radio signal to a home unit, the Lifeline Connect+, which then calls a 24-hour monitoring centre where trained operators take the most appropriate action. This could mean contacting a local key holder, family member, carer, doctor or the emergency services.

Loss of memory

Risk	Solution
Forgetting that cooker is on	Temperature extremes sensor
Explosion due to gas left on unlit	Natural gas detector
Forgetting to turn off taps	Flood detector
Medication non-compliance	Medication reminder Medication dispenser

Disorientation to time and place

Risk	Solution
Wandering	Property exit sensor Tunstall Vega

Reduced sense of balance or coordination

Risk	Solution
Falls	Bed/chair sensor Fall detector Movement sensor

Poor or decreased judgement

Risk	Solution
Cooking accidents	Temperature extremes sensor Smoke detector
Lack of nutrition	Movement sensor
Insecurity/fear of crime	Bogus caller button

Help for carers and family members

Nobody would want the personal care provided by family members, or formal carers to be replaced by telecare technology. However, telecare can offer many benefits to carers.

Technology can allow a carer to have a good night's sleep, safe in the knowledge that should their loved one walk away from their the house at night, cause the bath to overflow or even leave their bed for a prolonged period of time, they will be alerted quickly and appropriately. Telecare enables carers to manage difficult situations in an effective and reasonable way. Such technology can also make spending a short time away from the house a possibility for the carer, which can make an enormous difference to the quality of everyday life.

Tunstall telecare sensors can all link to a personal pager used by the carer, which vibrates in the event of a sensor being activated and display a message telling the carer where in the home a problem may be occurring.

For more information on how telecare can support carers download Tunstall's Support for Carers Technology Guide from www.tunstall.co.uk/guides or call 01977 660479 for a copy.

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