Technology in Care
At Home Instead, we believe that while technology will never replace the human touch, it can enhance peoples' lives.
Living at home for as long as possible is how many of us hope our later years to be. But even with carers and loved ones paying regular visits, it’s difficult to ensure that the elderly are safe and well at all times. Safe Home Alert is a suite of discrete sensors that helps give families reassurance that their elderly relatives are going about their usual routine, flagging if there is ever a cause for concern.
Smart but subtle devices are fitted throughout the person’s home, which are connected to the Safe Home Alert solution. It tracks movement in the home and monitors the use of appliances such as kettles. The system learns what a normal day looks like, notifying the person’s Care Pros and family if anything that isn’t the norm occurs. For example, if the person hasn’t got out of bed at their usual time, those with access to the solution will be alerted on their smartphones, enabling them to act quick.
Personal Alarms
Access to an alarm means having somebody on hand 24/7, not just for urgent incidents, but for general health advice too. Loved ones don’t always have to be the go-to contact; emergency response teams are also there to act quickly. Our care alarms give peace of mind, reassuring families that they aren’t the only person on standby if anything unforeseen happens. The person’s home is fitted with an alarm unit, and there is also the option of an alarm button on a pendant or watch. Help is just a button press away, whatever time of the day or night.
Personal safety alarms can give everybody the reassurance they need to continue living independently. Living at home independently means different things to different people, so our care alarms can be adapted to the individual’s needs. It can be as simple as someone on the other end of an emergency call. Or perhaps you need a whole team on hand to give advice on health and medication concerns? Your alarm can cater to whatever your needs or requirements are. Many families incorporate Enhanced Care options, such as personal safety alarms, into a wider package of live-in or other home care services, and our local expert teams can help stay on top of changes in behaviour and make appropriate changes to Care Plans.
Sensors
Movement in the home
Sensors raise an alert if it appears a person has fallen or become immobile in high risk areas like the bathroom. It can also establish if the person is doing anything dangerous like going downstairs multiple times at night. Door sensors indicate if a door has been open for too long, ensuring that your loved one is safe at all times.
Monitor hydration and nutrition
Smart plugs on kitchen appliances will monitor when they have been used. It’s particularly important to track the eating and drinking habits of older people with dementia, since they can easily forget to do this. Families and Home Instead Care Professionals can step in and encourage the person to eat and drink before they become malnourished or dehydrated.
Track activity levels
With motion sensors, Safe Home Alert keeps an eye on how long a person spends in bed or sat on a chair. If this time increases significantly, family members will be informed, and Home Instead Care Professionals can encourage more physical activity if necessary.
24/7 emergency assistance
If an emergency arises, your loved one will be connected automatically to the Emergency Resolution Team at the touch of a button. The team knows straight away who they have been connected to, where they live, and their medical history. Using the loudspeaker on the base unit, the team will give reassurance and can call personal contacts or get emergency assistance if required.
Peace of mind for everyone
Busy lives make it difficult to know the wellbeing of elderly relatives 24/7. Thanks to Safe Home Alert, missing vital information on a loved one’s welfare, and being too slow to act when emergencies arise, can be a thing of the past. And Care Pros can use the intelligence from the platform to develop a care package that matches the individual’s needs. Just as importantly, the elderly person can maintain their independence while keeping safe.
Safe Home Alert Brochure
Download our brochure to find out more about technology and staying safe at home.