Telecare System For Elderly Mother

[taichiperson]

Does anyone have experience with the above? My mother is 82 and lives alone. I'm her only child and live about 15 minute's drive away. Between myself, hubby and our eldest son (who also lives 10-15 mins drive away from her), we see her 3-4 times a week and take her out shopping, or for lunch/dinner etc and run any errands she needs. She's mobile but is short of breath due to a lifelong condition which limits how far she can comfortably walk. She was horrified when I suggested she might apply for a disabled badge so we could park closer to the places she needs to go ("I'm not a cripple!"). She's not on any medication and doesn't like going to the doctor.

We've heard that it is possible to get a system with sensor around the house that monitor her movements and alert ourselves or a care system if there are any problems. She would not entertain the idea of a personal alarm.

So, does anyone have experience of a telecare system or know how expensive it is - I realise that's a 'how long is a piece of string' question, but a rough idea would be useful. Thanks in advance.

[Canary42]

In the absence of any answers, try Google - there are several useful looking hits. Try this one for a general overview (which includes possibility of getting it under NHS although this sounds less likely in your case)

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/Pages/telecare-alarms.aspx

[whiskeryron]

e//She would not entertain the idea of a personal alarm.//
I think from your present statement ( above) you could have difficulty monitoring her movements by installing a camera system without her permission.

[taichiperson]

Thanks Canary, I'm googling as I speak but just come up with telecare services which work on having a central staffed hub, if that's the right term. Hubby was thinking of an electronic set up that could be wired up to alert us if anything was amiss. I think he's way ahead of what's actually available from the look of things. Plus I was looking for personal experience with anything similar.

[taichiperson]

Thanks whiskeyron - Hubby loves watching all these programmes about the latest technological gadget, it's probably something that doesn't exist yet. Something along the line of motion sensors rather than cameras, and algorithms that work out when she's moving about outside her usual routine - or God forbid, not moving...

[sunny-dave]

The real problem would seem to be one of 'informed consent' - whatever you do.

If your mum has broadband, then IP cameras are as little as £35 each and easy enough to connect to your own phone/tablet via her router and the internet. I've got a couple installed here so that I can keep an eye on the place when I'm away.

Three or four could cover the relevant parts of your mother's house for sound and vision - and some subtle turning off/on of their motion-detector facility could give you much of what you want.

But you'd need consent ...

[whiskeryron]

I have a personal alarm system whereby I wear a pendant around my neck which I test regularly once a month. I can personally recommend it & should she tumble or fall, once her alarm button is pressed there is a reply within minutes to ask if one is OK or needs assistance. I had a code activated key safe holding a front door key fitted in the front porch to be able to access the front door, but in two years that has never had to be used.

[Mamyalynne]

There's something like this, just an extra plug in her home which hopefully she wouldn't mind.

It does involve subscription however.

http://www.springchicken.co.uk/3rings-plug.html

[taichiperson]

Thanks sunnydave - although she'd not like a personal alarm, I think we could 'sell' her something along the lines I've been speaking of. Already she sometimes fails to put the phone back on the hook so we can't get through to her. Sadly she doesn't have wi-fi, that would be beyond her understanding, though it's not beyond possible to install it. We would not do anything without her consent - it's comprehension that might be the problem - she finds new technology hard to understand. For example we abandoned her using a mobile phone as she often didn't hear it and wasn't sure how to use it if she did.

What we were thinking of was a discreet system of motion sensors linked to the phone or internet and some software that could spot departure from routine. I think perhaps that isn't available just yet.

[woofgang]

Dave has it nailed. I have got cameras set up at home to monitor my tortoises and also my dogs when I am out. They aren’t expensive unless you want outdoor ones (waterproof) BUT and its a huge but, if she won’t accept a personal alarm, how will you get her to accept monitoring by camera?

[taichiperson]

Mamyalynne, from a glance that looks something like I was thinking of - I'll look into it, thankyou :)

Thanks Whiskeyron, I do know of that system but don't think she's ready for it just yet, I think she'd be insulted. Give it a few months though, and she might agree :)

[taichiperson]

Ta woofgang, was thinking of motion sensors, not cameras.

[sunny-dave]

If you have a decent mobile signal at your mother's, then you could probably use a mobile broadband dongle to connect the cameras to the internet - but a landline broadband connection would probably be cheaper.

My cameras have a talkback function - so if she left the phone off the hook you could use that to remind her to put it back.

It might scare the pants off her though if a disembodied voice spoke ...

[sunny-dave]

I used to have some good links for assistive technology - but I'm a bit out of date, since I stopped work.

I'll have a look through my bookmarks & see if I can find anything.

Dave x

[Canary42]

Yes, I fully agree personal experience is the best info'.

Smart CCTV might serve your purpose - there are several on Amazon, and from reading some of the customer reviews this one sounds close to, but not quite as sophisticated as, your requirements. It has a motion detector, but of course you require something a little more "intelligent", i.e. detection of whether the motion requires your intervention or not.

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[Canary42]

On reflection, I expect your husband has already explored this.

[sunny-dave]

Got it - this is what I was thinking of :

http://www.justchecking.co.uk/

[Canary42]

Much better than mine Dave, well done sir.

[taichiperson]

That also looks very interesting Dave, will also investigate that.

[alavahalf]

For many years I have fitted key safes for various care groups. The safe was often part of a care package. The level of care varied. Elderly people often had a sensor in the bed as well as voice operated call units around the property. A call button was always part of the package and could be hung around the kneck or worn on the wrist . The client was never more than a few seconds away from a friendly voice who would arrange everything in case of an accident. The call centre was a central hub manned 24/7 somewhere up the country.
Think about it .. if you set up cameras yourself you will spend all day and night monitoring them. You will become obsessed with it and it will take over your life.
In the event of an emergency the paramedics can let them selves in once they have opened the keysafe.. and the access code will be held on the system and only available to those who need it.
Like I say she may only need a call a couple of times a day, to check up on her. If the care required was greater, then the bed monitor and the various sensors were optional, but the care group always did an assesment prior to a contract being set up.