The standard equipment that we provide is an alarm unit and a red button pendant which can be worn on the wrist or around the neck. If there is an agreed risk or a specific need we may recommend additional sensors, these are described below.
The Standard Alarm with wrist or neck worn pendant is the most reliable piece of equipment we have. It alerts to power failure, loss of telephone line or low battery in the pendant trigger. If the service user has dexterity problems an ‘easy press’ device can be fitted over the red button or a large surface button can be provided.
These act as the base unit for alarm and sensor calls if there are on site responders, they work in much the same way as an alarm unit but only alert on site, not to the call centre. All of our sensors will work with our alarm units and the pagers.
The falls sensor is intended to alert to a ‘heavy fall‘. This is a fall that is from a standing position, it will not alert to a slip, slide or stumble so it is not suitable for everyone. A service user who has had a previous fall does not necessarily need a falls sensor, if they have the cognitive ability to press the red button on their pendant that is the best solution. However if the service user has dementia or a memory problem it may be that a falls sensor is appropriate.
Canary Care is a series of sensors that can be installed in a service users’ home to monitor their movements. The sensors are not cameras or microphones.
Each sensor is linked to a base unit that works wirelessly to compile information onto an internet based portal, access to the portal is given to service users family members or representatives. Canary care is used to gather a whole host of information, for example identifying a pattern to someone’s routine, showing if the kettle or fridge has been used or tell you that an external door has been opened when it is not expected to be, such as in the case of someone going outside in the middle of the night.
Alerts from Canary Care are sent direct to nominated persons via text message, app push notification and or email.
For service users who have seizures we can consider providing equipment that can be placed in the bed and will alert to a seizure taking place.
A questionnaire needs to be completed by the service user, or their representative, and this is shared with an external provider for assessment for equipment suitability.
These pads are not suitable for use on hospital beds or pressure mattresses.
Bed and chair pads are designed to alert that someone has got up but not returned to their bed / chair and are for people who are prone to falling. At night the bed pad works by sending an alert if the service user has got up but not returned to bed in the pre agreed timescale and can be set to repeat this sequence if the timescale is unpredictable.
During the daytime the chair pad will alert in the same way, giving enough time to visit the bathroom or make a cup of tea. These sensors are very adaptable in respect of times and alerts and are very useful to aid independence whilst discreetly monitoring in the background.
Civic, 1 Saxon Gate East MK9 3EJ