Assistive Technologies and Devices Print E-mail
The wonders of technology have provided us with many tools to help caregivers have peace of mind when leaving mom, dad or another relative home alone. A few different technologies are used by hundreds of thousands of caregivers to help protect vulnerable loved ones, particularly when they wish to remain living alone.

Personal Emergency Response Systems
The most popular technology is called a Personal Emergency Response System. It is the cost-effective standard for safety in the home. Most people know this type of system as the "Help I've fallen and can't get up" device. It is the first generation of tele-care and it provides security and life safety to those seniors who are "at home, but not alone" because help is just the push of a button away.

It may not be possible to always prevent a fall, but studies show that the quicker the response to a fall the better chance for recovery. When a subscriber needs help he or she pushes emergency button on the light-weight, water-resistant pendant, and it sends a signal to a console which is connected to the phone line and a electrical outlet. When the pendant is activated, a 24-hour care monitoring center is automatically contacted. Care center operators can then talk to the subscriber directly, and based on need they can then call a loved one or emergency services.

Personal Electronic Monitoring
More advanced, monitoring devices can act like a subscriber's personal electronic monitoring "assistant." These devices can  monitor a wide variety of conditions in the home to make sure everything is safe and even give subscribers verbal reminders when it's time to do something important, like take a needed medication.  These caregiving tools have a diverse range of sensors that can be added as accessories to help manage the hazards, security and life safety issues of seniors that are "home but not alone" because their device is there always monitoring.

Examples of advanced electronic monitoring accessories include:
  • Multiple Reminders: Programmable verbal reminders if you want your loved one to remember to do things like take their blood pressure or take medications.
  • Door or Window Contacts:  Provide an added layer of security and protection and can also be used to alert a caregiver if a subscriber with dementia and has left the area unaccompanied.
  • Motion Detectors: Detect movement within a preset amount of time to assure that the individual is safely awake and active, or in a danger zone.
  • Smoke Detector:  Monitors for smoke or fire and automatically signal for help.
  • Carbon Monoxide Detector: Detects dangerous gas hazards.
  • Fall Detector: Detects if a user falls but can't press the button.
  • Bed/Chair or Floor Sensors: Detect if someone gets out of a bed or chair, or wanders to and area during the night that may be a potential hazard zone
  • Eurisis Alert: Detects when user is incontinent.


Vital Signs Monitoring
The most advanced devices can monitor user vital signs like:

  • Blood pressure
  • Pulse
  • Weight
  • Body temperature
  • Glucose
  • Oxygen saturation
  • Blood clotting times
  • EKG
After the subscriber takes their vital signs, the information is passed wirelessly through a standard phone line to the care center where it becomes part of the medical record. If the vital signs are out of a predetermined range, the operator can call the subscriber and check on them and call a responder listed in the subscriber's profile, such as their doctor, home care company, family or insurance case manager.

Medication Management Systems
Medication Management Systems are electronic devices that organize, remind and dispense medication at predetermined times. If the subscriber doesn't take the medication within an hour of dosage time, the device can notify the care center and a call to the subscriber can be made. A call to the appropricate person on the responder list is made if the subscriber cannot be reached.

Article contributed by Marguerite Linteau, Critical Signal Technologies