The CareAssist is a portable Telecare alarm, that can receive Telecare alerts and display not only the type of sensor-activated but also either the location of the sensor and/or the name of the person the sensor has been assigned to.

What is CareAssist?

This means that onsite carers can be quickly made aware of any incidents allowing them to provide a high level of care whilst maximising their efficiency. It will also help to reduce the impact on informal carers’ lifestyles enabling them to lead more independent lives.

How does it work?

Telecare sensors are pre-assigned to the CareAssist and allocated to either a location within a building, like a communal lounge or to a specific resident, for example, Mrs Smith, Flat 1.

When the Telecare sensor is activated, the CareAssist will vibrate, beep and light up its bright screen to alert the carer to the incident allowing them to view what sensor activated the alarm, which room/resident it is allocated to and the time and date of the alarm enabling them to take speedy and appropriate action.

Who is it for?

CareAssist is designed to support local carers to deliver high quality, non-intrusive care. It is extremely easy to use, portable device that provides carers working or living onsite with a means to receive instant alerts from Tunstall’s range of Telecare sensors.

As a result, onsite carers can be quickly made aware of any incidents and provide a very cost-effective Telecare solution whilst avoiding the need for a telephone line or monitoring centre service which is often not required when full-time (24 hours) care is being provided.

With a radio range of up to 200 metres (line of sight), it is particularly suited to small specialist dementia care, intermediate care, learning disability, residential and care homes, and respite care facilities. It can also provide significant benefits to private individuals and their informal carers who may prefer not to be connected to a 24-hour monitoring centre service.

A wrist worn fall detector designed to identify a serious fall that leads to a state of unconsciousness and immobility of the user and upon detection of such a fall, raises an automatic call to the monitoring centre.

This sensor provides an early warning by alerting that the user has left their bed or chair and not returned within a present time period, indicating a potential fall.

The sensor can also be programmed to switch on lights, helping people to find their way to and from bed easily.

Fixed near the door, this button will provide reassurance in the event of an unexpected caller. It can also be used to summon assistance or verbal prompts can be given via the Lifeline unit.

Such incidents will also be automatically recorded and may be used in evidence; for this type of service the base unit will need to be located near to the door.

This detector raises an audible alarm within the home and provides additional protection by raising an instant alarm call to the monitoring centre, for example a blocked flue/chimney or faulty appliances and where carbon monoxide levels within the home are increased.

As 40% of people with dementia are prone to walking about, this sensor specifically monitors for people leaving a building at unusual times of day and night.

Placed between the mattress and sheet, this sensor provides immediate warning on detection of moisture, allowing effective action to be taken.

The sensor eliminates the need for carers to make physical checks, promoting dignity and independence.

This state of the art sensor monitors the user’s vital signs including heart rate and breathing patterns to detect a range of epileptic seizures.

The sensor eliminates the need for carers to make physical checks, promoting independence and dignity.

Monitors for low and high temperature extremes in addition to the rate of rise in temperature help minimise the risks associated with changes in temperature, including the build up of heat in a kitchen and the risk of sustained periods of cold weather.  

The detector provides an early warning of flood situations, such as taps being left on, by notifying the monitoring centre for possible flooding in the home.

A call can be raised from anywhere in the home or garden within a 50 metre radius at the press of the button – this can be worn around the neck or wrist and is waterproof.

The reminder functionality of the Lifeline Connect+ informs the user about key information, for example a family member can record a message to remind the user to take their medication at a particular time. If the user hasn’t confirmed receipt of the message, an alert will be raised with the monitoring centre, who can proactively call the user to check everything is alright.

This is an easy to use tablet dispenser that can make managing medication simple and reduces the risk of errors.

Once it is set up with doses and times it allows the user to take their medication with a set time frame and it can also act as a reminder if needed. If the user does not access their medication within the time frame then an alert is raised via the base unit to notify the Care Connect staff.

This can provides an early warning of dangerous levels of gas and can be linked to the ‘gas shut-off valve’ to automatically cut the gas supply off, if a leak is detected.

This has many different uses, including use with an arm/disarm trigger as an intruder alarm.

Alternatively, it may be used to detect whether someone has wandered outside their home at an inappropriate time. It may also be used to detect movement in a specific room each morning, to insure this user is up and active.

The radio smoke detector not only raises an audible alarm within the home but provides additional protection by raising an instant alarm call to the monitoring centre.

This is provided with each Telecare package, inclusive of price.

Telehealth is the remote monitoring of a patient’s medical condition.

What is Telehealth?

With modern technology, patients can be monitored in their own homes without having to visit their GP surgery or local hospital. Examples of things that can be monitored are blood pressure, oxygen levels or weight. In time, Telehealth will evolve to include therapy – the GP or even the equipment itself will be able to quickly detect minor fluctuations in the patient’s condition and change the therapy accordingly, without the patient ever needing to visit the surgery.

What are the benefits of Telehealth?

Telehealth adds a new paradigm in healthcare, where the patient is monitored between physician office visits. This has been shown to significantly reduce hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room significantly while improving patient's quality of life. Telehealth also benefits patients where traditional deliveries of health services are affected by distance and lack of local specialist clinicians to deliver services.

How can service users access Telehealth?

Anglesey Council is currently receiving Telehealth referrals from nurse practitioners for patients with COPD. They are then monitored remotely by answering questions, recording their heart and pulse rate.  This is monitored at Care Connect call centre, where any concerns can be recorded and appropriate action taken. 

Who to contact        

If you feel that there is a patient that would benefit from Telehealth, who currently suffers with COPD, please make contact with the service user’s nurse practitioner directly. They will then discuss any cost implications that the user may or may not incur.