Home Monitoring Telecare

Telecare can be a support to people with dementia living on their own and can provide reassurance to their family and carers through alerting them to potential risks. This section demonstrates some of the Home Monitoring Telecare that can promote continued independence while giving peace of mind to families and carers.

Telecare Motion Detectors

Motion Detectors will detect movement within a room. These can be supportive for a person living on their own as it will alert family and carers if no movement has been detected in the day. For instance if someone has not left their bedroom or have not been into the kitchen the motion sensor will let family know, a period of time of no movement detected will be determined when installing. The family can then check in to make sure they have not had a fall or to remind them to have something to eat.
Depending on the Telecare Company you already have installed or plan on using will determine which product below to get.

Task Passive Infra-Red (PIR) Detector

Tunstall Passive Infra-Red (PIR) Detector

A movement sensor is a type of PIR detector that sends an alert following extended periods of stillness that could indicate a fall or a medical emergency has occurred.
The movement sensor can be wall mounted in rooms throughout the home, or placed near the front door or even on kitchen cupboards.
If there is too little activity over a certain period of time an alert will be sent to our 24/7 Monitoring Centre in Ireland or to a Carer, alerting them of possible distress.
Motion detectors in the bedroom or bathroom could detect that someone has not left the area in his or her usual pattern.
For more information on the Task PIR detector please visit their website here

Infra-Red Detectors are designed to detect motion in the home
They can be customised so they can detect both activity and inactivity
If movement has not be detected during the times decided this will alert the monitoring centre
The Monitoring Centre will contact family or neighbours to check in on the person
The sensor can be set at different heights to accommodate pet movement and can be programmed to be active for different times of the day or night.
For more information please view the Tunstall website here

Telecare Door Exit Alarm

The Door Exit Alarm can be helpful in identifying when a person has opened the door and potentially left the home. For some people with dementia they may become disorientated during the night, this may lead to leaving the house at a time when the person's safety is at risk. The door sensor can support a person staying at home by giving family and carers reassurance that they will be notified. The door sensor can be customised to only monitor during certain times e.g. between 10 pm and 8 am.
With all monitoring technologies it is important that there potential use and installation is discussed with the person being monitored.

Task Door Exit Sensor

Tunstall Property Exit Sensor

The wandering alarm is a door contact sensor which works with a telecare base unit
An alarm is raised automatically when a person opens a door during pre-set times
The alarm transmits a wireless signal to the telecare base unit which can then direct the alarm to the mobile telephone of a carer or family member
By sending an immediate alert to a mobile telephone quick action can be taken to eliminate the risk
For instance alarms can be placed at a door leading into a hallway or/and at the front or back doors
For more information please visit the Task website here

The Property Exit Sensor provides real time alerts when a person has walked out of their door
The sensor can also provide an alert when a person has left an external door open for an extended period of time so that action can be taken to ensure that it is closed quickly and the building is secured
The Property Exit Sensor can send an alert through the Tunstall Base Unit and the monitoring centre will contact relevant people
The Property Exit Sensor can be monitored during a certain period of time e.g. between 9pm and 9am.
For more information please visit the Tunstall website here

Telecare Medication Monitoring

The Telecare Medication Monitoring devices are automatic pill dispensers that are programmed to the time of day when medication is taken. The pill dispenser will alarm at the programmed time and will rotate the medication so it can be released and taken. The alarm will automatically stop once the medication has be taken out. If the alarm continues meaning the person has not taken the medication then the monitoring centre will alert family or carers to this so they can check in on the person to remind them to take the medication. The dispensers have 28 compartments so if you are taking medication twice a day you can fill the dispenser for two weeks. There are some important considerations to be aware of:

Who will fill the medication dispenser regularly
The alarm cannot guarantee the person will take the medication it will only prompt the person
The person may be distracted during this time and land the medication forgetting to take them
For some people with dementia alarms going off can cause anxiety and worry if they cannot recall what it is for
It is worth practicing and being with the person for the first few weeks during the alarm time to support the person and help them recognising it when they are on their own

Task Medication Monitor

Tunstall Medication Monitor

The automatic pill dispenser allows a patient or carer to sort out medicines in advance
The alarm can be set to the desired times and when it is time to take the medication
It alarms and releases the pre-measured dose into a small compartment
If the person does not take the medication out of the dispenser, a signal can then be sent to our 24/7 CareLink Monitoring Centre in Ireland if the dispenser is monitored
The operators can then contact the person’s family or a carer, who can remind or assist the patient
For more information please visit the Task website here or view the Task Automatic Medication Dispenser Information Sheet here

Tunstall Medication Dispenser can be used to automatically provide access to medication, providing audible and visual alerts to the user each time medication should be taken
If the user fails to access the medication, an alert is raised to the Tunstall 24 hour monitoring centre
The Tunstall monitoring centre will get in touch with the user’s family to offer a gentle reminder that medication was not taken
The PivoTell dispenser is larger which allows for a greater number of pills or larger tablets to be stored and dispensed.
For more information please visit the Tunstall website here or view the Tunstall Medication Dispenser Information Sheet here

Telecare Enuresis Monitoring

Enuresis Monitor is a pad placed on the bed that will detect wetness. This can be helpful in identifying when the person needs to change and help prevent developing sores. It can also be helpful to detect when wetting happens e.g. is it just before getting up or not long after going to bed? Knowing this could help by getting the person up a little earlier or reducing fluids at night and ensuring they use the bathroom just before bed. The Enuresis can send an alert to a pager to the family member living in the home with the person or through to the monitoring centre who can log when the wetness occurs and help family or carers make adjustments if possible.

Task Enuresis Monitor

Tunstall Enuresis Monitor

The enuresis alarm (bedwetting alarm) sounds an alert if wetness is detected in the bed

The sensor pad is placed between the sheet and mattress and it automatically transmits an audible alarm when excess wetness is detected.
The enuresis device can also be set up to trigger a gentle vibrating pillow alert in addition to or instead of the audible alert sounding
This can be ideal in cases where an individual wants to change bedding independently but has hearing problems and would not be wakened by the audible alarm sounding.
Alternatively, the alert can be send to an in-house carer so that bedding can be changed
Or an alert can be sent through to Monitoring Centre who can then notify your carer
An additional benefit of this option is that a log can be kept showing when the bedwetting alarm was changed
For more information please view the Task website here or read the Task Enuresis Information Sheet here

The Enuresis sensor provides a discreet means to detect instances of enuresis the moment they occur
This enables carers to provide a higher level of service without the need for regular intrusion
It consists of a thin, waterproof and durable sensor mat, which is positioned between the mattress and top sheet of a bed, therefore not affecting user comfort
On the immediate detection of moisture, the mat sends a signal to a small interface module, which can be positioned under a bed, to provide wireless communication with a Lifeline home unit or Telecare Overlay system to enable care to be delivered quickly
For more information please visit the Tunstall website here or view the Tunstall Enuresis Detector Information Sheet here