A chance to see how technology is helping people of all ages in Dumfries and Galloway live safer, independent lives in their own homes is being showcased in the region this week.
Technology has been placed in focus as part of national Digital Health and Social Care Week. Four awareness-raising events are being held across the region and an open demonstration flat in Dumfries showing off devices ranging from easy-tipping kettles to medication dispensers, talking microwaves and bed and chair sensors which help ensure that people remain safe.
Community Health and Social Care General Manager Graham Abrines said: “Technology Enabled Care, or telecare, promotes independence, choice and control to support all age groups to live as independently as possible and is a central theme for the Health and Social Care Partnership.
“Colleagues across the Health and Social Care Partnership and Alzheimer’s Scotland have brought together a range of assistive and inclusive technology equipment to demonstrate a wide-range range that is available to enable people to live independently and I’d encourage anyone to drop in and have a look at the range of available equipment.”
Telecare is designed as an unobtrusive service available to anyone of any age who would like to feel safer, more protected and independent in their own home, giving them independence, choice and control. It provides numerous benefits for older people, less-abled people, individuals who have been discharged from hospital and need additional support and assistance at home, children and families, people at risk of bogus callers, for carers, and for offering confidence and reassurance.
Equipment can be set up so that if someone presses an alert button or does not return to bed, or a detector is activated, they can be contacted immediately and asked if they require support.
Services delivered via technology under the branding ‘Care Call’ have changed lives in the region, and are available at a weekly flat rate of just £3.60.
Senior Social Worker Ruth Griffith said: “If someone has a learning disability and epilepsy they have a tendency to be overprotected. For example, we recently worked with a seven-year-old who had really severe epilepsy as a baby. As he got older, the seizures started to diminish but his mum and dad’s anxiety didn’t, so he was still in bed with them at age seven.
“The parents had little time to themselves and their other child was getting jealous. We put in a new piece of kit and within four weeks he was sleeping in his own bed. And now mum’s very confident in that equipment. The kit is a wrist-worn band which they wear when going to bed. It monitors their pulse, so if it rises or falls outwith the normal range it sends out an alert.
“That was a really good success. It absolutely promoted the child’s independence and without it we might have been going down a more invasive form of support.”
Work has also been carried out to address referrals for children with autism.
Ruth said: “Telehealthcare Assessor Iain Callander went out do an assessment with a family where a child was absconding from the family home. The mum was very concerned, and as a result Ian put in sensors at every door and window in the property, and it linked to a device which she kept with her. The minute any window opened, the mum would get an alert instantly.”
The focus on Telecare as part of Digital Health and Social Care this week has been boosted by a special animated film produced by Cree Studios at Newton Stewart Activity and Resource Centre (ARC) for people who have learning, physical disabilities and illness or hearing or visual impairment.
Telecare team members and an ARC service user loaned their voices to the animated film. In a fun, engaging way, the animated film explains how a Telehealthcare Assessor will visit a person’s home to have a relaxed conversation about what sort of help might be needed. The Telehealthcare Assessor then delivers and fits a range of equipment specifically designed to meet that individual’s requirements.
Dumfries & Galloway Council provides Telecare within the Health & Social Care Partnership, and there is a constantly manned call centre running 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. On average the call centre deal with 10,000 calls per month, with the vast majority of these not requiring anything other than some reassurance to the person with telecare.
There is no charge at all in the case of palliative care/terminal illness or for children up to the age of 18.
To see the range of equipment in a real world setting visit the demonstration flat at JM Barrie House in George Street, Dumfries, before Sunday. The flat is open between 10 am and 12 noon and 4 pm and 7 pm on Monday to Friday, and from 1 pm to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
To enquire about the telecare service, phone 030 3333 3001 to speak to a trained call advisor or email [email protected]
The events taking place in the region this week are:
Thursday 23rd – The Usual Place, Dumfries 10 am to 12 noon
Friday 24th – Annan ARC, 10 am to 12 noon
