Long term care Long term care: assistive technology

Assistive technology is designed to help keep people safe and independent in their own home. Some assistive technology gadgets are part of an alarm system, which alerts a monitoring centre when a person pulls a cord in their home or presses a button on a pendant or wristband. 

Our house diagram, right, shows you where these could be placed in your home. Scroll down for descriptions of the gadgets.

Assistive technology: our research

We asked eight older disabled people at Haringey Age Concern Resource Centre, London, for their impressions of a selection of assistive technology gadgets. We also asked occupational therapist Maggie Winchcombe and Guy Dewsbury, Barnet Council telecare co-ordinator, for their expert views. 

These gadgets are shown on our house diagram, alongside others designed to help you remain living independently at home.

Light sensors could help prevent night falls

1. Light sensors

• Masterplug NLPIR/2 Motion Detector PIR Night, £9.98 from B&Q.
• Lifemax Portable LED PIR Night Light with Movement & Light Sensor, twin pack, £17.99 from Lifemax.

How they work

They light up in response to a person getting up, and illuminate potential trip hazards or a path to the toilet. Masterplug plugs into the wall, Lifemax is battery operated.

Assistive technology verdict

Our experts thought these light sensors were a cheap, unobtrusive assistive technology solution to prevent night falls. The group said that they may help, but you would need to remember to change the batteries on the Lifemax model.

2. Automatic pill dispenser

This automatic pill dispenser reminds you to take medicine

Pivotell Model 2/06, £111.62 from Pivotell.

How it works

You put up to 28 days medication in the box and it sounds an alert when you’re due to take it, stopping when you remove the tablets. Aimed at helping those who have difficulty remembering to take medication, it can be linked up to a monitoring centre.

Assistive technology verdict

The experts and the group felt this automatic pill dispenser would be reassuring for people who feel anxious about taking their medication regularly, but the experts pointed out that while it checks the medication is removed, such devices can’t check the medicine has actually been taken – a confused person could forget what the reminder is for.

The group pointed out: ‘It’s heavy, not good for arthritic fingers and a dosette (medication) box filled by the chemist works OK.’

3. Outdoor key safe

An outdoor keysafe could be useful in an emergency

Keyguard Securities Outdoor Key safe £34.94, available from Burtonsafes. There are a number of similar products available.

How it works 

A house key is stored in a covered metal box outside the person’s house, and released by tapping a code into the keypad.

Assistive technology verdict

One expert raised the concern that it could be open to mis-use if bogus callers got the number, and the person no longer controls who is entering their home. The other expert felt that it was ideal for allowing the emergency services in, though cheaper models are easier to break into. 

Some of the group thought this assistive technology product would be useful, including one person who had recently needed ambulance staff to enter her home.

4. Bath and sink safety plug

Our experts thought this device could be useful to prevent floods and scalds

Magiplug, £7.95 from Magiplug.

How it works

A bath or sink plug that drains excess water over a certain level, preventing floods. It also changes colour when the water is hot.

Assistive technology verdict

The group thought it was ‘good for someone forgetful’, and the experts said it could be useful to prevent flooding and scalding. However, they warned that although it claims to, the Magiplug doesn’t fit every sink.

5. Activity monitors

Activity monitors can be a good short-term solution for people with dementia

How it works

Activity monitors are aimed to help people with dementia. Sensors round the house detect their movements and send information about their activities to a computer web page, accessible to others using an agreed password.

Assistive technology verdict

The experts said this can be an ideal short-term assistive technology solution for someone with dementia, but agreed with the group’s concerns about privacy if it was used long-term – in which case other care options should be considered.

Alarm system extras

With a monitoring centre as backup, these sensors can help to keep you independent. Match the numbers with the house diagram above to see where they would be placed in the home.

• 6 Alarm call system (pendant or bracelet): Person presses button to alert family or monitoring centre for assistance.
• 7 Fall sensors (necklace or belt): Sensors monitor movement and automatically alert monitoring centre if person falls.
• 8 Smoke/heat sensors: Sensors automatically alert family and/ or monitoring centre to fire.
• 9 Bed exit/occupancy sensors (underneath mattress): Sensors automatically alert monitoring centre if person does not return to bed within set time.
• 10 Flood detectors (on floor by bath): Sensors automatically alert monitoring centre to flood.
• 11 Door exit sensors: Sensors automatically alert monitoring centre if person leaves the house.
• 12 Natural gas detector: Provides warning of dangerous levels of gas. Can be linked to a gas shut-off valve and can automatically cut the gas supply off if a leak is detected.
• 13 Epilepsy sensor: Detects when person has a seizure and alerts family or monitoring centre.
• 14 Remote control (infra-red device): Controls anything powered by electricity, eg a TV, heater or curtains.

For further details, including large telecare providers like Tunstall, Chubb and Tynetec, contact the Telecare Services Association (01634 846209).

See also our book Care Options in Retirement (published in 2008) for more on how to arrange funding, housing and care services.