Bristol Assistive Living Technology Pilots
From Capsil Wiki
- Objectives - To demonstrate the usefulness of assistive living technology for 174 elderly people and their carers.
- Details - The pilot carried between 2006 and 2008 involved around 174 users and 22 carers. The data was collected at three stages: Baseline (at initial assessment), First Review (about 8 weeks after installation of assistive technology equipment), and Second Review (about 6 months after installation).
- Devices Used;
- Lifeline 400/4000 [1] - Remote alarm linked to call centre. Installed in 76 homes
- Easy 5 phone [2] - Easy-use mobile phone. Installed in 74 homes
- Memo Minder [3] - Provides movement controlled voice prompts, eg ‘It’s night time, best go back to bed’ installed in 44 homes
- Smoke alarm /detector - Linked to call centre. Installed in 34 homes
- Companion - Allows shopping to be ordered from home. Installed in 24 homes
- MagiPlug [4]- Prevents sink / bath overflowing. Installed in 21 homes
- Doc@Home [5] - Telehealth device used for remote monitoring of lung function. Installed in 19 homes
- PivoTell [6] - Electronic medication prompt. Installed in 16 homes
- Results -
- Potential net savings in the order of £471,500 were identified by pilots for the financial year 2007-08, following investment of £134,800. These savings were in terms of
- The prevention of avoidable admissions to hospital.
- The prevention/delay of admission to long-term residential care.
- The prevention/delay of increased homecare packages.
- 91% of users rated the assistive technology as useful, 93% as easy to use, and 88% as reliable
- 71% said it made it easier to live at home and stated the following in particular;
- Brought security, reassurance and peace of mind in relation to personal health and safety
- Helpfulness and/or usefulness of the equipment
- Allowed Control and/or independence.
- 80% of Carers said that the equipment had helped them in their caring role.
- General Feedback - Users made comments like "I could easily get help in an emergency," "I feel I can continue to live in my own home for a long time" and "I can continue to care for X in the same way for as long as it is necessary"
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