User-activated alarms and pendants

From Capsil Wiki

Jump to: navigation, search

The most popular fall detection device are user-activated alarms and pendants. These devices, generally, require the user to manually activate an alarm button. Usually the alarm button is on a pendent or a bracelet integrated with a wireless transmitter or transceiver, to be pressed in the event of falling. When the alarm button is pressed it wirelessly activates some form of alert unit that that has external connectivity normally via a pots line or alternatively some form of broadband connection. The alert system notifies a remote monitoring center which responses to the alarm. A number of elderly care facilities and community alarm centers offer such services for a nominal monthly monitoring fee.

Alternatively there has been interest in the building the sensor in garments worn the patient, such as the EU funded project HEBE. Issues

User activated alarms and pendants offers a low-cost and technological simple approach to the problem, but they are not suitable for falls associated with the loss of consciousness or for subjects who due to physical impairment cannot activate the alarm. They are likely to be suitable for people who are suffering from some form of cognitive impairment e.g. dementia [1]

Contents

Justification

(Scientific Basis/efficacy/evidence)


Research

  • Projects
    • EU funded project: HEBE. Detection of falls and monitoring of the elderly system is fitted with a GPS locating device, a bi-axial accelerometer (for the detection of falls and of activity), all connected to a call centre using GSM/GPRS technology.

Funding

  • National Health Services
  • Insurance Companies
  • Individuals
  • Family Members

Commercial

There are a commerical of user activated alarms and pendants commerically available.

Products

    • Philips Life Line
      • Classic Pendant Personal Help Button
      • Slimline Personal Help Button
      • Tempo Watch
    • BLEEP
    • Lifefone
    • MedicalAlarm.com

http://medicalalarm.com/Medical_Alarm_and_Medical_Alert/IMAG012A.GIF

Players

Standards

Gaps

  • Gaps in technology
  • Gaps in the basic science
  • Gaps in operation
  • Gaps in implementation

Future Vision

References

  1. P. Rajendran, A. Corcoran, B. Kinosian, and M. Alwan, Falls, Fall Prevention, and Fall Detection in Technologies Aging Medicine in Eldercare Technology for Clinical Practitioners, Humana Press; 1 edition (December 14, 2007)
  2. M.E. Tinetti and M. Speechley, Prevention of falls among the elderly, NEJM (April 20 1989)
  3. F. Miskelly, Assistive technology in elderly care, Age ageing 30:455-458 (2001)
Retrieved from "http://www.capsil.org/capsilwiki/index.php/User-activated_alarms_and_pendants"
Personal tools