Physical disabilities and sensory impairments

Connected Healthcare Solutions

Key information for health, housing and social care professionals and carers

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Introduction

Physical disabilities and sensory impairments

Disabled people’s living costs are 25% higher than those of non-disabled people

Only 17% of disabled people were born with their disabilities

Disabled people make up around one third of the NHS users in Britain

1.87 million people have sight loss that has a significant impact on their daily lives

10 million people in the UK have some form of hearing loss

Almost 1 in 5 people in the UK have a disability

1/3Source: Disability in the United Kingdom 2016 Facts and Figures, Papworth Trust

Connected Healthcare technology such as telecare and telehealth has a key role to play in supporting people with physical disabilities and sensory impairments in a way that promotes independence as well as contributing to safeguarding. Technology can make a difference to people with all kinds of abilities. From managing risks such as fires or falling, to aiding communication and helping to deliver greater privacy or dignity, technology can enable people to have more control over the way they live their lives.

With public sector funding under increasing pressure, it is more important than ever that we realise the potential of enabling technologies to make a significant and positive difference to the lives of people with disabilities, and help our health, housing and social care systems to support their needs effectively.

This document outlines some of the ways technology can contribute to improving the everyday lives of people with physical disabilities and sensory impairments as well as those who care for them.

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Examples of technology in use and further details on the types of products developed by Tunstall are detailed in the following pages of this brochure.

Physical disabilities and sensory impairments

Disabled people’s living costs are 25% higher than those of non-disabled people

Only 17% of disabled people were born with their disabilities

Disabled people make up around one third of the NHS users in Britain

1.87 million people have sight loss that has a significant impact on their daily lives

10 million people in the UK have some form of hearing loss

Almost 1 in 5 people in the UK have a disability

1/3Source: Disability in the United Kingdom 2016 Facts and Figures, Papworth Trust

What is Connected Care?

Personal trigger or telecare sensor raises alert

Alert raised via the home unit

Alert received at monitoring centre or on carer pager

Operator or carer decides appropriate course of action

Response from carer, keyholder or emergency services

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Connected Care can be described as the way technology seamlessly interlinks with the wider package of care and support a person receives. Rather than the technology being seen as an ‘add-on’ to or replacement of the care provided by care staff, increasingly the technology is seen as integral to the holistic care plan. Connected Care ensures people receive the right type and right amount of care they need at the time and place they need it and in a way that is more efficient and cost effective for the provider and commissioner.

Tunstall offers a range of Connected Care and Connected Health solutions, which use advanced technology to provide enhanced care and support for people with learning disabilities. Solutions are tailored to the needs of the individual and their circumstances, and designed to evolve over time as the user’s requirements change.

Telecare, sometimes also called assistive technology, forms a key part of Tunstall’s Connected Care solutions, and is a system of devices, which supports people in their own home by helping to manage risk. Appropriate, unobtrusive sensors are placed around the home, which, if triggered, send an alert via a Lifeline home unit to a specialist monitoring centre, where trained operators can alert a carer, keyholder or the emergency services. Telecare can also be used by carers in the home or in supported or residential care environments, with alerts from sensors being received on a pager.

Telecare can provide assistance to the person to help them do things (e.g. remind them to take their medication, or not to leave home alone), and give them the means to easily ask for help by pressing a button, which can be worn on the wrist or around the neck. Telecare can also alert others of dangerous situations (e.g. if they were to have a fall or leave the gas on).

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Connected Healthcare services and solutions such as telecare and telehealth can enable more people to be supported at home, helping to delay or avoid the need for more costly interventions. However, to be most effective, such technologies need to be embedded into provision, and form part of mainstream service delivery.

Tunstall has a range of support services which can be combined to provide a structure for transforming healthcare provision, helping to integrate support and reduce future costs by shifting the focus to prevention and self-care using technology as an enabler. We work in collaboration with customers to understand their particular challenges and develop a strategy to address them, using Connected Healthcare solutions to underpin system

redesign and culture change. The approach is modular, meaning customers can choose support with specific areas or to partner with Tunstall for the whole service.

With years of experience working across the health, housing and social care landscape around the world, Tunstall is uniquely placed to help its customers redesign their services, maximising the potential of Connected Care and Connected Health to support the delivery of integrated, efficient care and support which improves outcomes for users. This experience, along with our significant ongoing investment in Innovation and Development, ensures that we have the expertise and resources to help our customers navigate the digital evolution, and provide a futureproof infrastructure to meet market challenges and service user needs.

Service transformation

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Managing risks post-stroke

The situationGeoff has suffered a stroke and was recently diagnosed with heart failure. As a result of the stroke, Geoff was left with a weakness to his right side which led to an increased risk of falls.

The solutionIt was felt that telecare support could help Geoff avoid future admission to hospital and probable admission to residential care. A bed occupancy sensor has been fitted so that if Geoff gets out of bed in the night and doesn’t return within a preset time period, an alert is sent to the monitoring centre who speaks to Geoff to check everything is ok.

Geoff was also provided with an iVi intelligent pendant which not only allows to Geoff to call for help from anywhere in his home, 24 hours a day, but also automatically generates a call for assistance if it detects Geoff has fallen.

A smoke detector was also provided which not only provides an audible alert to Geoff should smoke be detected, but also automatically alerts the monitoring centre who can take the most appropriate action such as contacting the emergency services.

The outcomeGeoff is now in his 57th week at home since the telecare has been in place and during this time, no emergencies have yet arisen. However the bed sensor has alerted the monitoring centre on several occasions when Geoff has failed to go to bed at his usual time, helping to ensure he gets adequate rest.

Geoff says,

I feel so reassured with telecare in place. The calls to check on my wellbeing give me peace of mind that someone is there for me.

Case study

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Telecare supporting independence for a wheelchair user

The situationJames Porteous is in his late sixties, and contracted polio at the age of six. As a result, his breathing was severely affected and he became paralysed. Although he made a slow recovery, James has been a wheelchair user ever since. This limited mobility has not restricted his achievements; James has had a long and successful career, and is very active in his community, gaining an MBE for his charity work.

As James gets older he is finding that some of his symptoms are worsening, and he has some pain and needs a respirator at night to help him with this breathing. His wife Gill has also recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

The solution James and Gill have been using the Be Independent telecare and response service for several years, with James wearing a personal pendant to enable him to call for assistance in an emergency from anywhere in his home or garden. This has been a great reassurance to him, and has also given peace of mind to Gill when she has left James alone in the house. As both their needs are increasing over time, Gill now also wears a pendant, and Be Independent staff continue to make regular calls to assess whether they can provide any other equipment or services to help make life safer and easier for them.

The outcome James says,

Telecare acts as a safety net for us. We live a very independent and fulfilling life, but at the same time we are aware that one day there may be circumstances that mean we need urgent help and the system gives us that back up. It also helps our daughters feel better that we have easy, 24 hour access to help from people who know our situation. It’s really a fantastic support for the whole family, and we would all be much more anxious and stressed without it.

Read the full case study at uk.tunstall.com/beindependent

Case study

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A new approach to supporting people with complex needs using integrated technologies

The situationThere is an urgent and growing need across the UK for cost effective accommodation and care for adults with a variety of disabilities. How is technology helping to deliver a new model of care which is more cost effective than traditional provision and ensures vulnerable adults are given the same life choices as others?

The solution Tunstall and ATEL offer a range of technology enabled care solutions for people with a range of complex needs living in supported living environments. Moorgate Mill in Blackburn is a development containing 20 apartments for people with complex needs including physical and sensory, learning disabilities, and some with behaviour that challenges. This Inclusion Housing run site was designed by HB Villages with the technology provided through a collaboration with Tunstall and ATEL and care provided by Lifeways. ATEL and Tunstall have worked together to provide a managed service for the provision of a communications platform, telecare, environmental controls and access control at Moorgate Mill. Systems are provided according to the needs of the individual following assessment, but include sensors to detect risks such as falls, fires or floods and aids such as lighting and heating controls, automatic door openers and blind/curtain openers.

The outcome Moorgate Mill is an exciting mix of care, accommodation and technology designed to create an environment that supports independence and is more cost effective than traditional provision. Not only empowering, the financial benefits of the concept will, it is envisaged, over time generate savings of around 20% on care and support costs.

Jayne’s story Jayne is profoundly physically disabled, and has been dependent on others for her care all her life. Moving to Moorgate Mill is the first time Jayne has been able to live in a flat on her own. She has 24-hour background support, and uses a reassurance pendant that allows her to speak directly to the office at the touch of a button whenever she needs assistance. Jayne can now operate her own blinds, lights, television and keep in contact with her family and friends via Skype, all at the touch of a handset or with a pillow control. Jayne also has a wet room with a Clos-o-Mat toilet, giving her more privacy and dignity with personal care. For the first time Jayne has a sense of control and independence.

Read the full case study at uk.tunstall.com/moorgate-mill

Case study

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Managing the risk of falls

The situationMr and Mrs Smith have been married for nearly 50 years and live together at home, with supportive family nearby. Mr Smith suffers from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a very rare condition that results in a loss of balance. He has had several falls, and although Mrs Smith managed to help him up without requiring an ambulance attending, she was finding it increasingly difficult to get on with her day to day life as she needed to continually check that her husband was safe in his chair.

The solution Mr and Mrs Smith’s Community Matron put them in touch with Carecall, and following assessment they were offered a Tunstall wrist worn pager system linked to a chair occupancy sensor under the cushion of Mr Smith’s armchair in the lounge. The sensor pad activates the pager worn by Mrs Smith if Mr Smith tries to stand up and walk, putting himself at risk of falling. Mrs Smith is then able to get to Mr Smith in time to make sure he doesn’t fall. Mr and Mrs Smith have also been provided with a bed occupancy sensor which links to a vibrating pillow alert under Mrs Smith’s pillow. If Mr Smith leaves his bed in the night and fails to return safely within a short time, Mrs Smith will be woken by the vibrating pillow alert, as was the case when Mr Smith woke following a bad dream and went into another bedroom where unfortunately he fell. The vibrating pillow alert woke Mrs Smith who was able to get him safely back into bed.

The outcome Mr Smith has now started to use the chair occupancy sensor to get his wife’s attention, raising himself slightly from his chair to make Mrs Smith’s wrist worn pager vibrate. If the doorbell rings and Mrs Smith has not heard it, or if he requires help, Mr Smith now has a simple and safe means of contacting his wife anywhere in the house or garden.

Case study

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Helping wheelchair users transition

The situationCarl was born with a rare condition which manifested itself 25 years ago when he awoke one morning and collapsed. He required an emergency operation as a result of his neck collapsing. Carl’s progressive condition means he now has extremely poor balance and is a wheelchair user. He is at risk of falling and being unable to get up, particularly when transitioning to and from his wheelchair. He has a carer for certain parts of the day, but is alone sometimes.

The solution Carl uses a fall detector linked to a Lifeline home unit. If the fall detector senses that Carl has fallen it will automatically raise the alert at the monitoring centre who will talk to Carl via the Lifeline and send a responder if one is required. Carl can also press the button on the fall detector to ask for help if he needs it, any time of the day or night.

The outcome Carl’s fall detector means that if his carer is not at home with him the monitoring centre can send help if it’s required, which gives him reassurance and peace of mind 24 hours a day. It also means his carer can leave the house for short periods of time knowing that Carl can access help if he needs it.

Carl says,

Telecare can help all kinds of people and the service it gives you is great; peace of mind is the main thing for me. Knowing help will be there when it’s needed reduces the stress for both myself and my carer.

Case study

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Supporting independence for people visual impairment

The situationMrs P lives in Lancashire in her home of 35 years. She has a weakness in her right side and is registered partially blind. She receives 13 hours of care per week and her family ring her each morning and evening to check on her wellbeing. After a fall which resulted in Mrs P being hospitalised, she was keen to return home but worried about moving around her house and falling again in the future.

The solutionFollowing a full telecare assessment, which included identifying potential risks and an understanding of Mrs P’s daily activities, a Lifeline Vi+ home unit, iVi intelligent pendant, two smoke detectors, a carbon monoxide detector and a Key Safe were installed. Each piece of equipment was tested and the installer ensured Mrs P knew exactly how to use them and how to contact the operators who are on hand 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. The service also provides a Home Responder who can visit in an emergency situation to help Mrs P.

The outcomeThere have been six activations of the iVi since the equipment was installed; on five occasions Mrs P was ok, but recently she had a fall which resulted in an injury. The iVi raised an alert at the monitoring centre, where an operator could talk with Mrs P via the Lifeline home unit, arrange for an ambulance and stay on the line until medical help arrived. Mrs P feels happy having telecare as it gives her confidence to remain at home alone, and gives her children peace of mind.

Mrs P says,

It has given me a new life, thank you so much. I feel at peace and safe knowing that there are operators at the end of a button. Lifeline does what it says, it saves peoples’ lives. People don’t realise how important it is, it really is a lifeline.

Case study

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Telecare in extra care

The situationBroadacres Housing Association provides a comprehensive range of services to over 5,300 homes in North Yorkshire, supporting various client groups. Upon commissioning its Rivendale Extra Care facility, Broadacres worked in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council, Hambleton District Council, the Homes and Communities Association and Tunstall to ensure the scheme provided attractive and accessible accommodation which allows people to live independently with the appropriate level of care available when they need it.

The solution Rivendale in Northallerton has 51 apartments and a range of facilities, including 24 hour onsite care staff. Tunstall’s Communicall system was incorporated into the build specification for Rivendale in order to provide staff with a reliable means of communicating with each other and with residents, as well as offering a future-proofed platform for telecare. Each apartment has a door entry and intercom system, enabling residents to contact staff and control access to their homes. All residents have personal triggers to enable them to request assistance at any time, and a range of telecare sensors are available to support residents according to their individual needs, including smoke detectors, flood detectors, fall detectors and door sensors.

The outcome Judith Beardsmore, Scheme Coordinator - Extra Care said,

Without Communicall the responsibility on staff would be much greater and we would need to provide larger packages of care. This way, we can monitor for risks and emergencies 24/7, enabling the residents to be more independent and freeing up staff time. It also provides us with a form of lone worker monitoring for our staff. This is quite a big building and the Communicall system means we can easily check on the wellbeing of staff, no matter where they are.

Anthony is 27 and is a wheelchair user with some physical disabilities. He moved to Rivendale 18 months ago from his parents’ home, seeking more independence. He uses a personal trigger and his apartment is equipped with pullcords, a flood detector and an epilepsy sensor.

Anthony says,

I really enjoy having my own home and having more control. Having the back-up from telecare has taken away my nervousness of being on my own. I get on really well with everyone here and having the epilepsy sensor means I can go to bed at night and not be disturbed by people checking on me.

Read the full case study at uk.tunstall.com/broadacres

Case study

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Telecare providing reassurance and supporting independence

The situationWendy is a 53 year-old social worker for Hull City Council who lives in Hull with her partner, Pete. Wendy has muscular dystrophy, a genetic muscle-wasting condition that over time leads to an increasing level of physical disability. Wendy uses a wheelchair and is supported by carers for day-to-day living. Wendy also has a Canine Partners assistance dog called Connor, a Labrador retriever cross. Connor helps Wendy with such tasks as putting washing in/out of the washing machine, pressing buttons and opening doors. A former lecturer at the University of Lincolnshire, Wendy works for Hull City Council with adults who need support to live their life, as well as looking after her grandson every Thursday.

The solution Determined not to allow her condition to compromise her independence and safety at home, Wendy started using the Hull City Council Telecare Service in 2009. Wendy’s telecare includes:

• A MyAmie personal trigger that Wendy can press at any time if she needs to summon help from anywhere in her home or garden

• Smoke detectors to raise an alert at Kingston Care monitoring centre in the event of a fire

• A Lifeline home unit, which can receive alerts from Wendy’s MyAmie and smoke detector sensors linked to the monitoring centre, so that an alarm can be raised 24-hours a day

The outcome For Wendy, telecare reduces the risks of independent living and gives her peace of mind. For example, on one occasion, Wendy became separated from her house keys and ended up being locked in her home, unable to get to the phone. Having trained Connor the dog to push the alert on her telecare unit, Wendy told Connor to press the button. Connor pressed the button and staff at the monitoring centre called a locksmith.

Wendy says, Telecare gives me some ‘me time’, because I don’t always want somebody to be supporting me in my own home, but it’s nice to have the reassurance that I can get help if I need it.

Case study

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Solutions - Safety

*Due to the wide variety and type of falls some falls may not be detected. In the event of a fall the service user should always be advised to try and press the help button on the iVi or Vibby.

Lifeline Vi and MyAmieThe Lifeline Vi home unit receives alerts from telecare sensors placed around the home and automatically raises an alarm with a carer or monitoring centre. The MyAmie pendant can be worn on the wrist or around the neck and allows the user to call for help simply by pressing the red button.

VibbyThe Vibby is a sleek, contemporary and technologically advanced fall detector which can be worn on the wrist. The Vibby will automatically raise an alert if it senses the user has fallen, and also enables the wearer to easily call for help manually. A configuration app is also available which enables users to change wearing options and monitor battery status.

iVi intelligent pendantThe iVi intelligent pendant is a small, lightweight device which allows the wearer to press a help button to generate an alarm call, and will also automatically generate a call for assistance if it detects a fall.*

Property exit sensorThis sensor specifically monitors for people leaving a property at unusual times of day and night. It can also detect if a main exit door has been left open and can be linked to external lighting to provide added protection.

Bogus caller/panic buttonFitted near the door, the discreet bogus caller button can be used to call for assistance at a 24 hour monitoring centre if a stranger requests entry into the home. Operators can advise the user, and all calls are recorded and can provide evidence admissible in court.

CareAssistCareAssist is an extremely easy to use, portable device that provides onsite carers with a means to receive instant alerts from a range of telecare sensors. This means that carers can be quickly made aware of any incidents allowing them to respond, but removes the need for them to continually observe the person they care for.

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Smoke detectorTunstall smoke detectors provide increased reassurance by raising an alarm call at the monitoring centre while also activating a local audible alarm, if they detect smoke.

Epilepsy sensorsEpilepsy sensors are used to monitor people with epilepsy while they sleep. Patented sensor technology detects a person’s movement in bed and is able to differentiate normal movements from epileptic seizures.

Bed occupancy sensorThis specially designed pressure pad fits under the mattress and provides an early warning by alerting that the user has left their bed and not returned within a pre-set time period. The sensor can also be programmed to switch on lights, helping people find their way to and from bed easily.

Enuresis sensorPlaced between the mattress and sheet, this sensor provides immediate warning on detection of moisture, allowing effective action to be taken. The sensor eliminates the need for carers to make physical checks during the night, promoting dignity and independence.

Natural gas detector/shut off valveThe natural gas detector provides an early warning of dangerous levels of gas.

When combined with the shut off valve, this solution automatically cuts off the gas supply to an appliance when a leak is detected.

Bed shakerThe bed shaker generates powerful vibrations to wake the sleeping user. Placed under the pillow and linked to a carer pager it can alert the user to events such as a smoke alarm or bed occupancy sensor being triggered.

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Solutions - HealthMedication dispenserAutomatically provides access to medication over a 28 day period, providing audio and visual alerts to the user and/or their carer each time medication should be taken, and raising an alert if the user fails to access their medicines.

Tunstall systems can also be configured to operate with a range of third party devices, such as sensors to control curtains, heating, lighting and windows, access control, aids to support bathing and toileting, cognition and communication aids, medical and therapeutic products and audio visual aids.

Solutions - Environmental Controls

Solutions - Activity monitoring

CanaryCanary is a discreet, easy to install system which discreetly monitors activities of daily living using sensors to monitor movement and temperature. The system can detect, for example, whether someone is in or out of bed at their usual time and kitchen useage. Unusual events raise an immediate alert via text or email, and patterns of behaviour can be viewed using an online portal.

CareClipThe CareClip is a wearable, mobile device ensuring the user can easily access help when away from home. Features such as location monitoring, fall detection, boundary alerts and two-way speech ensure formal or informal carers can respond quickly. Location information is updated every three minutes and a true global roaming SIM is included, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

Solutions - Mobile alarm

Connected HealthTunstall offers a range of solutions to support people with long term conditions. The Digital Connected Healthcare Platform improves information flow between patients, health and social care professionals, enabling improved caseload management, reducing hospital admissions and supporting self-care. Patients can connect to clinicians using a variety of methods (eg apps, SMS, online) and the platform integrates with key clinical systems and sits within the NHS network.

Whitley LodgeWhitley BridgeYorkshire DN14 0HR

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Our policy of continual development means that product specification and appearance may change without notice. Tunstall does not accept responsibility for any errors and or omissions contained within this document. This document should not be relied upon for product details, and reference should be made to current specifications.

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About Tunstall Over the last sixty years, Tunstall has pioneered the use of technology to enable independent living, creating the Connected Healthcare industry as we know it today, and supporting more than five million people and their families across the world. Tunstall was the first to develop alarm systems for older people, and has continued to lead the market ever since, remaining at the forefront of developments such as telecare and telehealth, right up to the present day where we are harnessing the power of digital technology.

We blend British design and manufacturing with externally sourced innovation to create a cost effective portfolio of services, underpinned by our global experience of enhancing care in the home for people in more than fifty countries. As the digital opportunity accelerates the speed of change, we continue to work in partnership with our customers to develop more ground-breaking, life-changing solutions.

Photos in this document have been posed by models in some cases and names may have been changed to protect individuals’ privacy.