[Closed] Old giffords fall-alarm-trackworld

I'm a project manager currently working on some care home refurbishments, and some of the high-end providers have fall mats (pressure pads) as well as other kit inc pendant alarms, nursecall systems etc.

Econoguard supply a lot of the homes, though I don't know if they deal direct with private individuals.

[url= http://www.econogard.com/fall-prevention-equipment/ ]Linky[/url]

I think the one you linked is the one my dad has had for years. The local council occupation health/elderly support/hospital discharge team are joined up quite well in Middlesbrough and sorted him out with a system linked up to house alarm and phone, together with pendant and wrist call buttons. It might be worth contacting the local council and seeing if they have a preferred contractor who works with their monitoring and support people to get the more joined up care. In general they are a good thing, and not too pricy for the peace of mind.

Does the local authority provide a system? My mum had a couple of hospital admissions recently, so we requested an assessment from social services.

As a result, they installed an alert system, plus various rails, as recommended by occupational health - all for free.

What's more, the hospital funded a couple of weeks of homecare, to enable mum to be discharged a bit sooner (rather than "bed-blocking").

Likewise both my grand mothers had call buttons provided by local social care. It is good as it then feeds into the local network. I'd call your local adult social care team. They will then route the call to the ambulance, which in reality is what you want as otherwise you are going to get there likely to just call an ambulance yourself. I am pretty sure they can then list a next of kin which they would then call. If you install a key box on the outside of the house and the code is given to the service provider, then the ambulance guys don't have to wait for the police to knock the door down, or try and smash a window (though I do think p20 enjoys this aspect of the job!)

Thanks for the responses. I'm happy to pay for it and we have the keybox installed already. My concern is to get it done now asap. Just spoke to Lifeline and they can call emergency services immediately if we set that up on account details.

Sounds sensible then. Think lifeline run the some of social care accounts too. Main thing is your Dad wears the button (was a battle with one grandma, and now with her dementia, we are sure she doesnt wear it unless we tell her).

..and that is the biggest problem. He's an ex-RAF pilot who still thinks he has an ejector seat lever attached to his sofa.

Ahhh...good luck!

local authority can do it but as you say goes in a queue.
local doctors might shift things along.

My mum got one supplied by her alarm company - if that helps.

Now she's in sheltered housing so that's all integral to the accommodation...

A good friend works here http://www.alertacall.com/, which is similar to the service you're already looking at.

Might be another option to have a look at or consider.

Bookmarking this thread, I was about to ask the same question about one of these for my Dad so very interested.

My mum used the one the OP has linked for a few months earlier this year after a fall. Easy to set up and worked from the bottom of the garden (essential as she hates being stuck indoors.

I think they had an option for a 'automatic fall sensor', but as my mum is generally alert she decided against that bit.

My only negative is it cost a lot to setup initially, but when she phoned to get it disabled they talked her through returning the unit which I thought we had bought. That means that if we go back down the same path again in the future we will have to pay the larger up front costs again 🙁

NB - I should add she was self-funding hence why we paid rather that getting it from Social.

Several people have mentioned a queue, and no doubt that is true. BUT the difference here is that your mum is currently in hospital.

Speak to the Ward Manager about discharge procedures, and consider requesting a referral to the Discharge Team. That may well speed things up, as your mum needs to be released to a safe environment.

My mum has been in hospital twice recently. The first time she was discharged abruptly, with no consideration of her home circumstances. When she was re-admitted three weeks later, her discharge was properly managed, with a "telecare" alarm, homecare and an occupational health assessment. It's worth asking!