Care home staff member explains how state-of-the-art technology supporting her own mother has improved their relationship
We’ve reported on technology-enabled care (TEC) before, which tech companies say can help people maintain their independence. Discreet sensors monitoring movement or sound recognise patterns or ordinary daily activity but raise an alarm if anything unusual occurs.
Monica and daughter Sharon, photo courtesy of Bluebird Care NEW Devon
There’s some evidence that this can lower rates of falls, which are the largest cause of emergency hospital admissions for older people. Indeed, the NHS aims to use TEC to reduce hospitalisations by 70%, relieving a great deal of pressure on the overstretched health service.
The technology also supports care home staff and the families of those receiving care. That’s evident from Sharon, who works for Bluebird Care NEW Devon, which is part of one of the UK’s leading home care providers, and has care responsibilities of her own.
Sharon is based in Exeter, 44 miles (71km) from where her mother Monica lives alone with two dogs in Barnstaple.
‘Mum was always independent,’ says Sharon, ‘but after losing her partner and being told she needed a hip replacement, she became withdrawn and physically frail.
‘I was constantly worried. I’d ring every morning to check she was up, had taken her pills, had something to eat. It was overwhelming. She didn’t want a carer. She insisted she didn’t need care. But with living over an hour and a half away, I knew I needed to find some kind of support – for both of us.’
Sharon then discovered that her employer had been working in partnership with Access Health, Support and Care (HSC) to provide discreet, TEC-enabled care. The Access Assure system uses non-intrusive smart home devices to monitor daily activities around the home. There are no cameras or recordings, the sensors simply detect movements such as opening a cupboard, boiling a kettle or moving.
If the sensors detect anything out of the ordinary, such as disrupted sleep or missed medication, Sharon receives an alert. The smart system recognises Monica’s daily routines, so Sharon is only informed when the system detects something unusual – which in turn preserves Monica’s privacy, autonomy and independence.
As a result, Sharon no longer feels the need to check in with Monica by phone several times a day. It’s given Monica independence and Sharon peace of mind.
Sharon says: ‘Suddenly, I wasn’t waking up worried. I knew Mum was up and moving, when the kettle went on, when she’d opened the medicine cupboard. And I knew I’d be alerted if anything changed for Mum.
‘It completely changed our dynamic. I could go back to being her daughter again, not just her carer. I didn’t expect technology to bring us closer but it has. When I visit now, we go out, we laugh, we just enjoy each other’s company again.
‘This has been a game changer for us. I’d recommend it to anyone.’
A professional from Bluebird Care NEW Devon visits once a week to check the sensor equipment and provide Monica with some company. Monica new looks forward to these visits – which should help ease the transition into accepted further care provision, if and when she needs it.
William Flint, Director at Bluebird Care NEW Devon, adds: ‘Using TEC has changed the way we think about care at home. It’s not just about early intervention or risk reduction, it’s about giving families space to reconnect, to be daughters and sons again for example, not just carers.
‘It’s a powerful reminder that the right technology, used in the right way, can be deeply human.’
Andy Sparkes, Managing Director for Access TEC, says: ‘Access Assure is about more than sensors, smart technology, or even an intelligent dashboard that transforms data into meaningful action. At its core, it’s about reassurance and restoring peace of mind. Families like Sharon’s shouldn’t have to choose between their loved ones living independently and their safety.
‘This technology works quietly in the background, empowering individuals to live fulfilling and meaningful lives in the place they choose, while making sure someone’s always on hand if they need that extra layer of support.’
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