A horrifying story appeared in the press about how an elderly lady who suffers from dementia was left locked on a bus for nearly three hours. The ironic part of the story is that the staff members who had forgotten her were working for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Any of us with elderly relatives would be mortified if one of our relatives had undergone such an ordeal. It may be difficult to prevent situations like those highlighted in the story above. However, there are things we can do to help them stay safe in their own homes.
Many of the inquiries we receive here at the Telecare24 careline centre come from people with an elderly relative trying to ensure that their elderly parents can remain safe and secure in their own home. A careline alarm helps over 1 million elderly people across the UK stay safe in their own homes.
We feel a personal alarm can help many more people. But often the stigma attached to having a personal alarm can put elderly people off having one installed. They may feel that a personal alarm signifies that they are losing their freedom. But in reality, a personal alarm can increase a person’s level of independence rather than restrict it.
Why Your Elderly Relative Needs a Careline
Here are our top reasons why your elderly relative could benefit from having a personal alarm:
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- Elderly Parents Live Alone
Over 3 million people over the age of 65 now live alone, many having lost their long-term partner, which can increase their feelings of isolation and vulnerability. Having the peace of mind that a careline team is available if they ever need to speak with someone makes pensioners feel more secure at home.
Many relatives contacting us live some distance away from their elderly loved ones. Their overriding fear is that they do not live close enough to provide help if there was an emergency. Our careline team has operators available 24 hours a day. They can set up emergency personal alarms and control various sensors around the house as preventative measures—or, if an accident occurs, they can correct it immediately, giving agencies assistance if required. That gives our users and their relatives real peace of mind.
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- Risk of Falling
1 in 3 people over the age of 60 fall each year. Repeated falls can lead to serious health complications, as once someone in this age group has a fall, the likelihood of repeated falls increases dramatically. A personal alarm will not prevent a fall, but you can use a device that will detect a fall, alerting the careline team, which can in turn provide immediate assistance, even if the individual has been knocked unconscious.
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- Elderly Parents have Alzheimer
Some elderly people may begin to show signs of forgetfulness. Simple tasks, such as turning off the bath taps or the gas fire, can lead to dangerous situations if unattended. A personal alarm has control sensors around the house, which serves as a precautionary measure if an accident occurs. If an accident presents itself, we can take care of it immediately. For example, a simple flood detector placed on the floor will alert our careline team if an elderly one leaves the taps on and the bath overflows. You can avoid a flooded bathroom! It is possible to connect over 30 sensors to one personal alarm, including CO2, carbon monoxide, and bed sensors.
If you require any additional information, please call us at 0800 180 85 40.
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