IT & WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS XXXX
Take up mobile telecare to help manage dementia
There are 800,000 people across the UK who suffer from dementia, with the number set to rise to around one million by 2021. Wendy Darling, managing director of Centra Pulse, believes mobile telecare technology could play an increasing role in managing the condition.
everyday life of people with dementia. That’s according to evidence released last year by the Cochrane Collaboration, an independent network of health practitioners, researchers, and patient advocates. More than 300 patients living at home or in care took part in the study, which recognised an improvement in daily activities as a result of regular exercise, such as a daily walk. Benefits included increased ease in rising from a chair, as well as a boost in cognitive skills.
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Dementia itself affects some 800,000 people in the UK. And this number is only set to increase with a rise in life expectancy. It is estimated that by 2021, the number of people with dementia in the UK will have increased to around one million. As the UK’s largest independent provider of telecare, Centra Pulse provides technology to help more than 125,000 customers stay at home for longer. We’re passionate about helping those suffering from dementia to manage their condition, ease the ongoing burden on their friends and family and bring greater support to healthcare providers.
Although we can’t say that exercise will prevent dementia, this evidence does suggest it can help reduce the risk of the condition as part of a healthy lifestyle. As long as we can ensure they remain safe and protected, something as simple as the opportunity to leave the house and walk to the paper shop and back every day could have untold and long-term benefits for somebody living with dementia. Allowing
88 | national health executive Sep/Oct 14
new study has found that exercise can improve the thinking abilities and
The view from a GP
Dr Dawn Harper said: “As a practising GP, many concerned relatives come to me because they don’t know what to do about their parents’ care. I’ve found that many are more likely to turn to a care home when it comes to looking for support. This is a drastic move which can often be costly and not the right solution for someone who can live more independently. The reason for this is simple. People don’t know enough about more appropriate solutions which can protect safety and independence in and out of the home, like telecare.
“That’s why I’m working with Centra to make sure millions get the right help for their needs. I’m asking fellow medical professionals to join me in spreading the word about the wide range of care and support services available which could include telecare technology.”
someone to retain their usual routines in this way is also incredibly important, as we know that when you move somebody out of their usual routines or surroundings they do begin to deteriorate very quickly and become more confused.
Telecare itself is currently more widely used and understood within the field of in-home devices like personal alarms and fall detector sensors, which help people stay more independent at home. At Centra Pulse, we’re now using GPS tracking systems and mobile communications to provide the same support while wearers are out and about. By ensuring they can be instantly located and provided with immediate care in an emergency, this technology allows more vulnerable people to leave the home, explore their surroundings and take up more active hobbies.
One such product is a new wristwatch developed by Finnish technology firm Everon, which
supports older and disabled people outside of the home. The Vega brings emergency care and support directly to the wearer by instantly tracking their location and connecting them with a trained care professional at Centra Pulse’s monitoring centre. It can even be used to trigger an alert to Centra Pulse if someone strays beyond a pre-set area or leaves the home at an unscheduled time.
The benefits provided by these kinds of devices are why we believe new mobile telecare technology that can help people with dementia to stay independent while on the move should play an increasing role as a solution to managing dementia out of the home. We are urging anyone with experience of long-term conditions like dementia to take advantage of this technology to improve the quality of life of themselves or those they care for.
FOR MORE INFORMATION W:
www.centragroup.org.uk/mobiletelecare
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