Ceredigion County Council is leading the way in the use of Assistive Technology for Older People in their own homes in Ceredigion.
The project was initiated as a result of a successful bid to the Wales Assembly Government Capacity Grant; the catchment area for the project is Aberystwyth and a 5 mile surrounding radius and is targeted at older people over 60 years of age.
There are times in everybody’s life when we need help and support. Ceredigion Assistive Technology at Home is a jointly managed project between Ceredigion Social Services and Ceredigion Care and Repair with the Wales Ambulance Service NHS Trust as key partners. The project involves the use of sensors in an older persons home which are capable of sending a message independently to the Monitoring Centre, in this case the Wales Ambulance Service NHS Trust, to alert them to the fact that assistance may be required in an emergency. The Monitoring Centre will then contact the appropriate services i.e. Emergency, Family Carers or the Social Services Department Response Team as agreed with the Older Person at the time of assessment.
A number of sensors will be available as part of the project, some of which are falls, flood and bed monitor detectors.
The aim of the project is to identify the Risk to Independence as the result of an Assessment by the Social Services Department. Ceredigion Care & Repair will then undertake a Home Safety Check and a Specialist Assessment in order to determine which sensors are required in a tailor-made package of sensors to manage the Risk for the Older Person and to assist their Carers. Ceredigion Care & Repair will install the sensors, agree response protocols and give instructions in the use of the sensors. A video/DVD has been produced as part of the project which can be shown to people in their own homes to illustrate the use of the sensors. The Social Services Response Team will be available to respond to an alert on a 24 hour basis, 365 days a year.
The outcomes we aim to achieve are: To improve safety, confidence and provide reassurance, peace of mind to the person and their Informal Carer giving people the choice to be able to remain in their own homes by Managing the Risk to Independence. An evaluation of the project will take place to inform future developments.
The Project development has been based on a multi-agency approach involving Ceredigion Care & Repair, Health Trusts, Local Health Board, Fire and Rescue Services, Dyfed Powys Police and Wales Ambulance Service NHS Trust working jointly with Ceredigion Social Services.
For more information please contact Ceredigion Social Services Contact 01545 574000.
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