After its first year of operation, Linc-Cymru Housing Association has announced the success of its telecare-enabled Extra Care scheme. Using a telecare system from Tunstall, residents in 40 self-contained apartments developed in partnership with Newport City Council have had access to 24-hour remote monitoring and on-site care for the past 12 months.
Linc-Cymru’s Extra Care apartments are fitted with smoke detectors and heat sensors as standard, and tenants are given a pendant allowing them to call for assistance. Links to onsite CCTV have also been provided by Tunstall, enabling tenants to view callers at the door via their televisions and allow access using a remote unit.
Other telecare sensors are used according to the needs of the individual; for example a bed-occupancy sensor can be used for someone at risk of falling or leaving the premises during the night. The sensor will detect them leaving their bed and if they fail to return within a specified time, on-site staff will be alerted and can check on their wellbeing.
Tina James, Extra Care manager, Linc-Cymru, said, “Telecare means we can offer increased support to our tenants and ensure their safety without being intrusive. The sensors mean we are immediately aware if there’s a problem in one of the apartments, such as a fire, flood or someone falling. The tenants feel safer and the staff can work more efficiently.”
Central to the Extra Care scheme is Tunstall’s Communicall Connect which provides a telecare platform to support a range of installed sensors that are based on residents’ individual requirements and can be adjusted according to their changing needs. Staff can also communicate with residents and each other via the system, helping them to respond more quickly to incidents.
The telecare sensors work together to manage risks by raising an alarm with on-site staff or the monitoring centre. If a sensor is triggered, staff receive an audible alert and text message via their handheld device, indicating the location and nature of the incident, as well as the name of the tenant. Using their handsets staff can determine who is able to respond fastest and request additional help when needed.
One of Linc-Cymru’s residents said, “If it wasn’t for Linc Extra Care, I would have gone into a nursing home and there is no doubt in my mind I would have faded away very quickly.”
