Dementia

Key facts

  • Dementia currently affects 700,000 people and as the average age of the UK population rises, it is forecast to rise to 1m by 2025
  • 1 in 20 people above 65 years of age, 1 in 5 over 80 and 1 in 3 over 90 live with dementia
  • Two thirds of people with dementia live in the community, while one third live in a care home
  • 40% of people with dementia experience walking about as a problem
  • The financial cost of dementia to the UK is over £17 billion a year

Suggested care package

Property exit sensor, bed occupancy sensor, flood detector, temperature extremes sensor, CO detector, natural gas detector, gas shut off valve, enuresis sensor

Solution

Dementia is a progressive illness that breaks down the structure and chemistry of the brain over time. It can affect a person's ability to remember, understand and communicate and can be devastating for a persons family, friends and carers.

Technology has a key role to play in facilitating the shift from traditional models of care, to supporting people with dementia in a way that promotes independence and enables them to stay in familiar home environments, for as long as possible.

As 40% of people with dementia are prone to walking about, Tunstall’s property exit sensor provides and early warning by alerting the response centre or designated carer, that the person has left their home and not returned within a predetermined time period.

Tunstall’s bed occupancy sensor can be programmed to switch on the lights on the way to the bathroom if a person gets out of bed, helping them to find their way there and back more easily.

Tunstall’s range of telecare sensors monitors risks, hazards and environmental conditions, such as smoke, floods, extremes of temperature, CO and natural gas, triggering a call to the Response Centre or designated carer if assistance is required.

Case study

Sara cares for her 76 year old mother, Alice, who has severe dementia. Alice had a tendency to wander when Sara left the house, on 3 occasions she got lost and had to be brought back by the police. Due to her inability to turn on the lights, Alice had fallen several times whilst going to the bathroom in the middle of the night. This was affecting Sara’s sleep as she was so worried about her mother falling over. When Sara was out Alice repeatedly left the gas cooker on unlit, whilst trying to make a cup of tea. Sara was concerned that a serious gas leak may start as a result.

A property exit sensor was installed in Sara and Alice’s home. Now if Alice opens the front door, an alert is sent to response centre who speak to her and encourage her to go back inside.

A gas detector has been fitted above the cooker to ensure that if Alice were to leave the gas on, an alert would be sent to response centre and the appropriate action would be taken. A bed occupancy sensor and automatic light system ensure that if Alice were to wake up in the middle of the night, the lights would come on automatically to reduce the risk of her falling in the dark. This means that Sara can relax in her own home, knowing she doesn’t need to get up every time Alice does.

View - Dementia care - solutions for independent living guide

View - Dementia video case study

Listen - an interview with Andrew Scheuber and Ali Rogan with a Wearside Radio station (7 MB file)