Comparing Home Care Solutions

The majority of us want to remain in our own homes as we grow older. It is where we feel most comfortable and happiest and a sign of our independence. 

The challenge for many families is providing the level of support our loved ones need to remain independent and safe. Traditional emergency alarms for the elderly are a great way of getting help in an emergency. However as we get older, we may need a little more support than a standard personal alarm provides.

Different levels of home care can help a loved one with day-to-day activities such cooking and housekeeping. They can even provide some companionship. However, your loved one will still be alone when you or their carer cannot be with them.

Live-in care, residential care and nursing homes provide greater support, although this comes at a higher financial cost.

This is where our Taking Care Safe Home Alert package can help. It combines the peace of mind of a personal alarm with the security of 24/7 monitoring and insight from Artificial Intelligence-powered smart home sensors. 

Comparing Technology Enabled Care and in person care solutions

 

How Taking Care Safe Home Alert can help

With home sensors that are linked to powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI), Taking Care Safe Home Alert builds an accurate picture of your loved one's daily routine to address the three main concerns that families have. 

 

1. Has something gone wrong that requires immediate action?

Other home care solutions rely on someone checking on your loved one to make sure they are OK. Taking Care Safe Home Alert provides automatic alerts that our Emergency Resolution team will respond to 24 hours a day. 

Our Emergency Resolution team will be alerted if the home sensors detect something that needs immediate attention. For example, we will receive an alert if your loved one is not up and about at the time they normally are. Other emergency alerts include if the front door has been left open and your loved one is in bed or if no movement is detected in a high risk area, for example your loved one has gone into the bathroom and not returned.

 

2. Is something changing that should be looked at?

You may not notice gradual changes in your loved one's routine that suggest a health issue or concern. A traditional personal alarm cannot monitor this activity. Other home care solutions rely on carers to notice changes and to inform you of them.

Taking Care Safe Home Alert provides routine insights that can be viewed online by family members via a secure website. Over time, the AI builds an accurate picture of your loved one's daily routine.

The smart plugs included in the package monitor the use of the fridge, microwave and kettle. If your loved one is using these less frequently, they may be drinking or eating less than normal.

The motion and temperature sensors monitor activity around the home and room temperature. For example, your loved one may become less active during the day or get up more frequently during the night. The routine insights will highlight this so you can take action before a health condition or issue becomes more serious.

Unlike other care solutions, Taking Care Safe Home Alert shares routine insights so you can think about taking pre-emptive action.

 

3. Is my loved one OK when I'm not with them?

It's normal to worry about your loved one when you are not with them and you may feel guilty that you can't always be there. You may be concerned you won't know when there's a problem.

You can view insights that show changes to your loved one's daily routine through a secure, easy to use website. And unlike some other home care solutions, Taking Care Safe Home Alert provides your loved one with a way to get help any time of the day or night. 

The Taking Care Safe Home Alert package includes an emergency alarm for the elderly so your loved one can call us for help 24 hours a day by simply pressing a button.

Your loved one can speak with our Emergency Resolution team through the alarm equipment if they have a problem. We will help to resolve any emergency, including if they feel unwell, have fallen or are in distress. We will call you, and the emergency services if needed, so you know what is happening.

A personal alarm combined with 24 hour monitoring and routine insights will help ease some of the burden of caring.  It will also give you peace of mind and reassurance for when you can't be around in person. 

** Cost comparison based on information publicly available on 15th December 2020:
Personal alarm costs from the Age Co Personal Alarm with VAT exemption. Home help costs from Age UK's 'Paying for residential care'. Live in care and residential care from Which? Trusted Trader's 'Cost of care and eligibility in England' in postcode DA1 3LD