Published: 20 May 2008
Yorkshire Company Revolutionising Future Care
Yorkshire Company Revolutionising Future Care
A Yorkshire company based in Whitley Bridge, near Doncaster, is revolutionising future care thanks to assistance from Yorkshire Forward.
Tunstall, which specialises in telecare, a range of products which enables older people, people with physical and learning disabilities, and chronic conditions live independent lives, has developed ADLife which monitors activities of daily living.
The two year project, in conjunction with Barnsley Hospital and using a research & development grant from Yorkshire Forward, has developed hardware and software for ADLife to utilise the most advanced level of telecare – level three.
Mike Hodges, Research and Development Director at Tunstall explains:
“Telecare at its most basic level is reactive so if a person is feeling unwell, fallen or there is an intruder, a personal radio trigger worn by an individual can be activated to alert the 24 hour monitoring centre.
The next level proactive telecare consists of sensors around the home that detect environmental issues such as floods, fires or gas leaks; also movement, for example if somebody has fallen or stayed in bed longer than usual which may indicate illness, or if they exit their property during the night, putting themselves at risk.
The sensors automatically alert the monitoring centre and appropriate action is taken, whether that is contacting a local key holder, doctor or the emergency services.
Level three preventative telecare uses the ADLife system whereby telecare sensors build up patterns of daily life around the home.
Sensors are used in the kitchen on electrical appliances & cupboards and throughout the home to detect how often certain areas of the property have been accessed.
This gives detailed information on mobility, nutrition and bathroom usage.
A pattern of normal activities of daily living is established and monitored for a change in routine which may indicate a change in health status. These patterns can be monitored over time to interpret improvement or decline in a person’s condition.”
The hardware developed for ADLife included:
- advanced movement sensors
- the development of software within Tunstall’s range of Lifeline home units
- the base unit through which the monitoring centre communicates with the individual in the home and
- a website to enable carers to view the daily living data gathered by the system
It took 18 months of planning & research to develop the software programme that uses data from the sensors to work out patterns of daily routines and changes in those patterns. Barnsley Hospital assisted in validating and verifying the research and provided scrutiny to the project.
Mike concluded:
“With the grant from Yorkshire Forward we have been able to explore new areas of technology which enables individuals to stay in their home for longer, which makes them happy as they’d prefer to be living independently rather than in a care home.
It is also more cost effective for the Local Authorities.”
Jim Farmery, Head of Innovation at Yorkshire Forward, said:
“Yorkshire Forward is delighted to be supporting Tunstall in this innovative project. We are committed to encouraging businesses in our region to innovate through a range of activities and undertake innovative research programmes.
The new hardware and software will help millions of people worldwide and will play a vital role in maintaining business growth in Doncaster.”
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