We have had some feedback recently on the most useful items for Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers, and I thought I would let others know what might assist at this very difficult time.

First, the Alzheimer’s Society has an excellent forum, offering peoples’ own experiences and solutions.

Our own customers, often buying for grandparents and parents (although this debilitating illness can of course strike all ages), have found that the stand alone alert systems are good.   One customer has said that the pressure sensitive mat by the bed alerts him if his mother decides to get up during the night, as because of her other difficulties this can lead to a fall if unassisted.

Wandering Alert systems can page you if the sufferer gets out of their bed/chair or opens a door.

Wandering Alert kits include sensors that detect when doors are opened, notifying you before the patient can stray too far. The Speaking Pager Bed and Chair Occupancy Alarm system is very flexible for both domestic and residential or care home situations.

Door and Window Open Alarm

An inexpensive and easy to fit option is the Magnetic Door and Window Alarm.

I am currently trying to source a large faced clock which will indicate the time, date and whether it is night or day as more than one carer has told us this would be useful, they are frequently anxiously asked for the time and day by the sufferer.

I would really appreciate any feedback from our customers on this, as to what other items we should offer that they would like me to source, and I will do my best.

Afer years of negelct and ignoring pleas for assistance from  charities and mental health organisations, the Government has today (very shortly before the next General Election) announced a “radical shift” to their mental health strategy and approach.

The strategy is aimed at preventing the development of mental health conditions amongst “at risk” victims of abuse, the homeless,  and ex-servicemen.

The plan is to employ mental health co-ordinators in job centres, and to launch nine occupational health advice lines for small businesses, to help them retain employees with mental health difficutlies.  The Access to Work programme is to be extended, to provide temporary cover when a worker is unable to work because of his/her condition.

However, to date, there is no explanation of how the proposals are to be funded, and we await this information with interest,  as Paul Jenkins, Chief Executive of Rethink said “We know that in a recession mental health budgets are vulnerable to cuts, and we need to hear some government guarantees about funding priorities”

This writer just questions the timing of this long awaited “feel-good” bit of news……….

Read the full story at www.disabilitynow.org.uk

Did you know that, on average, 8,000 older people fall every day? Falls are often the biggest fear for older people.

The new range of Voice Alert Monitors and Sensor Mats can help detect falls and summon assistance as quickly as possible.

The Voice Alert Monitor

The Voice Alert Monitor attaches to the user’s clothes with a magnetic pull cord. If the person falls out of bed, a alarm is sounded. A recording feature allows a familiar voice to be heard by the user while assistance is on its way.

The Sensor Mats provide a pressure alarm system, notifying the carer if the user falls out of bed or their wheelchair.

The system can also be used to prevent Alzheimer’s or Dementia sufferers from wandering off by using the Sensor Mats or Door Banner to sound the alarm.

We also have the Wandering Alert Floor and Door Sensor Kit available which includes includes a door opening sensor with transmitter, a weight sensing floor mat with transmitter and a pocket pager alarm, and the Personal GPS Mini Mobile Tracker, an easy to use tracking device to help locate the whereabouts of an individual. This non-invasive device only sends location information when it is actually requested. The precise location can be pin-pointed on an online street map.

The Simple Mobile Phone & Alarm

Another brilliant device is the Simple Mobile Phone & Alarm. This product is great for those who find using a standard mobile phone difficult (that would be most of us then!? Hands up whoever has used their phone for more than just making a phone call?!).

This phone has four large buttons, each of which stores a contact number as a speed dial. With one press of a button, the user can answer a call, call the emergency services by pressing the SOS button or activate the alarm system by pressing the alarm key on the back of the phone for 3 seconds. If activated, the phone will send an emergency text message to all the numbers on an emergency contact list. The phone will then dial each of the numbers on the list in turn three times until the call is answered.