How the elderly can stay in their homes

I RECENTLY visited an elderly relative who has Alzheimer’s and is now quite impaired.

To be honest, I was astonished that she wasn’t already in a care home given that she’d been found wandering the streets on several occasions — but that visit was a revelation.

Carers come in three times a day, but her family are also making use of the latest digital technology to keep her in her much-loved home with some degree of independence.

For example, every time she approached the front door, a sensor would activate a device and a recording of her son saying, ‘Mum, don’t leave the house unless you’re with someone else’ or, ‘Mum, you’ve opened the door, please go back inside the house’.

If the door was left open too long, a neighbour would be automatically alerted.

It also played recordings of her son reminding her to make a cup of tea or to go to bed. And because it was her son’s voice, she listened to it. It’s exactly the sort of technical innovation that’s needed.