Just another example of buddi’s GPS-location system in use would not normally make it onto TA these days. However, editor Steve is offering this one as a good example of how story focus on an individual, rather than the company, can provide a company with excellent publicity too. ‘Spy in the sky’ keeps Andy safe from local newspaper Worcester News. Press release writers please note!
2 thoughts on “'Spy in the sky' keeps Andy safe (UK)”
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Great to see how a computer-literate family can take control of their problems empowered by technology of this kind. It is clear that the well-being of both the gentleman and his wife have been improved in this way. Congratulations also to the Worcestershire Telecare team who provided the appropriate piece of technology.
However, what about people who have similar cognitive deficits but who live alone and who don’t have relatives who can use the Internet to locate them and who can’t check that the device is fully charged and being carried when the individual goes out (sometimes at night and in poor weather)?
The technology is probably the easiest part of the solution – the challenge is to include the GPS tracker device (and perhaps other elements of technology) in an innovative service that is tailored to the needs of the individual. The UK’s lead in telecare is the result of its imaginative service providers as much as it is of its forward-thinking technology designers, so I await the press release that describes a successful outcome for one of the more difficult cases.
Totally agree with Kevin’s thoughts here. We can provide appropriate technology where there is a family/friend response at present. Often for night-time this is available whereas in the daytime family work and worry about needing to take time off to respond. So I would be interested in hearing if anyone is combining the technology provision with say a befriending service?
We often consider befriending as a static or home based service but what if Mrs A goes into town to do a little shopping (it has been a habit for many years) but now she sometimes cannot remember how to safely return home? She is able to carry a GPS device but her family all work outwith the immediate area or in jobs that are difficult to interrupt. If we could link the technology provision with a befriender who is already known to Mrs A, someone who has accompanied her on planned shopping trips; would it not be more beneficial for Mrs A to ‘bump into’ her befriender, enjoy a sociable coffee to overcome her sense of being lost and then make a safe journey to Mrs A’s home together?
I am not suggesting this approach is either a complete solution or even necessarily easy to achieve … but has anyone come across it? tried it? happy to share experiences?