BY ADELLE LARMOUR

Home sweet home can be even sweeter with the CareLink Advantage system.
The 24-hour medical alarm response system is promoting independent living for aging loved ones, the physically disabled or those with cognitive disabilities by “tethering” caregivers electronically via the web, cell phone and email.

CareLink Advantage, offered by a division of Sudbury’s Northern Communications and True Steel Security, is a wireless video-monitoring system placed directly into the senior’s home so caregivers can “check-in” unobtrusively on their ailing parent or sibling to make sure everything is OK.

It may even provide a viable option to some of the ALC (alternative level of care) issues facing Northern Ontario’s overcrowded hospitals, said CareLink president John Whitehead.

“We’re using existing security hardware and software for a different application,” he said. “It’s tried and proven, and the platform is there.”

By using GE equipment in conjunction with Alarm.com patented wireless communication and web technology systems, CareLink is providing an alternative for those who are not ready to give up the comfort and familiarity of their homes, yet would like a greater sense of security knowing their loved ones are in touch.

Unlike the personal medical alarm pendants, which require human intervention, CareLink Advantage is not dependent upon the person doing anything.

“If there is a problem that we as the caregivers have thought of in advance, we program the system to notify us,” Whitehead explained.

Password protection
Only those who have a login password can access the site. The “dashboard” web page shows the level of activity for each motion sensor. As well, the video cameras’ views can be seen in real time.

For example, if a motion detector is placed in the bathroom, the dashboard would record the time there was activity and, conversely, lack of activity. If attached to the fridge or medicine cabinet, the caregiver can determine how often their loved one is eating and whether or not they are taking their medications. This information is stored and available right back to when the system was installed.

The video cameras are small and non-invasive. A pan-tilt-zoom camera can scan a room covering more angles, if necessary. They can be placed in strategic locations such as the front door. If wandering is a concern, the system can be set up to alert the caregiver should the door open after a scheduled time, say 11 o’clock at night. Receiving a message right away can result in quick response time for the caregiver. A short 15-second video clip can be saved, providing clues about what their loved one was wearing and the time they exited.

The system enables caregivers to obtain information they may not have otherwise known such as eating, sleeping and bathroom habits, which can be pertinent information for a medical diagnosis.

Pete Celano, vice president of Alarm.com assistive technology, calls this “exception reporting,” a subtle unobtrusive means of “checking” on a loved one, as opposed to “hover mode,” which requires physically calling by phone or going there in person, which can be interruptive, inconvenient and meddlesome, despite the intent.

The system can also determine whether or not homecare workers are doing their jobs for the allotted paid time. Celano sees it as a gigantic step toward eliminating the constant 24-hour worrying that accompanies the sandwich generation – those who not only work full time and look after their own children, but must ensure the safety of their own parents.

The system is overt and does not infringe upon privacy laws, because it is in a private residence and installation is sanctioned by the recipient.

Alzheimer’s
Whitehead and his siblings have been using CareLink Advantage for their mother who has early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, but is still fairly independent. The system offers him peace of mind because now he can check on her in real time from anywhere to make sure she is going about her daily routines, taking her medications and is safe.

“It’s all about home sweet home,” Celano said, explaining that the majority of aging seniors or adults with disabilities prefer to stay in their own homes, living independently.
CareLink Advantage can be purchased or rented for $179 monthly, which is seen by those in medically-related fields as a significant cost savings compared to other options like home-care visits or retirement homes, according to Whitehead.

The home must be within the Rogers coverage area for the tracking and notification functionality and the video cameras require a high-speed Internet connection.
Northern Communications launched the new system in Sudbury, North Bay and Timmins in early March and plans to distribute the product across Canada.