How To Deal With Seniors’ Resistance To Care

 

When caring for the elderly, one of the most challenging things you may confront is resistance to care. How can you assist a senior loved one who refuses to accept help? In this article, let’s understand why resistance is an issue and how we can encourage our senior loved ones to cooperate with us to provide the type of care they need.

Understanding seniors’ resistance to care

Whether the subject circles around assisted living (e.g. moving to a care facility, utilising personal alarm systems for seniors, wearing pendant alarms, hiring in-home caregivers, etc.), it’s pretty common for seniors to display resistance to these interventions.

So what causes this behaviour anyway?

If your senior loved one requires assistance, they are most likely in a challenging phase. They are dealing with life-altering problems such as physical, mental, or emotional loss, including losing independence. Accepting assistance may imply giving up their privacy and changing their routine. As a result, your senior loved one may feel fearful, vulnerable, or furious that he or she requires assistance, which may also spark feelings of guilt about being a burden to family and friends.

In certain circumstances, your loved one may be stubborn, have mental health issues, or believe that accepting help is a sign of weakness. They may also be concerned about the expense of some types of care. If they have a medical condition that affects their mental health, memory loss could also make it difficult for your loved one to comprehend why they require assistance.

ALSO READ: 5 Stimulating and Helpful Home Activities for People With Dementia

How can you effectively respond to your senior loved one’s resistance to care?

Take a deep breath and try not to get overpowered by your emotions. While you may be offended or upset, try to put yourself in the position of your loved one. Respond to them with patience and understanding if they begin to resist. Always address them directly in the eyes and talk clearly, but never in a harsh or annoyed tone.

Physical difficulties, slow movements, carelessness, feelings of inadequacy, and indifference are some of the behaviours you may face. So it goes without saying that patience and compassion are really required during these moments. While it’s easy to lose patience and feel frustrated at times, showing your senior loved ones that you’re thinking about their welfare can be open doors toward full cooperation.

If all else fails, you can always employ the help of a professional if your loved one continues to reject care and is already harming themselves. Your loved one may be more amenable to a doctor’s recommendations about the significance of receiving care. It’s also essential to keep a senior loved one involved in choices regarding their care and discuss the benefits of the support.

What can assistive care technology contribute?

There are many ways to care for a senior loved one, and one of the most effective ways is providing them with the independence they want. With the help of assistive care technologies, such as personal alarm systems for seniors, you can intervene with your loved ones’ resistance to care without making them feel vulnerable. They know they can’t do everything on their own, but they don’t want to rely on anyone to do everything for them. This is why assistive care technology can be extensively beneficial.

Learn more about these care devices for seniors at Tunstall Healthcare. Get in touch with us today.

Source from: https://tunstallhealthcare.wordpress.com/2022/03/21/how-to-deal-with-seniors-resistance-to-care/

Common Assistive Technology Devices For Seniors

As we get older, completing daily tasks can be more difficult than before, owing to weaker bones or bad backs that are unavoidable when we age. Moreover, older people are more at risk of falls. Fortunately, the new age of technology offers plenty of solutions to make daily life easier and safer, such as personal safety alarms for the elderly, a form of assistive technology. Below are more types of assistive technology that you can add to your home or the homes of your older loved ones living independently.

Personal Alarm Systems for Seniors
Personal alarms are by far one of the most helpful assistive technologies for seniors to keep them safe. It also gives them the ability to live independently with loved ones, confident that their elders will always have the assistance they need in case of emergencies—for instance, Tunstall’s Emergency & Personal Alarms for Seniors. With just a press of a button, medical alarms for the elderly can connect the wearer straight to the 24/7 Customer Care Centres to assess the situation and bring immediate medical help when needed.

Home Security
Today, many devices dominate the market to make a safer home. These devices can be utilized to make the home of your elders safer, especially when they are living independently. Some examples include smart doorbells and locks, which allow them to see who is visiting and check what’s outside if they notice any suspicious activity. Smart smoke and fire alarms are also new and improved devices that may alert not only the residents but also their relatives through the internet and connected smart home applications in their mobile phones.

Accessible Mobile Phones
Independence is important for older people; however, living alone can also make them prone to loneliness. To reduce any feelings of isolation, there are accessible smartphones that make it easy for them to connect with their loved ones and catch up. These are devices that are not overly complicated, easy to learn, and easy to use.

GPS Trackers
While personal safety alarms for the elderly may also have GPS trackers included in their features, the latter is a more low-cost solution. It’s especially useful for people who are prone to wandering due to dementia. This device may take the form of a fob or wristband, like a personal alarm. However, while GPS trackers are less expensive, personal alarms are generally more recommended since they have more helpful features. Read more about personal alarms here: Emergency & Personal Alarms for Seniors.

Source From: https://tunstallhealthcare.wordpress.com/2021/12/04/common-assistive-technology-devices-for-seniors/

Personal Alarms for the Elderly: Tunstall Healthcare’s Personal Alarms In Action

See how Tunstall Healthcare’s personal alarms for the elderly work in real life through the stories of Dallas and Tom.

Dallas’ Story: Confidence In Living Alone

Dallas has been living alone in her home for quite some time. Like many seniors, she often worries about the thought of falling down the stairs and nobody being there to help.

“The stairs have always been a bit of a bugbear with me,” said Dallas. “I have always had a horror of falling down these stairs and never having anybody around to pick me up.”

Dallas is not alone in feeling the fear of falling. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 684,000 people worldwide suffer from fatal falls each year. On a more local scope, there’s an estimated 200,000 Australian and 56,000 New Zealand hospitalisations each year due to falls.

 The Solution & Results

Dallas wears a Tunstall Healthcare personal alarm around her neck at all times. To call for help, she only has to press the device’s red button. Upon doing so, she receives a call from Tunstall’s 24/7 Customer Care Centre who asks her if she needs any form of assistance. In turn, the Tunstall agent coordinates the required help.

Ever since Dallas started wearing a Tunstall personal alarm, she feels more empowered to live independently. “It’s given me a lot more confidence to be in the house on my own,” she said.

“I definitely recommend it to anybody who needs assistance in the house or who are on their own… You know you’ll get help from Tunstall straight away,” says Dallas.

Know more about Dallas’ story by watching this video below:

 

Tom’s Story: Assurance Inside and Outside the Home

Tom is an 87-year-old veteran living independently in a small town in Victoria, Australia.

Like Dallas, Tom is also concerned about falling and being unable to get up, especially since he lives alone. “I know people who have fallen over in their yards, and no one knew and they just lay there,” he said.

The Solution

For peace of mind, Tom had a Tunstall personal alarm installed in his home as far back as September 2011, which he qualified for through the Department of Veterans Affairs under the Rehabilitation Appliances Program. His personal alarm system consists of a home device and personal alarm radio pendant worn around the neck equipped with 24-hour monitoring.

Since August 2014, Tom would press his pendant and connect with Tunstall’s 24/7 Customer Care Centre. “What I do, I just call in, and they say ‘good morning Tom,’ and sometimes I say ‘good morning Vietnam’ or something silly. They ask me how I’m going and I say good and I give them a rundown on the weather here and they give me a rundown of the weather in Brisbane,” Tom said as he described a typical call with a Tunstall care agent.

There have been times that Tom forgot to make a call to Tunstall. During these times, he’s comforted by the fact that a Tunstall agent would contact him and ask if he was okay.

The Results

While Tom has never used his pendant alarm to call for emergency help, he highly appreciates the dependable support and ‘lovely’ conversations he has with Tunstall care agents.

Tom’s especially pleased by how fast it is for him to connect to an agent, saying, “As soon as I press the button, the message is through. It’s very good. It’s very fast.”

With a personal alarm radio pendant worn around his neck, Tom always feels safe whenever he roams outside his home. The pendant provides him with the knowledge that he’s protected and in safe hands at all times.

Read Tom’s entire Tunstall Healthcare story here.

Contact us to learn more about Tunstall Healthcare’s line of reliable personal alarms for the elderly.

Source From: https://tunstallhealthcare.wordpress.com/2021/06/18/personal-alarms-for-the-elderly-tunstall-healthcares-personal-alarms-in-action/

 

What Is a Fall Detector Pendant Alarm and How Does It Work?

Fall and fall-related injuries affect many elderly Australians each year. If you’re a senior who lives alone or are worried about getting help when you need it, carrying a pendant alarm can put your mind at ease. Read the article below to learn more about fall detector pendant alarms and how they work.

In this article:

●What is a fall detector pendant alarm?
●How does a fall detector pendant alarm work?
●Who are fall detector pendant alarms made for?

What is a fall detector pendant alarm?

A fall detector pendant alarm is a compact, lightweight device that automatically senses when the wearer slips or falls over. Once the device detects a fall, it’ll raise an alarm, automatically contacting a 24/7 Customer Care team to assist you. In addition to the automatic trigger, many pendant alarms also have a call button you can press any time you need help.

Important note: falls, accidents and other emergencies can happen at any time of day. When you’re deciding on the best pendant alarm, make sure that the service provider offers round-the-clock assistance, like Tunstall Healthcare’s 24/7 Customer Care team, who are ready to take your call and assist at any time of the day.

How does a fall detector pendant alarm work?

Most fall detector pendant alarms work the same way. They can be worn around your neck (like a lanyard) or wrist (as a bracelet). Some can even be hooked on your belt or pinned on your shirt (like a brooch!).

These devices are equipped with sensors that can detect quick and sudden changes in your position, usually indicating a slip or fall. Some even have sensors that can gauge how severe your fall is!

Once the pendant alarm detects a fall, it will alert a partner customer care team that will assess your situation and send the necessary help your way. Many of today’s fall detectors also have GPS that helps emergency units pinpoint your exact location.

Pendant alarms are also useful even when you don’t encounter a fall. Many of today’s devices have a call button you can use to manually send an alert to the same 24/7 Customer Care team anytime you need help, have an accident, or feel unsafe.

What happens in the case of a false alarm? Different pendant alarms have their own ways of cancelling false alerts. Some may require you to double press the call button or cover a sensor to stop the alarm from connecting to customer care. Make sure to read the pendant’s user guide to know exactly how this is done for your particular device.

Who are fall detector pendant alarms made for?

Fall detector pendant alarms are made to ensure the wearer’s safety. As such, anyone can use them! But they’re handy for people who have:

●Limited mobility
●Disabilities
●Cognitive illnesses
●Medical conditions
●Advanced age or elderly
●Isolated or dangerous work duties (lone workers)

When should I be wearing a fall detector pendant alarm?

Ideally, fall detector pendants should be worn at all times.

This is because accidents like falls and slips can happen at any time and anywhere. In fact, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019 Falls Report noted that 100,000 people aged 65 and over were hospitalised due to a fall from 2016 to 2017 alone!

While accidents can’t be 100% avoided, a fall detector pendant alarm can get you the help you need that much faster. The sooner you call for help, the higher your chances of making a full recovery.

So, whether you’re at home or on the go, you can keep your mind at ease and secure your safety when you have a fall detector pendant alarm on you at all times.

Put Your Mind at Ease with a Tunstall Fall Detector Pendant Alarm

At Tunstall Healthcare, we’ve dedicated ourselves to helping people with short- and long-term health needs to live safely and independently. With over 60 years of global experience, we offer various fall detector pendant alarms paired with a dedicated, around-the-clock Customer Care Centre that’ll be there right when you need help. Knowing that help is a call away definitely puts your mind at ease and empowers you to live your life independently as you want.

Want to know more about our pendant alarms? Fill in our contact form to enquire about our fall detectors and other products today.

Soucre from: https://tunstallhealthcare.wordpress.com/2021/04/20/what-is-a-fall-detector-pendant-alarm-and-how-does-it-work/

Tunstall Healthcare’s Connected Care: Here’s What It’s All About

 

At Tunstall Healthcare, we’re passionate about providing patients with tailored healthcare solutions through modern-day technology in a model we call Connected Care. Learn more about Tunstall’s Connected Care model and how it works by reading the article below!

In this article:

●What is Connected Care?
●How does Connected Care work?
●What does it mean to be a Connected Person?

Understanding Tunstall’s Connected Care Model: 3 FAQs answered!

What is Connected Care?

Tunstall Healthcare’s concept of Connected Care uses devices or solutions that link people with their healthcare providers. Examples of these solutions include remote monitoring devices and round-the-clock support services.

Through Connected Care, doctors and health care providers remotely access their patients’ records and check-up on them via smart devices and monitoring solutions. This is especially useful for patients who have limited access to healthcare, or aren’t able to be seen on a regular basis due to distance, condition, or other circumstances. Connected Care makes accessing healthcare that much easier because of devices and solutions that facilitate remote care.

Tunstall’s Connected Care and Connected Health services also transmit data to Tunstall’s ICP myMobile application. Key insights regarding a person’s health can be analysed here, either by the person’s carer or by the person themselves. This allows people to stay on top of their condition, empowering them to control their own care.

The accuracy and timeliness of this data allows health care providers to diagnose patients more efficiently and create treatment plans tailored to a person’s specific symptoms. Early diagnosis also keeps a patient’s condition from worsening. In the long run, this can save patients from making multiple trips to the doctor, and improve the overall quality of their care.

How does Connected Care work?

Connected Care is a system that connects patients and carers through modern healthcare solutions. These solutions include individual devices and sensors patients like you can carry around wherever you go or installed right in your home.

These devices are often equipped with sensors to detect when you fall, slip, or have a seizure. Once they detect this, the device triggers an alarm that alerts Tunstall’s 24/7 Customer Care team. One of our representatives will contact you, assess your situation, and send the necessary emergency units your way. Some devices also allow you to manually call for help, giving you the chance to live independently yet securely as possible.

What does it mean to be a Connected Person?

A Connected Person is someone who is part of Tunstall’s Connected Care system. Being part of the Connected Care system allows you to access health support and assistance whenever you need it. This is done through Tunstall Healthcare’s wide array of monitoring solutions which include:

●Home Alarms: Smart Hub, Liberty300, Tunstall SmartLink Guardian 4G
●Personal Alarms: Tunstall GO, Find-me Watch
●Apps: ICP myMobile, myCareAssist, myCareAssist+
●Alarm Accessories: Smartfall Blue Pendant, Emfit Epilepsy Sensor

Connected Care Is All About Patient-Centered Healthcare

Tunstall Healthcare’s Connected Care model places you at the centre of healthcare. Its goal—to address your unique health needs through modern-day technology. Trust that when you become part of our Connected Care system, you’ll have our utmost support when you need it most.

Contact us to find out more about our Connected Care model today.

Source From: https://tunstallhealthcare.wordpress.com/2021/04/03/tunstall-healthcares-connected-care-heres-what-its-all-about/

Talking with an NDIS Provider: 5 Things to Bring to Your NDIS Planning Meeting

Making the most of your NDIS planning meeting means you have to go into it prepared. In this article, you’ll learn the five essential things you should give your NDIS provider to help the planner create a plan that best supports your needs.

In this article:

●Your Support Person(s)
●Your Identification, Bank, and Contact Details
●Information About Your Disability and Current Health
●List of Your Current Health and Life Supports
●List of Other Supports You Need

Make Sure You Have These 5 Things Ready for Your NDIS Planning Meeting!

Your Support Person(s)

It’s perfectly acceptable to attend your NDIS planning meeting on your own. But if you don’t want to go alone, you can invite your support person, or persons, to go with you.

Involving your support persons helps them better understand your healthcare needs. It also helps you mentally and emotionally, knowing that you’re surrounded by people who want the best for you.

TIP: Think carefully about the people you attend your NDIS planning meeting with as they’ll be privy to many of your details.

Your Identification, Bank, and Contact Details

For security purposes, your planner will always verify your personal information before discussing your NDIS plan.

So during your meetings, have original and photocopies of your government-issued IDs with you:

●Birth certificate
●Birth extract
●Driver’s license
●Medicare card

You’ll also want to have your bank details on hand. The most convenient way to do this is to bring a recent bank statement which shows this information, or if you have internet/mobile banking, bring your mobile phone. Otherwise, just write down your BSB and account number on a piece of paper. Rest assured that NDIS representatives will use this information solely to transfer funds to you.

Giving your most-current contact details (e.g., phone number, email address) to the NDIS provider is also critical during every planning meeting. This ensures that the planner can contact you for any updates or changes in your plan should there be any.

Information About Your Disability and Current Health

Bringing documents that help describe your disability and health will significantly help the NDIS planner assist you. These documents give the planner a better picture of your current situation. In doing so, they can create a plan that best fits your needs.

Here are a few documents you’ll want to bring to your NDIS planning meeting:

●Diagnosis of your disability or medical condition
●Papers that prove the impact of your disability on aspects of your life
●Diagnostic test results
●Clinical reports, assessments, and support plans
●Recommendation letters from your doctor and/or caregiver

List of Your Current Health and Life Supports

Giving your NDIS provider information about your current health and life supports also helps them create a personalized plan for you.

Try this—take a piece of paper and write down the following things about your support systems:

●Daily routines: what you do for work or study and the social programs you join
●Support(s) you need to accomplish your daily routines: equipment, transportation, and other things you need to do your work or conduct your studies
●Changes required in your current support(s): describe how you want your supports to change from what you’re currently receiving

You can use the National Disability Insurance Scheme’s Planning Workbook as a guide to help you list your current health and life supports.

List of Other Supports You Need

This information is among the most crucial to give your NDIS provider during a planning meeting.

Take the time to sit down and write down any other forms of support you still need but currently aren’t receiving. For example, think about the equipment and transportation you’ll need to attend and sustain your physical therapy sessions.

Be as detailed as possible. If you can, ask your health care provider to give you a quote on how much physical therapy sessions and equipment will cost. You can bring these quotations to your NDIS planning meeting.

Make the most out of your NDIS planning meetings by coming to them prepared. By bringing the five things we’ve listed above to your next planning meeting, you’ll help the NDIS provider create a plan that best suits your needs. Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask your NDIS provider to clarify anything you don’t understand!

Do you need help searching for a reliable NDIS provider? Contact us at Tunstall Healthcare for more information about NDIS services that best fit your healthcare needs.

Source from: https://tunstallhealthcare.wordpress.com/2020/11/03/talking-with-an-ndis-provider-5-things-to-bring-to-your-ndis-planning-meeting/

What Is a Pendant Alarm and How Does It Work?

 

A pendant alarm is a wearable device that ensures the safety of seniors and people with disabilities who live independently. It also provides unparalleled peace of mind for their loved ones and carers, knowing that the wearer can seek help whenever and wherever it’s needed.

Encountering pendant alarms and fall detectors for the first time can raise many questions. Read on to know the answers to people’s most frequently asked questions on the pendant alarm.

We’ll give you answers to frequently asked questions about the pendant alarm:

●What Is a Pendant Alarm?
●Whom Are Fall Detector Pendants Made For?
●How Does a Pendant Alarm Work?
●Why Should I Give My Elderly Loved One a Pendant Alarm?
●Where Can I Get a Fall Detector Pendant?

5 Frequently Asked Questions About a Pendant Alarm—ANSWERED

What Is a Pendant Alarm?

A pendant alarm is a small, lightweight, and wearable device made to do these two things:

●Monitor a person’s location, and
●Allow the wearer to call for help quickly.

Some pendant alarms also have a built-in fall detector function. This function senses whenever the wearer suffers from a fall. And when it does, the device automatically sends a distress call.

Contrary to its name, fall detector pendants aren’t just worn around the neck. Many fall detector pendants can be placed in the pocket or worn as a watch.

Whom Are Fall Detector Pendants Made For?

Fall detector pendants are perfect for safeguarding the elderly and people with disabilities who live alone. They empower wearers to live their lives independently while being assured that help will come whenever and wherever they need it.

Pendant alarms also help family members, caregivers, nurses, and doctors remotely monitor their loved ones or patients. Should the wearer require attention or help, the carer will be notified at a moment’s notice.

How Does a Pendant Alarm Work?

A typical pendant alarm is equipped with a GPS sensor. The GPS sensor allows the device to tracks a wearer’s location in real-time.

Apart from location, pendant detectors also have sensors that can tell when a wearer’s speed increases or decreases. The device will know, for example, if your elderly loved one is sitting cosily in the living room or walking around the house.

These data points are tracked and saved into a base unit typically found in both the wearer’s home. Most pendant alarms can also be linked to an app that the wearer’s family or caregivers can access.

Should your loved one need help, all they need to do is press the call button. Representatives from a 24-hour monitoring centre will immediately respond to the call and speak to them from the base unit’s loudspeaker. The responder will then coordinate with family members, caregivers, or emergency services to assist the wearer.

Pendant alarms with a fall detector can also sense when the wearer experiences sudden movements followed by little to no activity. This series of actions usually indicate a fall.

When the pendant senses this, it’ll automatically send the distress call to the monitoring centre.

Why Should I Give My Elderly Loved One a Pendant Alarm?

Giving your elderly loved ones with a pendant alarm and fall detector empowers them to live safely and independently. The device allows them to do the things they want with the assurance that help is just a call away.

For carers or family members to a senior or person with a disability, pendant alarms give them peace of mind knowing that the device ensures their loved one’s safety.

Where Can I Get a Fall Detector Pendant?

Tunstall Healthcare is committed to supporting people with disabilities in living safe, worry-free, and independent lives. We provide pendant alarms and fall detectors for people with varied care needs.

Our Tunstall GO is a premium, all-in-one pendant alarm. The device is equipped with precision GPS that can be traced with our trademark SmartCare® Locate app. Tunstall GO is complete with a fall detector, help button, and speakerphone system, making calling for assistance or help quick and easy.

If you would like to help an elderly loved one live an independent and worry-free life, consider giving them Tunstall Healthcare’s Tunstall GO.

Source from: https://tunstallhealthcare.wordpress.com/2020/10/20/what-is-a-pendant-alarm-and-how-does-it-work/