Next evolution in medical alarms

Next evolution in medical alarms

A revolutionary medical alarm has been developed to aid carers with their care of elderly persons or those with disabilities.

Hamilton businesswoman Maria Johnston is behind a new mobile health service which provides carers with their own dashboard and a wearable device for the person being monitored. The medical alarm has GPS tracking, reminds the wearer to take medication, detects if the person enters and leaves an area and can alert emergency services.

The revolutionary new medical alarm was designed by Johnston’s start-up health business, Clevercare, which she founded as a solution for New Zealand’s ageing population. The idea came to her after watching her mother struggle to care for her ailing father who suffered from dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

“My idea was to use existing technologies to give my father, who also suffers from Alzheimer’s, the ability to regain his independence. Due to his ailments, my family and I did not allow him to go out by himself for the worry that something might happen,” Mrs Johnston said.

“One day I realised the technology existed in my own hands to enable life to be easier and a bit more enjoyable.”

Worn as a watch or as a cell phone, the Clevercare medical alarm can schedule reminders to take medication or attend appointments and raises an alert if a person triggers the emergency alarm. GPS tracking provides the person’s exact location and can also send an alert if a person enters or leaves a pre-determined boundary.

“In the next two months Clevercare will releasing new features that will include movement and fall detection as well as direct calling to and from the wearable device,” said Mrs Johnson.

The revolutionary new medical alarm works anywhere that has cell phone reception.

The goal for Clevercare, which employs six full-time and part-time staff in Hamilton, was to improve the independence of the person by allowing family members or caregivers to provide support and care from a distance,”, Mrs Johnston said.

“Many of these people hate being a burden on their family and the medical alarm helps them maintain independence, whilst feeling secure and protected knowing they are connected to their family and emergency services at all times.

“Seeing the stress it put on my mother caring for my father, motivated me to try to find solutions to help in these situations which are all too common today,” she said. “This device helps to remove stress and brings peace of mind.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media