The technology is monitored by a 24/7 team to relieve the strain on carers and help those suffering to feel safe
John and Marion Edwards from Shepperton are one of the original recruits involved in the study for TIHM (Technology Integrated Health Management) for dementia.
The couple from Surrey are trialling groundbreaking dementia technology which could help to keep them safe and reduce pressure on carers.
The study, which is funded by the Department of Health, is part of a drive to find new ways to deliver care for people with long term and complex health conditions.The key aims of TIHM for dementia are to help people with dementia to stay safe and well in their homes and relieve some of the pressures on carers.
Mr Edwards, 73, was an airline training pilot for British Airways and now he works at Brooklands Museum showing school children how the aircraft work.
He was diagnosed with dementia in June 2015 and has been involved with several other projects including drug trials, before getting involved with this trial in January 2017.
Mr and Mrs Edwards have been using a variety of devices and sensors, which are based on Internet of Things technologies that allow clinicians to remotely monitor people’s health and safety round the clock and in real time.
Mrs Edwards, 69, said: "We have 20 devices, ranging from scales which check John's body weight and hydration, which is very useful, then we have basics like temperature, blood pressure and questions about John's mood.
"It's very reassuring because you know these results are going back to a monitoring team, they're checking on you 24/7 and they ring up if there's anything odd [with the results of the tests]."
The aim of the technology is to help clinicians identify problems early on so they can step in to support someone before they need emergency care.
The technology is able to identify health and safety issues such as a fall or high blood pressure or whether someone has wandered too far from home.
It can also identify whether someone is not following their usual patterns of behaviour. For example, if they are not moving around the home as much as usual or they aren't following their usual patterns of behaviour for eating and drinking.
Marion and John Edwards show the new ground breaking dementia technology being used at their home (Image: Surrey Advertiser)
Dr Helen Rostill, director of innovation and development at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Our early results are really encouraging. We're finding that carers and people with dementia feel we're offering a safety net through our 24/7 real time monitoring, and people's health and other behaviours.
"We're helping them to feel more connected with services, giving them the confidence to remain at home, and giving carers the opportunity to take a bit of a break, so that might be going into the garden or going to the shop, with the knowledge that their loved one is safe in the house."
Dr Rostill added: "The aim of this innovation test bed is to find new ways of working for people with complex and long term conditions.
"We are focusing on dementia but I would like to see this project rolled out nationally for people with dementia - looking from mild to severe.
"We feel it has broad applications to other types of long term health conditions or other health problems too, such as Parkinson's, or people with learning difficulties."
John shows the GPS tracking pendant
GPS Device
Marion and John Edwards show the new ground breaking dementia technology being used at their home
John monitors his blood pressure
John using the new equipment; the blood oxygen detector
John shows the sensors under his sheets, detecting movement (or lack of it) plus excessive sweat
A central hub unit for the technology
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is leading the TIHM for dementia study but is working closely with a number of key partners.
These include the Alzheimer’s Society, University of Surrey, Royal Holloway University of London and eight technology companies.
So far, 244 people have consented onto the study and more than 500 individuals have expressed an interest in getting involved.
The research team are gradually working their way through this group to assess if people qualify to take part, and they are continuing to recruit people onto the study until the end of September.
To take part a person must have mild to moderate dementia and live in Surrey or North East Hampshire.
They should also have a carer who is willing to get involved. This can be a partner, relative, friend or paid carer.
You can take part in the study by filling out a form online , by going to:
http://www.sabp.nhs.uk/tihm/involvement
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/surrey-couple-trial-groundbreaking-dementia-13408943
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