"Telecare" is defined as a system of sensors that monitor the environment (inside and outside the home), the behavior and the daily activity of a person in order to immediately identify and deal with cases in which help is needed. It is mainly aimed at people who belong to vulnerable social groups such as the elderly and people suffering from chronic health problems.
The main purpose of the installation of the Telecare system in the Municipality of Amarousi is to create the necessary conditions for the extension of time at home and the independent living of people who need help, contributing by extension to the delay or even the avoidance of the need to provide more costly services.
The Telfrontidas system in the Municipality of Amaroussi is based on a central unit which communicates with the emergency management center (hereafter KDEP) analogically or digitally via GSM, GPRS, fixed, mobile and VoIP telephony networks.
The KDEP works continuously and receives the automated signals of the sensors and the calls of the users. The central unit is connected to emergency call radio transmitters (danger signaling devices) which are connected wirelessly (on frequencies exclusively used by telecare systems) to the communication unit which, in case of danger signaling, transmits to the KDEP software necessary technical information (such as unit identity, identification of the device that signaled the danger etc.) while at the same time making a direct call providing the possibility of two-way voice communication (in hands-free mode).
Hazard signaling devices are worn by the user either on the wrist - like a watch - or around the neck - like a pendant and their interface consists of at least 1 call button for help and indicator lights. The user therefore, in any case of emergency, threat or danger, by pressing the button of the device can call for help and contact the KDEP without needing any other complicated mental or physical action on his part. The devices also have the ability to detect the fall of the carrier and automatically call the emergency services even if the user is unable to press the button himself.
The Operation of the service
The KDEP operators respond in the event of an emergency call by calling, depending on the nature of the incident, the necessary emergency service or the user's caregivers. In any case, the user's communication with the KDEP operator is two-way and hands-free, through the central unit. Through the specialized software, the operator gains access to important information about the call, such as, for example, from which sensor it originated. As a result, it can act immediately, having formed a picture of what is happening to the user even if the user is unable to communicate.
Benefits
In the Municipality of Amarousi we collected information and found that telecare systems have been used successfully in most countries of Northern and Western Europe, in the USA, Canada and Australia for more than 40 years.
The wide adoption of telecare systems by the social services in which they are available, as well as the efforts of the respective states to promote their use, is mainly due to the fact that they offer multiple benefits. The findings from all the studies that have been conducted in EU countries. they agree that in addition to the health and safety benefits for the user, targeted use on a large scale can also provide financial benefits to the user, the family and government structures.
The financial benefits that we have identified in terms of the family and the user, result to a large extent from the extension of the time of independent living of the elderly in their home. As a result, the need for home care or a stay in a Fordida Elderly Facility can be significantly prolonged.
Practically in the Municipality of Amaroussi, the use of the Telecare System offers the pioneering for Greek data the ability to provide essential and immediate help to the user in emergency situations and we consider this an innovative achievement. At the same time, we were given the opportunity for the first time to provide the Municipality with a continuous and 24-hour support at home, adapted to the needs of the user. In addition, we considered the installation of Telecare as an important means of implementing the municipal authority's health goals as a challenge.
We believe that the Municipality of Amarousi deserves to be awarded because this action is based on 5 very critical factors.
1. The action is aimed at a part of the population that has been significantly affected by the economic crisis, faces objective difficulties in accessing important information and adapting to the use of new technologies in areas that affect their daily life to a large extent. These people are essentially experiencing an involuntary social exclusion that can be combated with the possibilities offered by telecare technology.
2. The telecare service has a direct impact on the user's daily life, both psychologically and practically.
3. Given that people over the age of 65 begin to show increased chances of falling inside the home, chances that reach 50% after the age of 80 and these falls are the first cause of accidental death in the elderly as well as given the possibility of injury or even the difficulty of moving as a result of a fall and the fact that the elderly experience daily the anxiety and fear of an accident limiting their daily activity so that an accident does not happen to them again, the existence of an easy way to call for help with one movement , the ability to detect environmental hazards, fall and automatic notification of the KDEP, creates a sense of security and confidence in the user.
4. With the telecare service, the user gradually develops a sense of independence and control of his daily life, extending his time of independent living and postponing the need for home care or accommodation in an Elderly Care Unit in the future. Man therefore becomes more active, a fact which by definition improves his mental and physical health.
5. There is an immediate and obvious benefit to family members, who share their man's fears, worries and often financial burdens. Accordingly, they also share all the beneficial effects of telecare.
6. In terms of health, the user benefits from the speed of notifying the appropriate authorities in case of injury or danger. According to the golden rule of rapid medical treatment of an injury which greatly increases the victim's chances of survival and reduces recovery time and long-term health consequences. As a result, there is a significant financial benefit for the user and his family.
The Municipality of Amarousiou has already activated emergency call radio transmitters with the corresponding central units and has made them available to our fellow citizens who need it.
