Telehealth

[LauraM35]

Hi - I've just joined as I'm looking for some help or advice for coping with my elderly father who's just been diagnosed with COPD.

He lives on his own & as I live two hours away his doctor suggested I look into telehealth for him. This is a system whereby he can take his own vital signs every day (blood pressure, pulse etc) and the information is then relayed via a telecommunications device. If any readings vary from the norm a trained health professional will immediately get in touch. All sounds great, though I'd really like to make contact with someone that's actually used this system. I'm not able to up sticks and move to look after him so something like this could give me real peace of mind.

Does anyone out there have any experience of telehealth?

Huge thanks!

Laurax

[JeanieB]

Hi Laura. I've not really looked into telehealth before, but have read a little about it on other sites which I have found helpful, so deliberately signed on here after seeing your post hoping that somebody else might add some new info. Although I'm 58, I'm not really looking into telehealth for me, but more for my daughter, who is in her mid20s and is registered disabled. What caught my eye from other blogs is that they mentioned some of the equipment that was available such as an alarm necklace that you wear round your neck. When the button is pushed on the alarm it alerts family or your local health practitioner - great, if there is a fall or an accident. On a personal level I'm thinking of getting one for her as I'm not always around at her home to help her and she lives alone, so it would put my mind at rest (and hers) if we knew she could contact help at a moment's notice. If anyone has any other recommendations, I'd love to hear from you.

[gingeroots]

earlier threads
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/carers/a1393141-Looking-into-care-for-my-Dad-Does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-telecare-telehealth-systems

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/a1442409-Anyone-had-experience-of-Telecare-Telehealth-for-yourself-or-parents

My mother has hers provided by her local authority so it might be worth checking whether your also runs this sheme .