Looking after someone 2017, England | Page 18

Equipment and technology Different types of equipment, adaptations and technology could help make your home safer, your life easier and provide independence for the person you are looking after. Equipment could be purchased privately or you might be able to get help with the cost through the NHS or through assessments from the local authority, if they consider that the person you are looking after needs such equipment. 18 Minor adaptations (which means adaptations up the the value of £1,000) should be provided free of charge through assessments from the local authority, if they consider that the person you are looking after needs such adaptations. Adaptations that cost more than £1,000 could be paid for privately, or you could see if the person you are looking after can apply for a disabled facilities grant. Visit carersuk.org/equipment to find out more. Telecare and telehealth use technology to help people to live independently in their own homes and give you, the carer, peace of mind. you look after has a problem and needs assistance. It also includes wearable technology that can detect falls and locate a person if they have wandered. Telehealth is a way of monitoring a person’s health remotely, through equipment they have in their home. It can monitor conditions such as asthma, heart failure, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke and hypertension. Visit carersuk.org/telecare to find out more. Everyday technology such as the internet or your mobile phone can take the stress out of a whole host of tasks such as shopping and coordinating care for the person you look after and can help with condition self management. Find out more at carersuk.org/ technology Telecare consists of a range of unobtrusive monitoring technology such as sensors positioned throughout the home which can detect if there is a problem, such as a gas leak or fire, or if the person Looking after someone carersuk.org