Red Tulip home monitor
for safer living.
An inconspicuous system of sensors which provides added safety for the elderly living at home
Red Tulip Home Monitoring for safety in the home.
Sensors at key points in the home transmit data wirelessly to the gateway and on to the Internet. If an unexpected changes in normal routine is detected then the cloud monitor sends alerts to caregivers. False alarms are avoided by several stages of checking..
A motion sensor back of a picture detects the motion of passing occupants and a vibration sensor detects opening of cabinet or doors.
Description
The red tulip or light touch home monitoring system for the elderly consists of several wireless sensors and one (or more) gateways with WiFi communication to the Internet. The gateway plugs into a wall receptacle in a room frequently occupied by the resident and is visible to occupants. Sensors are located at inconspicuous key points in the home which are normally visited during daily living. Sensor data is transmitted wirelessly to the gateway and on to the Internet or cloud where activity is analyzed. If an abnormal activity, such as a resident not going to the kitchen all day, is detected then the cloud monitor sends a sequence of alerts to the home, caregivers and, if necessary, to emergency services.
We include a cal/fall sensor for immediate response but normally the monitor just checks for deviation from normal activity and information sent to the caregiver on non-urgent basis. We consider many existing medical alert products, such as call pendants, as to be too limited in function, somewhat intrusive and insufficient avoidance of false alarms.
Sensors Included are
- Armband -- for tap alert and fall detection
- Occupancy -- to track normal activity around the home
- Door opening -- mounted on the door
- Movement - detects opening of a cabinet, window or pill box.
- Audible Sound -- smoke alarm and others
- Appliance Use -- Detects when appliance (e.g. TV) is turned on.
The sequence of notifications which avoids false alarms but also provides immediate response when needed are:
- Gateway Alert: The gateway ringtone and flashing light are first activated
- Cloud Response (Minder): Message is sent to the Internet or cloud via WiFi where the alert is confirmed.
- Home Phone Call: The first call is to the home phone to verify that the alert is valid.
- Caregivers: The caregivers (family, friends, neighbors) are next called by email, text message or phone. They can take action or cancel the alert, before emergency operators are called.
