CASERIOS (FARMHOUSES) IN BISCAY START USING A PILOT PLAN OF ALERT SYSTEMS FOR ELDERS THAT LIVE ON THEIR OWN

The initiative involves the installation of sensors that detect fire, gas leaks and the presence of strangers.

From now on, getting older and living alone can be more bearable and, what is more important, safer. The Las Encartaciones County Council Municipality, in collaboration with the rural development association Enkarterrialde, has initiated a pilot programme to control safety in the homes of elders who live on their own in uninhabited areas. The pioneer experience in Biscay is being developed as of last week, in two caserios (farmhouses) located in Galdames and Arcentales. The primary aim is to protect elders of some common risks such as water or gas leaks, through an alarm system.

To start up the project, the company Com & Media has installed an intelligent runway named Comydyn in each of the homes. This device is connected to different sensors: two for flooding are located in the kitchen and bathroom; three for fire and one for gas leaks are also located in the kitchen. When any type of alteration is detected, the Comydyn immediately activates an alarm and generates a warning through a text message to the mobile phone (SMS).

The message is sent both to the social assistant of the affected person and to his/her relatives if there are any, and to a member of the company managing the programme. The message includes information on the type of incident and the place where it has taken place. The person who receives the message only needs to call and check if there is a problem or send help if necessary. Moreover, in the case of leaks, an electrovalve will be activated that will automatically stop the flow of water or gas if necessary.

This device is different from the traditional remote alarm service, as its use focuses on risks at home and not on heath emergencies. Jose Ignacio Trancho, head of SOS DEIAK – and manager of remote alarm services warnings - is delighted with the start up of these types of initiatives and points out that, “They complement the service provided by us and increase the safety of users”. However, he does not believe that the installation of these new technologies for the assistance of elders will cut down the number of calls received at the switchboard, “due to the fact that most of the emergency warnings received are related to health issues and only a small part has to do with problems in the house”.

The development of this new experience has meant an investment of 6000 euros and has been implemented thanks to the European funds managed through the LEADER+ programme; this has allowed an 80% defrayment of the cost of the project. The promoters of the new system will evaluate its usefulness from now until the year 2005. If the evaluation is positive, the service can then be extended to other persons that request it. The possibility of monitoring the homes of elders that live on their own opens a new world of possibilities. Therefore, if this pilot programme is successful, there are already studies on other applications, such as verifying, from different locations, that pills are taken or doctor visits to elders take place. Moreover, the arrival of new technologies to the rural sphere could even allow checking the condition of the users, at all times, through the Internet by previously installing cameras in the house.

The development of this new experience has meant an investment of 6000 euros and has been implemented thanks to the European funds managed through the LEADER+ programme; this has allowed an 80% defrayment of the cost of the project. The promoters of the new system will evaluate its usefulness from now until the year 2005. If the evaluation is positive, the service can then be extended to other persons that request it.

The possibility of monitoring the homes of elders that live on their own opens a new world of possibilities. Therefore, if this pilot programme is successful, there are already studies on other applications, such as verifying, from different locations, that pills are taken or doctor visits to elders take place. Moreover, the arrival of new technologies to the rural sphere could even allow checking the condition of the users, at all times, through the Internet by previously installing cameras in the house.