I was having a discussion with my mum about getting a fall alarm, and there are different options available. These systems give you some kind of button to press which causes your phone to dial predetermined phone numbers so that someone can come round to help you get up.
I wondered if it might be possible to use Alexa (or one of the other similar products) as a similar system. A quick bit of online looking tells me that Alexa has a number of skills which you can enable. One of these appears to allow you to do this, using the "My Family SOS" skill:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071VDMPJ2. You say the phrase "Alexa open my SOS family" and it will start calling your list one number at a time.
It strikes me that you might need to test how far from the speaker you can be for it to work well, and you might need to think about moving the speaker nearer the areas where you have a higher risk of falling, or having more than one speaker around your house. This could represent a disadvantage.
On the advantage side it would mean that you wouldn't need to remember to put your fall bracelet/necklace on.
It strikes me that these voice activated speakers could be a bigger help than this. Others think so too. Here's an article where a blind person considers how Alexa could help the disabled:
https://www.abilitynet.org.uk/news-blogs/how-do-alexa-and-amazon-echo-help-disabled-people
Another article on how Alexa could help all kinds of people:
https://verysmartgadget.com/amazon-echo-people-disability/
Just for clarity, I dont have one of these.
Update 28/9: Another, more comprehensive system: http://www.zdnet.com/article/trusense-aging-in-place-system-passively-monitors-independent-seniors/
This blog records my journey to Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP, also known as Familial Spastic Paraparesis or FSP). I was diagnosed with SPG4 in 2009 when my wife became pregnant with our first child. I currently wear insoles, do daily stretches and weekly Pilates. I take medication for my bladder. I tweet about HSP, RareDisease and other things @munkee74.
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Wednesday, 27 September 2017
Tuesday, 12 September 2017
2017 Survey Now Open
*** Update - results published 28 Feb 2018: http://hspjourney.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/2017-survey-results.html ***
After the success of my previous surveys, and feedback from readers and others, I'm continuing the pattern with another survey this year.
My focus for this survey is understanding:
There are a range of questions for each topic. I have designed my own questions for occupation and walking factors. Pain is assessed using the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire 2, with extra questions on where the pain is felt and how you treat it. Wellbeing is assessed using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) for assessing positive mental health and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ2) used as a screening tool for depression.
Following the previous pattern, I will collect results until early 2018, then analysing these in time to publish the results here on rare disease day, 28th Feb 2018.
Also like before, all questions are optional (apart from your name and country). If you have taken part in any of my surveys before, I'd appreciate you using the same name to allow tracking.
I would appreciate any readers with HSP to complete this survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ALHSP2017
Mid October update: I've just over 100 responses so far. Quick highlights:
Early December update: I've now got over 150 responses, and am looking into the results in a little more detail. I'm still collecting answers for another month or so, so if you have HSP and a spare half an hour, please take part.
As more complete the survey the proportion considering themselves disabled has gone up. Now 85%.
80% of people with HSP suffer from pain. 50% have mild/discomforting pain whereas 30% have more severe pain.
For people who have walking effects, the biggest factors affecting walking are all types of uneven/sloping/stepped ground, carrying things, needing the toilet or being tired.
85% of people who do not consider themselves disabled are working or studying, whereas for those who consider themselves disabled it is 40% working or studying.
Around 2/3 of people have had to change jobs or stop working early as a result of HSP. A similar proportion expect that they will have to change jobs or stop working early as a result of HSP in the future.
After the success of my previous surveys, and feedback from readers and others, I'm continuing the pattern with another survey this year.
My focus for this survey is understanding:
- How HSP affects peoples jobs/occupations
- Pain
- Factors that affect walking
- Wellbeing
There are a range of questions for each topic. I have designed my own questions for occupation and walking factors. Pain is assessed using the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire 2, with extra questions on where the pain is felt and how you treat it. Wellbeing is assessed using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) for assessing positive mental health and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ2) used as a screening tool for depression.
Following the previous pattern, I will collect results until early 2018, then analysing these in time to publish the results here on rare disease day, 28th Feb 2018.
Also like before, all questions are optional (apart from your name and country). If you have taken part in any of my surveys before, I'd appreciate you using the same name to allow tracking.
I would appreciate any readers with HSP to complete this survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ALHSP2017
Mid October update: I've just over 100 responses so far. Quick highlights:
- 80% consider themselves disabled.
- 80% get pain from HSP.
- 80% cannot walk as far as they want.
- 40% are in work, 30% do not work. (other 30% retired/student/carer).
Early December update: I've now got over 150 responses, and am looking into the results in a little more detail. I'm still collecting answers for another month or so, so if you have HSP and a spare half an hour, please take part.
As more complete the survey the proportion considering themselves disabled has gone up. Now 85%.
80% of people with HSP suffer from pain. 50% have mild/discomforting pain whereas 30% have more severe pain.
For people who have walking effects, the biggest factors affecting walking are all types of uneven/sloping/stepped ground, carrying things, needing the toilet or being tired.
85% of people who do not consider themselves disabled are working or studying, whereas for those who consider themselves disabled it is 40% working or studying.
Around 2/3 of people have had to change jobs or stop working early as a result of HSP. A similar proportion expect that they will have to change jobs or stop working early as a result of HSP in the future.