SensorCare Systems’ bed and chair monitors are an effective component in a risk management strategy for falls prevention and high dependency care. The system comprises:
• An electro-mechanical panel (two different sizes for bed and chair)
• Electronic control unit (battery powered)
• Remote alert options

The bed panel is manufactured to high quality standards from stainless steel, resulting in a low maintenance, long service-life product. The panel is placed underneath the mattress
(approx 500mm from the bed-head) and has a cable link to the control unit sited nearby. The system is sufficiently flexible to cope with most patient weights and mattress types, but can be easily recalibrated, in-situ, if necessary. The patient retains total freedom of movement within the bed, but any attempt to exit from the sides or bottom of the bed will activate an audio-visual alarm on the control unit. In addition, the system can be interfaced with most nurse-call systems or fitted with a radio-frequency transmitter. The alarm will then be either:
• Relayed to a remote unit at a nurse station or
• Relayed to a radio pager worn by the nurse/carer. This is capable of accepting an alert from multiple systems, identifying which unit has alarmed.

The carer is thus given early notification that the patient may require assistance in support of continence or mobility care.
The alert is generated in a spontaneous manner, irrespective of a patient’s potential reluctance to call for help, thereby retaining self-esteem, independence and dignity.
The chair sensor panel, used beneath a seat cushion, is a smaller version of the bed panel, but is built to the same standard and links to the same control unit. The system will alert if the patient is attempting to vacate the chair, is leaning excessively to one side, or is sliding down the seat.
The two panel types can be used independently or as a combined system and are fully and easily re-locatable from patient-to-patient (ideal for loan store use), or to follow a particular patient through the care path. A “Home-Care” variant is available that makes it easy for the control / alarm unit to be sited in the Carer’s bedroom at night - allowing a better night’s rest, safe in the knowledge that an alert will sound if help may be needed. Independent research (Reducing Falls in In-Patient Elderly) carried out utilised the SensorCare product range and showed a significant reduction in falls, reduced length of stay, and perceived benefits to both patients and staff.
Bed panel size: Length 600mm. Width 220mm. Height 20mm. Weight 5kg. Chair panel size: Length 210mm. Width 80mm. Height 10mm. Weight 0.8kg.