High-Tech Homes Give People with Disabilities More Independence

posted on Dec 08 by Guest Author in the Disability News, Technology category

Jeremy Collins proudly gives a grand tour of his 1,100-square foot Coon Rapids townhouse, showing off his kitchen, his bed, his chair, and new shower. Until April, he had lived in a group home his entire adult life. The townhouse is a dream come true for Collins, who has Downs syndrome. His parents, Dennis and Brenda, his caregivers through Minnesota’s St. David’s Center, his landlords, Mary T. Inc., technology company Sengistix, and Anoka County all worked together to arrange for the installation of a high-tech security system to help Collins keep his independence and be safe.

“Initiatives like this are the types of things we should be pursuing for valid health care reform,” said Anoka County Commissioner Carol LeDoux, who recently met with Collins and his family. LeDoux called the initiative an “innovative and visionary project.”

Collin’s townhouse looks just like all the others in the Mary T. Villas Sand Creek development, which houses people with and without disabilities. Look closer, and you’ll notice the sensor on the front door that activates if the door is opened after a certain time at night. The stove can only be turned on using a security keypad. In the bathroom is a motion sensor that sounds an alert if Collins is in there and motionless for longer than 20 minutes, signaling a possible fall. Under his mattress is a sensor that detects a fall out of the bed. Lastly, Collins keeps his medications in a box which contains a sensor to alert his family if he forgets to take them.

Mendota Heights-based Sengistix monitors the system around the clock. According to account executive Drew Beaulieu, they have similar contracts in counties throughout Minnesota. The company handles wiring for single- and multiple-unit dwellings to aid people with disabilities who are adequately served in a group home, but who need help to live on their own.

When the security system is activated, the alert triggers a phone tree that goes down a list of contacts until someone confirms the call and checks in by telephone. The few times Collins accidentally triggered a false alarm, his parents were able to easily check in on him by phone.

The new security system is beneficial to taxpayers as well. Collins receives state and federal support that goes toward the costs of his care, but he no longer requires constant supervision and can be independent 25 percent of the week, resulting in a 10 percent reduction in cost borne by taxpayers.

Collins was relatively secure during his years in a group home, but he didn’t get many chances to use many of the life skills he had learned. Now he writes his own checks to pay his bills, helps out with planning grocery shopping, and maintains a neat home.

“He has risen to some of the issues that used to be problematic for him,” his father said. For example, he used to be afraid of storms. Now, he knows how to monitor weather reports on his phone, and he knows that a siren means he should head for shelter in the bathroom.

“This promotes more independence for him, which is a win-win,” he said.

His family hopes Collins’ will eventually be independent as much as 50 percent of the week as his skills grow. His parents hope that he will continue to be safe and self-sufficient even after they are gone and not have to rely too heavily on his older siblings. So far, they are very optimistic.

“It’s nice,” said Brenda Collins. “When he was born, most people talked gloom and doom for his future. Living here, you can see the next level of independence.”

Sources:
startribune.com/local/north/127067493.html
disabilityscoop.com/2011/08/12/high-tech-monitoring/13728/

Image sources:
startribune.com