Door lock and bell with GSM phone aids emergency response for elderly
17 April 2007 The GSM Doorbell, developed by Dutch company Waleli, is a
mobile phone application that allows people to answer their doorbell, talk
to visitors and even open the door, whether they are at home or not. The
GSM doorbell can boost emergency response times to elderly people who live
in their own home or in sheltered housing. It allows nurses and care workers
to go straight to the scene without first having to go to a central
key-holding facility to collect a front door key.
When an alarm-call is made through a personal alarm system, the regional
call-centre can remotely activate the GSM-doorbell. When the nurse or care
worker arrives and rings the bell at the patient's home, a voice connection
is made with the call centre. This allows the nurse or care worker to
identify themselves. The call centre can then open the front door with the
press of just one button and the care worker can provide the necessary care
to the patient. Local housing authorities and providers of sheltered
accommodation for the elderly are among the target audiences for the GSM
doorbell. “The ageing population is one of the most important issues
facing society today,” said Lawrence Masle, Waleli’s head of international
business development. “We all have to get much smarter about how we support
elderly people, many of whom wish to continue living in their own homes. The
GSM Doorbell answers the needs of a person who wishes to live alone but
seeks the reassurance of knowing help can reach them if necessary.” When
the householder is at home and doesn’t need the GSM mobile functionality,
the GSM doorbell can be switched to normal doorbell mode with a single key
push. Ger Tit, CEO of the AtA foundation, which manages emergency call
centres in Amsterdam, said: “We see the GSM Doorbell as a product that
enables care givers to provide assistance without losing valuable time. The
increase in quality, and cost reduction around the administered care go hand
in hand.” Already being trialled extensively in the Netherlands, Waleli
aims to have trials in the UK market before the end of this year.
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