A new care device that can help you feel safe both in your home and when out and about has been launched by Portsmouth City Council.
Watch a video about the Chiptech GO
The Chiptech GO can be worn as a pendant, on a belt, or on a key ring. It uses GPS location technology, has a button to press for help and an optional fall detector, and is monitored by a call centre 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It costs £6.80 a week, and there is a one-off set up fee of £35. It is available to pre-order by calling 023 92 834460 or by registering your interest through the contact section of the Safe at Home website
The device is for anyone that wants the peace of mind that family support is close at hand. When pressed to summon help, or the fall detector is triggered, a call centre will track the device and contact family members to alert them of an incident. The device allows the call centre staff to talk to the person via a two-way speakerphone and reassure them that help is on the way.
It’s designed to support people who want to live independently, people of any age with long-term conditions such as epilepsy, or anyone who needs a little extra reassurance that help is just a call away.
The service can be cancelled at any time, so it’s also ideal for people that need short term support, for example someone recuperating after an operation, or a lone worker who wants reassurance that they have a way to contact family, if needed.
Cllr Darren Sanders, cabinet member for Housing and Preventing Homelessness, said: “It’s so important to be able to choose to live independently. The Safe at Home service is key to helping people live in a way that supports that freedom and this new product is an excellent addition to our offering.”
Safe at Home provides technology and safety equipment to support people to live independently in their homes.
The team assesses people’s needs and provides a tailored range of equipment. There are lots of options, including wearable alarm buttons, fall detectors and epilepsy monitors.
People that use the service can choose who they want to be contacted in an emergency, and emergency services can also be called if required. Unusually for this kind of service, the council’s housing team also provides an in-house team who can respond and help people who have no family or friends nearby, allowing them to stay in their homes.
To find out more about the services available go to wearesafeathome.co.uk
You can also call 023 92 834460 to pre-order the Chiptech GO.