Letter
of transmittal
Date: 20th October 2017
From: Ho Yong Quan
To: Ministry of Social and Family
Development
Cc: Brad Blackstone
Subject: Proposal to distribute
Emergency Alert System
Dear Ministry of Social and Family
Development,
I am
Yong Quan, and I am part of Eldervists, a project group from Singapore
Institute of Technology, consisting of three year-one students in sustainable
infrastructure engineering.
As a
project for one of our modules, SIE2016 Effective Communication, we are tasked
to identify and come up with a solution for the identified issue. After careful
deliberation, our project group decided to focus on elderly, specifically the
risks that elderly bear when they are alone at home if there are no alert
systems present in the house. Our primary focus would be on the potential
problems that could arise and solutions that would resolve said problems.
Attached
is a detailed proposal on the matter, which comprises of an introduction of our
focus, the analysis of the issue, the problems it could pose and a
comprehensive solution to the concerns. The proposal is completed with thorough
and up to date research, in hopes of determining the best resolution to the
matter.
Please
do not hesitate to contact us if there are any queries, or require further
information. We will assist you to the best of our efforts.
Thank you for your time and
consideration.
Best regards,
Ho Yong Quan
Singapore Institute of Technology
Contents
page
Biodata
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Name:
Ho Yong Quan
Yong
Quan is currently a first-year student in Singapore Institute of Technology,
pursuing a degree in sustainable infrastructure engineering, and has a
diploma in business administration from Singapore Polytechnic. Welfare of the
elderly is his top priority, and he is extremely keen to assist them with his
best efforts..
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Name:
Glenna Woo Wan Tian
Glenna
Woo is a first year student in Singapore Institute of Technology, pursuing a
degree in sustainable infrastructure engineering (building services), and has
a diploma in hotel and leisure facilities management from Ngee Ann
Polytechnic. Growing up with her grandparents and witnessing incidents that
happen when they are alone at home, Glenna sees a need for the elderly to
receive medical attention when needed.
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Name:
Yeo Jie Ming
Jie
Ming is currently a first-year student in Singapore Institute of Technology,
pursuing a degree in sustainable infrastructure engineering (land). He
believes that he can bring elderly the confidence to spend their days alone
at home with or without supervision as going to a nursing home might not be
an option for some of them.
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Executive summary
The
report aims to highlight the importance of having an emergency alert device in
the homes of elderly citizens, and the drawbacks and risks of not having them.
The report will explore different types of alert systems that are already in
the market, and to choose one to be implemented in our proposal. The selection
criteria include will be discussed in the proposal.
Upon
selection, there will be a proposal to run trials with the selected model, to
test the effectiveness and reliability of the medical emergency system. The
report will continue to explain the rationale of the implementation and
describe how it will be implemented.
Extensive
researches were conducted to ensure that the selection of the emergency alert
system is comprehensive, and to make sure that the proposal is feasible and
beneficial. Primary research include interview with elderly, to have a clearer
understanding of the prominent problems faced by them, and to gather
constructive input to decide on the most vital features that an emergency alert
system should possess.
Introduction
On
average, Low (2012) quoted that about one in four elderly above the age of 65
in Singapore will suffer a fall. Of those who fell, two-thirds had a single
fall and one-third had recurrent falls. Khalik (2015) also reported that close
to 100 elderly were admitted to hospital every month because of an injury from
a fall. Sollitto (2017) further explains the reasons why elderly are more prone
to falling or slipping. Namely their decline in physical fitness, the effects
of medication, impaired vision and chronic diseases.
With
the heightened risks of falling, there should be more precautions in ensuring
the wellbeing of elderly, especially elderly living alone. With no one present
to look after them, the emergency alert system would do well to keep them safe,
in an event of a fall.
Figure
1: Crude rate unintentional falls based on age group
Table
2: Resident Households by Age Group of Head and Household Living Arrangement,
Year 2010 to 2015
The
results of both figure X and Y are alarming and dangerous, and we can conclude
that the factors related to the risks of elderly injury are increasing
exponentially. With more elderly staying alone over the years, the peril of
fatal injuries involving elderly increases directly, as the number of elderly
exposed to the risk rises.
However,
majority of senior citizens in Singapore whom are at risk, do not own the
product. It will thus result in higher risks of fatal injuries, or even death.
An emergency alert system that allows elderly to call for aid is extremely
vital, and could very possibly be the one equipment that could save their
lives.
Problem statement
An emergency alert device should be implemented for the elderly to
ensure that they are safe in the case of an actual medical emergency. The
majority of the elderly who spend most of their time at home alone do not have
any form of emergency alert system. Without it, the elderly will continue to be
at risk of not getting emergency attention or help in times of desperate need.
An emergency alert device sends distress signals to their caregivers or nearby
hospitals when the device detects a fall, or if the signal is sent directly
from the elderly. This will allow the elderly to receive medical attention
promptly.
Purpose statement
The
purpose of this proposal is to explore the different types of emergency alert
systems in the market and select the optimal system. The selected alert system
will be recommended to Ministry of Social and Family Development, in hopes of
it being sold or distributed to elderly or their family in need.
The
proposal thus wishes that the product becomes more popular and widely used
throughout households with senior citizens in Singapore, to minimise the
rate of fatal accidents occurring in households when the elderly are alone in
the house.
Proposed solution
The
proposed solution is to recommend a wearable emergency alert device for senior
citizens who spend most of their time alone at home. This is to ensure that
they are always equipped with the device to receive assistance from caregivers
when emergencies occur. Caregivers can range from family members, trained
professionals to volunteers.
Considerations and selection
The optimal emergency alert system
should consist of the following five criteria:
- Emergency
button
The
emergency button becomes handy, when seniors require help apart from falls.
Examples could include other emergencies such as fire hazard or being generally
unwell.
- Global Positioning System (GPS)
GPS is
essential, as it allows caregivers to easily and efficiently locate the
whereabouts of the elder in times of medical emergency.
- Long battery
life
Long
battery life is extremely favourable, simple because elderly may forget to
charge their device from time to time. A longer battery life meant that they
are protected for a prolonged amount of time, without new charges.
- water resistance
Large
number of falls occur in the bathroom, where it is often wet and slippery.
Thus, it is advisable for the the device to be water resistant, as it would be
unfortunate for it to malfunction in times of need.
Upon evaluating and weighing the
functions and features, the emergency alert device that Eldervists have
selected is the iHelp Adult GPS Tracker Device from OMG Solutions Pte
Ltd which costs SGD $390. Refer to Appendix A and B for its specifications and
dimensions.
Figure 3: iHelp Adult GPS Tracker
Device
Benefits of Proposed Solution
Apart
from the four functions and features that were mentioned above, iHelp Adult
GPS Tracker Device possess even more advantages, that could benefit the
user.
iHelp
Adult GPS Tracker Device has an
additional feature, named fall detection. It will automatically contact their
respective caregivers when any fall or slippage is detected. This function is
vital, as seniors may become unconscious or physically incapable of pressing
the button to alert their caregivers. The detection utilises the accelerometer
and gyroscope to identify a fall more accurately. Furthermore, it contains an
in-built motionless detection, to sense any abnormality when no movement is
detected for a set amount of time.
On top
of that, iHelp Adult GPS Tracker Device provides a two-way communication
through calls and text messages to up to five personnel with a press of the
button. This allow the elder to be able to instantly voice their troubles in
times of need, without the use of another device.
Lastly,
the device is also linked onto mobiles devices through the application, DS
Tracker, to allow family members or caregivers to know and track the
whereabouts of the elderly, to effectively identify the location of the elder
in an emergency. (Refer to Appendix C)
Drawbacks of Proposed Solution
Despite
the long battery life, iHelp Adult GPS Tracker Device still has to be
charged every 2 to 3 days. Elderly could forget about the device after charging
it, which may put them at risk once again. Furthermore, because of the
miniature size of the device, senior citizens may risk losing it.
iHelp
Adult GPS Tracker Device operates
using prepaid card or post-paid plan, which requires regular topping up when
the amount runs low. Thus, caregivers will have to constantly check the
available amount to ensure the device is still has enough value to be used
properly.
Implementation
To
evaluate the effectiveness of the selected alert device, there will be a trial
programme. 25 elderly would be selected to participate in the trial, where they
will be equipped with the alert device for for a month. There will be an
assessment once every 2 weeks to collect various feedbacks to determine the
reliability of the selected alert device.
Figure
(Please refer to Appendix D) shows and describes the time span of the entire
trial programme, and the necessary actions to be taken.
Alternative solution
An
alternative solution would be a wireless motion sensor which will be able to
monitor senior citizens in real time and provide timely alert. Eldervists have
chosen the Smart Activity Monitoring Service (SAMS) by M1 which will cost SGD
$214 with a monthly subscriptions of SGD $14.66. SAMS works by monitoring the
elder’s daily activities at home by using motion sensor detection and alerts
the caregiver through text messages. SAMS consists of four main devices:
wireless door sensor, wireless motion sensor, wireless portable panic button,
and iNet mini smarthub. (Refer to Appendix E)
Figure 4. Operation of Smart Activity
Monitoring Service (SAMS)
Benefits of Alternative Solution
The elder’s activity at home is
monitored with wireless motion sensor and wireless door sensor.
Caregivers will be notified if the elderly is out of the house, or have
been inactive for a long time as there could be a possibility of an emergency
that requires immediate attention. Footages of the elder’s activities around
the house are also recorded, to allow caregivers or families to identify any
oddities present in the apartment.
Similar to iHelp Adult GPS Tracker
Device, it has an in-built emergency button, that allows quick response
from caregivers in an event of an emergency.
Limitations
of Alternative Solution
A household will require more than one
wireless motion sensor as there are many rooms such as the kitchen or toilet,
which may end up becoming costly. Furthermore, because of the post-paid nature
of the plan that costs a monthly subscription of $14.66, the cost will
continue to be incurred and in the long run, may become too expensive.
SAMS requires an internet connection to
function. Hence, when the internet connection is down, the elderly will be
unable to alert the caregivers when emergencies occur. Regular maintenance has
to be conducted as well to keep the system in good working condition.
Methodology
Two
different methods of research, primary and secondary, were conducted, to allow
our team to have a better understanding on the matter.
Primary research
Interviews
with elderly were conducted for us to have a clearer understanding of the
problem. Interviews are highly effective because our team got to interact
directly with elderly who are facing the problems themselves. The information
from the interview were thus very insightful.
Copy
of the questionnaire (see Appendix F) and sample interviews (see Appendix F to
H) can be found in the appendix.
Secondary research
Secondary
researches were conducted to obtain essential information required for us to
efficiently prepare for and complete the proposal. The information gathered
allowed us to identify the problem, come up with plausible solutions, judge the
current situation with statistics and more.
Web
links of the research materials can be found under “References”, and certain
tables and figures can be found in “Appendix”.
Conclusion
The absence of any form of emergency
alert system in a household where elderly are often alone is extremely
perilous. Elderly will have no one present to assist them, in an unfortunate
event of a fall. The injury suffered could become fatal quickly, if help does
not come on time.
Thus, to overcome and to prevent such
instances from occurring, we recommend iHelp Adult GPS Tracker Device to
be distributed to senior citizens who are living alone, or spend most of their
time alone in their homes. Said device is selected, because it has a wide
variety of features and functions, namely:
- Fall detection
- Emergency button
- Global
Positioning System (GPS)
- Long battery
life
- water
resistance
The application of the trail is also
accurately planned, to ensure the dependability and practicality of the
selected product.
With the implementation of the
proposal, we hope the emergency alert system becomes more prominent in
Singapore, and eventually becoming imperative for senior citizens.
Hence, rate of fatal accidents occurring in households when the elderly
are alone in the house will be greatly minimised, or entirely eliminated.
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