Challenge
Improving incontinence care
Many who suffer from incontinence choose to wear incontinence pads that absorb accidents, mitigating embarrassing situations until a carer can come and help. Still, when in long term care, having someone check on your bathroom habits regularly can be dehumanizing. Making more reusable, smart tech driven options could help reduce waste, relieve those charged with caring, and empower those needing care.
One team supported by the Nominet Trust is making a difference. ChangeAlert is an integrated system that alerts carers to pads that need to be changed. A washable, long-lasting moisture sensor is placed into a pad, and connects to a simple monitoring bracelet worn by a carer, or to their smartphone. When the pad is wet, a signal is sent, and the carer can take action to change the pad immediately. ChangeAlert maintains the dignity of patients by removing the carer’s need to check and ask after them, while making actionable data accessible to those who need it.