A client in the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham with Tonic Clonic Epilepsy was living in learning disability supported accommodation with 24/7 on site support where her seizures were being monitored by staff without the use of Assistive Technology.

Hammersmith & Fulham completed an assessment and decided that seizure monitoring equipment would be required to monitor day time seizures and therefore (following extensive research into epilepsy monitoring devices) it was decided that they would purchase a Possum Epi-Care device that would be linked to a Tunstall CareAssist that support staff would carry. The resident was also provided with a Vibby Oak fall detector to wear whilst undertaking personal hygiene routines and at this time the Epi-Care device would be charged.

The client experiences pre-seizure convulsions on a specific arm and it was decided that the Epi-Care should be worn on the wrist of this arm, to give staff as much notice as possible to attend and support. Initially staff managed the device, but the resident was soon able to manage the device herself (with the supervision of staff).

Staff reported the Epi-Care device to being close to 100% effective at monitoring seizures.

Later the client had a baby, and was staying out of the borough. Staff at this different location reported that client was having seizures up to 7 times per day and the Epi-Care device’s reliability was reported as being close to 100%.

Phil Iles at Possum said: “This is a great example of how using Assistive Technology, in this instance a wrist worn Epilepsy monitoring device, can provide monitoring and support to be present at those moments when a Carer is not, providing reassurance and enabling the client to have a higher level of privacy.”

Click here to learn more about Epi-Care.

With thanks to the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for taking the time to share this with us.

November 2019