Beverley with daughter Bonnie
Wokingham Borough Council specialist Technology Enabled Care (TEC) team uses the latest technology to improve families’ quality of life
Case study
Bonnie, 26, has profound global development delay which affects her ability to learn to walk or talk, pick up new skills, and interact with others socially and emotionally.
Bonnie suffers multiple seizures every day, so mum Beverley contacted our TEC team for help.
We spoke to Beverly to find out more about how the TEC team has helped Bonnie and improved their quality of life.
“I wanted to find out if there was any equipment available that could help with Bonnie’s care, particularly helping to monitor her seizures, especially at night.
“I thought Bonnie may have been experiencing still seizures, where her heart rate was elevated but with no movement in her body. The signs for this type of seizure are very subtle and I would worry, especially at night, not knowing if she would need medical assistance.”
Significant seizures could be potentially life-threatening for Bonnie.
“We wanted to continue to have Bonnie at home with us, and to look after her, but I would be up for more than 24 hours worrying she would have a seizure while I was asleep. It was the only way I thought I could keep her safe but it was physically impossible to keep an eye on her day and night.”
Our team worked with Beverley and Bonnie looking at different ways we could improve their quality of life. Bonnie was one of the first in the country to trial PulseGuard, worn on her wrist, which monitors changes in her pulse rate; a big indicator that she is about to have a seizure. If it gets too high an alert is sent to a carer’s mobile device.
“Before, I would stay up for 24 hours or more with Bonnie making sure she was alive, making sure she was breathing. Now I can sleep. I can also leave her with carers as I don’t have to rely on people recognising the subtle signs of her seizures.
“I’m so thankful for the support the TEC team gave us. I know it can be daunting but the technology is easy to operate and importantly, these new advances in technology can saves lives. It has saved Bonnie’s life.”
