Nurse Paging System Modification?
idbruce
Posts: 6,197
Hello Everyone
As some of you may know, my mother recently had a stroke. After her hospitalization, I had her released to my care, and I have been caring for her ever since.
Prior to her release, I purchased several different items to assist with her care and comfort, one of the purchases was a nurse paging system, which can be viewed here: https://walmart.com/ip/Secure-Caregiver-Pager-w-Two-2-Wireless-Nurse-Call-Alert-Buttons-Batteries-Included-One-Year-Warranty/120376361.
Although my mother's condition is slowly, but surely improving, she is still physically incapable of pushing the alert buttons, because these buttons require a bit of force to activate, even for a person that is not ill. Additionally, her sight was affected by the stroke, so she has a hard time finding the buttons.
With the paging system already in my possession, I am now inclined to modify the alert devices to allow easier activation. My thoughts are to mount both of the alert buttons to the headboard of the hospital bed and jumper the pushbutton switches, with a capacitive touch sensor. Basically, I would like to mount an insulated and isolated three inch diameter metal disc on each handrail, which would then go to a sensing device, and from there, two wires would be soldered to both sides of the pushbutton (hot and switched) to establish contact to the alert device, and of course I would have to add a ground.
Does anyone know of a ready made and reliable sensing device that can be utilized in the manner that I described above?
Thanks in advance.
Bruce
As some of you may know, my mother recently had a stroke. After her hospitalization, I had her released to my care, and I have been caring for her ever since.
Prior to her release, I purchased several different items to assist with her care and comfort, one of the purchases was a nurse paging system, which can be viewed here: https://walmart.com/ip/Secure-Caregiver-Pager-w-Two-2-Wireless-Nurse-Call-Alert-Buttons-Batteries-Included-One-Year-Warranty/120376361.
Although my mother's condition is slowly, but surely improving, she is still physically incapable of pushing the alert buttons, because these buttons require a bit of force to activate, even for a person that is not ill. Additionally, her sight was affected by the stroke, so she has a hard time finding the buttons.
With the paging system already in my possession, I am now inclined to modify the alert devices to allow easier activation. My thoughts are to mount both of the alert buttons to the headboard of the hospital bed and jumper the pushbutton switches, with a capacitive touch sensor. Basically, I would like to mount an insulated and isolated three inch diameter metal disc on each handrail, which would then go to a sensing device, and from there, two wires would be soldered to both sides of the pushbutton (hot and switched) to establish contact to the alert device, and of course I would have to add a ground.
Does anyone know of a ready made and reliable sensing device that can be utilized in the manner that I described above?
Thanks in advance.
Bruce
Comments
Good luck on your quest.
BTW: The first one could have a big red button, joystick or an LED.
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1069
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1075
Nice try, but I think that may be a bit cumbersome for her at the moment. I think she will need a solid bright colored object, instead of finding the outer ring. But thanks.
@Andrew
No, I have not. Care to elaborate? What are your thoughts?
Mickster
Yes, there is a need for contact. The occupational therapist wants to utilize the call buttons to rehabilitate her hand and eye coordination. Her perception is way off at this point.
Something like these tap lights might work perfectly, except I would have to modify the switching to momentary.
https://walmart.com/ip/Meridian-10cm-Incandescent-Tap-Light-4pk/16386253