iStay@Home Our Founding Story

Our Mum Muriel was living independently in a villa on a residential estate. We learned, as do many Australians looking after ageing loved ones, that even a short hospital stay can create a real crisis.  With one of us on the other side of the country in Sydney and the other 3 hours drive away, we had to arrange help for Mum after her discharge. She was very lucky to gain a level 4 Home Care package within just a few weeks.

For the next couple of years we learned how the system worked and made regular adjustments as Mum’s care needs changed. At 92 Mum was still fiercely independent, but becoming more frail and  less active. We felt we had Mum covered with 8.30 am and 4.30 pm Carer visits every day and on other days additional visits for cooking, cleaning and outings. Her carers became welcome visitors to chat with while they made sure Mum took her medications and that she appeared well.

Mum pictured just a few days before her stroke.

Mum had a wristband emergency button that would summon help if pressed. We knew though, that there was no guarantee Mum would be able to press the button after a mishap. We knew also that she would by habit, remove it before taking a shower. For Mum, retaining her independence was extremely important and even though  her morning  Carer  would offer a hand in the shower, Mum would always decline and take her shower after the Carer left.

Despite our best efforts, we were unable to ensure Mum’s safety while keeping her independance at home. One morning after the Carer left and while taking her morning shower, Mum had a severe stroke. As was her habit she had removed her emergency alarm. It was only by good fortune that Mum wasn’t left lying in the shower until 4.30 pm when the next carer would’ve discovered her. Daughter Carolyn had tried to call Mum several times around 11am and when there was no answer the alarm was raised and village staff came to her aid.

Unfortunately Mum never recovered and passed away a few days later. It was in the weeks following, while packing Mum’s house that we decided to put our experiences to good use for others. We then dedicated ourselves to finding ways we could have monitored Mum’s safety without losing her privacy. The result is the iStay@Home system which allows families and carers to monitor the activities of their loved ones without intrusive cameras. A set of alerts work with the system to SMS family or carers if high risk events are detected. Of course one example is spending longer than expected in the bathroom.

We think of Mum on the 31st of March, the anniversary of her passing, her birthday in August, Christmas, Easter in fact Mum remains in our thoughts everyday.