Oslo digitises 10,000 emergency alarms

There are currently around 80,000 emergency alarms in use in Norway. Over the next few years these will all be digitised. The City of Oslo has the most emergency alarms in Norway and is among the very first to take on this task.

‘We have a total of 10,000 emergency alarm users in Oslo. Digitising the service is an important step towards smarter care of the elderly that means we have released as much time as possible to provide care,’ says Aud Kvalbein (Christian Democratic Party), Vice Mayor in the City of Oslo.

Come as safety packages
The digital emergency alarms are offered as so-called safety packages with additional devices.
‘Different sensors for things such as falls, for doors and for fires which can increase safety for people in their own homes,’ says Kvalbein.

‘This means more people can remain living in their own homes their entire lives, or for as long as their health allows, which is what most of us want,’ says the Vice Mayor.

Five trial districts testing
Telenor Objects, in partnership with Aleris Omsorg, CareTech and InfoCare will be responsible for digitising the emergency alarm service for the first five districts in Oslo that cover a total of 3500 users.

‘The City of Oslo caters to the entire market when we procure welfare technology,’ says Kvalbein.

The districts of St. Hanshaugen, Ullern, Frogner, Nordre Aker and Vestre Aker will be the first to offer digital alarms and safety packages to their residents. The proposed rate of replacement is around 2000 per year, but replacements will speed up in due course.

From emergency alarms to blood sugar testing
Telenor Objects currently supplies various welfare technology solutions to 80 municipalities, including services such as emergency alarms, door sensors, GPS, fall alarms and digital blood sugar testing kits.

‘The City of Oslo is carrying out vital, major work to digitise its health and care provisions, and we’re delighted we can join them for the ride,’ says Johan Ivarson of Telenor Objects.

50 municipalities were brought together this week at a major seminar at Telenor about welfare technology, where the City of Oslo was one of several who had the opportunity to talk about their experiences.

‘Many municipalities can be unsure how to proceed in the field of welfare technology, which means the emergency alarm offered by most municipalities is a natural place to start. By sharing experiences in the way Oslo is doing at the moment, I think more people will begin to recognise the benefits of smart use of welfare technology in a sector that is pressed for time and resources,’ says Ivarson.

Can reduce major costs
In 2014, operating costs for care services in Norway passed the NOK 100 billion mark, according to Statistics Norway. Services provided in the home account for almost half of these expenses.

‘Use of welfare technology increases safety in the home for the individual, and releases valuable time for health and care personnel. By digitising emergency alarms, we have taken a large step towards more efficient care for the elderly,’ says Ivarson.

Contact:
Kristine Meek, Director of Communications Telenor Norway, Tel. +47 918 85 405, kristine.meek@telenor.com
Odd Christian Klafstad, Director of Communications in the Vice Mayor’s Office for Elderly and Social Services in the City of Oslo, Tel. +47 958 31 033, oddchristian.klafstad@byr.oslo.kommune.no