Medical app links high-care patients with their carers

Brisbane inventors Drew Steptoe and Ben Slater, of aged-care tech firm ConnectUs Life, have launched the RightMinder first-alert app — a medical device that is intended to improve the safety, independence and life quality of people with high-care needs. The app automatically detects life-threatening emergencies such as heart attacks, seizures or falls, immediately raises the alarm and guides carers to the patient.

Discreetly installed on an Android smartwatch or smartphone, RightMinder allows wearers to contact their carer if they feel unwell or require assistance. The GPS technology enables first-alert assistance carers to locate them quickly. Additionally, when battery life gets low, notifications are sent to both wearer and carers.

“Our core focus is to ensure wearers maintain meaningful independence and self-confidence with an efficient yet discreet safety and security alert system,” said Slater.

“Anyone with an Android smartwatch or smartphone now has access to a reliable, life-saving service without having to purchase specialised equipment or systems or get locked into a long-term contract.

“With its user-friendly interface, RightMinder has proven to be very easy to use and manage, despite the underlying complexity of the algorithms and technology it employs.”

With both wearer and carer downloading RightMinder from the Google Play Store, they can securely link to each other in a closed-circuit network. Options are available to add additional wearers to carers, or carers to wearers.

“The ability to link with multiple carers makes it applicable to wearers whose families share in their care or for care professionals; and vice-versa for professionals who care for multiple wearers,” said Slater.

“The RightMinder technology also has safety applications outside of health emergencies, such as helping to quickly locate a dementia sufferer who has wandered off or a pre-teen who is late home from school.”

RightMinder is available on Google Play Store or via getrightminder.com.