TeleCare

What is Telecare?

Telecare is a service for vulnerable people and their carers to enable them to live independently at home. The service consists of sensors and alarms which when triggered, call for help and assistance from the Telecare call centre. The call centre can contact a friend, relative or a specialist response service to attend the home and assist if required.

The range of sensors available provides protection by monitoring for a number of risks such as fires, flooding, carbon monoxide, natural gas, high or low temperatures and also wandering, falling or inactivity.

Such services can some people to maintain independence, increase their safety and confidence and with additional services, enable some clients to move from residential care to back into the community.

How does Telecare work?

A basic Telecare system will be formed by a base unit that plugs into a telephone socket and a personal alarm trigger that can be worn as a pendant around their neck or on their wrist like a watch.

When the button is pressed a signal is sent to the base unit which will automatically call the Telecare call centre.

Other examples of the equipment available are:

Flood detectors - which give an early automatic warning of a bath or sink overflowing if, for example, a tap has been left on
Occupancy sensors - which automatically create an alarm call if someone falls out of, or fails to get in or out of a bed or chair
Fall detectors - which when worn, activate an automatic alert if someone falls over and may be unconscious or unable to call for help themselves

When the sensors are triggered by water or a fall a signal is sent to the base unit which alerts the Telecare call centre.