Telecare is a name given to a range of additional equipment that can alert you when something needs your attention, or alert others to assist you when you need it.
Telecare is designed to support and maintain your independence at home. The equipment is unobtrusive. It is installed in your home by a trained member of our team with minimal disturbance. It can be installed or taken out as required.
How it works
Telecare is easy to install. The alarm unit fits to your telephone point and mains power supply. Any sensors you need link by tiny radio transmitters so there are no visible wires. The alarms have a range of 200 metres.
The equipment raises an alert to our Alarm Receiving Centre. The call operators have access to your details and communicate with you through your alarm unit.
Call operators are trained to deal with emergency situations. They can contact:
- a member of your family
- your doctor or nurse
- emergency services such as ambulance or police
- a mobile response carer to visit your home
Benefits
Telecare doesn’t replace your family or carers who visit you at home. However, it can give you confidence to live at home safe in the knowledge help is at hand when you need it.
If you are a carer, Telecare can provide reassurance the person you care for can get help when you’re not available.
Types of telecare equipment
Flood detector
For Service Users with poor memory/memory problems and have a tendency to leave taps running – sensor detects build up of water on the floor and activates alarm.
Falls detector
For Service Users who are prone to black outs, falls or seizure due to epilepsy or some other illness and where they have no warning of this coming on. The falls trigger works exactly the same as the normal community alarm trigger supplied with the alarm unit and can be activated by pressing the trigger button as normal. The falls trigger also comes in a wrist worn format, in situations where a person falls it can detect a sudden drop in air pressure or impact and interprets these as falls which will set off the pendant independently.
The falls trigger also comes in a wrist worn format, the sensors can detect a sudden drop in air pressure or impact which would indicate a fall has occurred. As per the neck worn one the service user can still press the button to get assistance.
Heat detector
Linked through the alarm – automatically sends a call when excessive smoke or heat detected – in Control Room call comes in as “smoke alarm activated” so staff know immediately to dial 999.
Movement detector
Would benefit Service Users who suffer from epilepsy or any illness that would cause them to go into seizure whilst they were asleep and therefore unable to call for assistance.
A sensor is placed under the mattress. This sensor can distinguish between the normal movement of someone turning over in their sleep and the “jerking movement” associated with seizure. When the seizure movement is detected an alarm call is initiated.
Vibrating pillow
Mainly used in conjunction with smoke/heat detectors for service users with hearing disability, placed under pillow and vibrates when smoke/heat alarm activated.
Carbon monoxide detector
For people with gas fire/cooker/boiler – detects the build up of Carbon Monoxide and long before CO reaches a dangerous level initiates a call to the control room
Door contacts
For Service Users with a dementia type illness and who have reached the stage of their illness where they are prone to turning night into day and can place themselves in danger by wandering outside of the house during the night. Door contacts are connected to a timer switch, which in turn is linked to the alarm. Door contact timer can be set to suit individual Service User needs taking into account their specific care package. Any time the doors are opened during the period that the timer is on, an alarm call in sent to the Control Room. Control operators then talk to the Service User and attempt to get them to go back inside or delay them long enough for the response worker to attend.
Door contacts can also be fitted with a key switch which would allow a partner or carer to switch the contacts on/off as they require allowing more flexibility.
True call
Device which can be set up to let just specific phone callers through, warn callers that calls are monitored or even refer callers to third party depending on situation. Referrals are made through Trading Standards.
Smoke alarm
Linked through the alarm – automatically sends a call when excessive smoke or heat detected – in Control Room call comes in as “smoke alarm activated” so staff know immediately to dial 999.
Low temperature sensor
Monitors the room temperature and if temperature drops to below 4 degrees and stays there for a period of an hour or more will activate alarm call.
GPS locators
A small pendant device which can be loaned to a supported person with dementia and be used by them to raise an alert if they become lost or can be used by family members to keep track of service user whilst out of the house.
The loan of this equipment is of short term duration 6 – 8 weeks for trial purposes – at end of trial supported person and family members will be given information on where to purchase their own.
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