What is telecare?

Telecare is a technology-based system that can help provide peace of mind and independence for carers and the people they are caring for. It consists of a range of sensors positioned throughout the home, which alert the carer, or a monitoring centre, if there is a problem in the home, such as a gas leak or fire, or if the person they are caring for has a problem andneeds assistance.

The purpose of telecare is not to replace the carer, but to allow them to leave the house, or get a good night’s sleep, confident that they will be informed if an emergency occurs. It can also provide greater independence for the person they are caring for.

What's available?

The following are examples of devices which are being used to transform the lives of carers and those they care for. Of course these sensors alone are not a solution, but when they are linked to a monitoring and response centre they can offer the peace of mind of knowing highly skilled staff trained to deal with any alert will organise the agreed response.

Flood and smoke detectors
Upon detecting flooding or smoke, these sensors will raise a local audible alarm and alert the carer or monitoring centre.

Gas detector and shut off valve
This sensor detects the presence of carbon monoxide and natural gas, and raises an alarm with the monitoring centre or carer. If required it can shut off the gas supply automatically, making the environment safe before anyone enters.

Epilepsy sensor
This sensor is placed under a foam mattress and sheet to monitor vital signs, including heart rate, and raise an alarm if seizures occur.

Bed/chair occupancy sensor
This sensor fits under the mattress, or in a chair or wheelchair, and alerts the carer or monitoring centre if the occupant leaves the bed or chair and does not return within a given time period. It can also switch on lights automatically to help the cared for person find their way more easily.

Fall detector
A small trigger attached to clothing, or a wrist device, alert the monitoring centre or carer if a serious fall is detected.

Home alert pager
This pager enables the carer to be notified if any of the sensors are activated, when they are at home or in the garden, rather than routing them to a monitoring centre.

Property exit sensor
This sensor notifies the carer or monitoring centre if a person leaves the building at set times of day or night. It
can also detect if a main door has been left open and can be linked to external lighting to provide additional protection.

Bogus caller button
A panic button allows the user to raise an alarm, totally silent if required, if they fear that an intruder or bogus caller is trying to gain access to their property.

How to get a telecare package

You can buy telecare systems directly from specialist shops and suppliers. However buying a telecare system outright can be expensive and there are a number of different ways you can be referred to get a telecare system as part of a package of care :

• By social services
• By health staff such as community nurses
• By housing officers from district councils and housing associations

First, the person you look after would be assessed by social services, or by an occupational therapist. If their needs meet social services criteria, they could receive a telecare package as part of their overall care package.

Further help/resources

In conjunction with Carers UK, Tunstall – the leading provider of telecare equipment in the UK – has produced a booklet called Support for carers. The booklet provides more information about telecare for both carers and health and social care providers. The booklet is available to download below or you can order a copy by calling 01977 660479.

The Disabled Living Foundation provide free, impartial advice about all types of disability equipment and mobility products for older and disabled people, their carers and families. www.dlf.org.uk or call 0845 130 9177.

Carers UK Equal Partners has produced a briefing – Spotlight on telecare – which covers the pros and cons of the technology, how carers can get telecare support, and what needs to happen to make this technology more widely available. The briefing is available to download from www.carersuk.org/equalpartners or call 0161 953 4233 to request a copy.

The Telecare Services Association has a website designed to help service users, their carers and family to learn more about telecare and its providers. www.telecare.org.uk or call 01634 846 209.

Telecare in action - Alice and Sara

Sara lives with, and cares for, her 76-year-old mother Alice, who has dementia. Sara enjoys her job, but her work was suffering because she constantly worried about her mum, who had left the house several times and had been brought back home by the police as she had become lost.

Other risks were causing great concern, and Sara was considering giving up her job to care for her mum full time. Alice had a tendency to leave the gas cooker on unlit whilst trying to make a cup of tea. Sara was concerned that a serious gas leak may start as a result and so bought an electric kettle. However Alice tried to use this on the gas cooker.

In addition, Alice had fallen several times whilst going to the bathroom in the night as she found it difficult to remember to turn the lights on. This was affecting Sara’s sleep, as she was so worried about her mother falling. The local authority
introduced a range of telecare sensors to her care package including:

• Property exit sensor – this alerted the 24 hr response centre when Alice opened the door and went outside, raising an alarm. The operator was able to speak to Alice and reassure her by encouraging her to come back indoors. This was followed up by a visit by the Response Team to check that Alice was back indoors and no one had entered the property.
• Gas detector and shut off valve – this ensures that if Alice leaves the gas on, it is automatically switched off. An alert is also sent to the response centre who informs Sara of the situation.
• Bed sensor linked to an automatic light system – has also been installed in Alice’s bedroom so that if she wakes up in the night and gets out of bed, the lights automatically come on gradually. If she doesn’t return to bed within a certain time, the sensor alerts Sara.

Sara is thrilled with the new arrangements. She says: “Since the telecare equipment has been installed I have been able to continue working, reassured that Mum will be OK. The lights are fantastic – I don’t need to worry now at night when Mum gets up. The equipment really gives me peace of mind.”