Telecare encompasses an alarm a pendant and additional automatic alerting devices including bed sensors, linked smoke detectors, pill dispensers etc. All of these sensors work by recognising if someone you are caring for gets in to trouble and will send a call to the Care Centre. The operators are able to identify what equipment is sending the call and arrange appropriate help, this could include contacting you or the emergency services. There are also situations where telecare can link the equipment directly to a pager or mobile phone if you would prefer to receive immediate notification of a problem.

Although traditionally considered to be used by the elderly this equipment can be tailored to all sorts of situations including those suffering with MS, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy to name a few. In fact one of our more unusual carers is a black Labrador who has been trained to press an alarm if the owner has a fit.

Telecare can support carers in in a number of ways such as enabling  you to go out for short periods, perhaps to run some errands or visit a friend, in the knowledge that you would be alerted if the person you care for gets into difficulty.  There are bed sensors, for example, can allow you to have a good nights sleep with the reassurance that if the person you are caring for gets out of bed or falls on the way to the bathroom you will be alerted. 

All calls are recorded on the client’s details. This information can be used to support you at case review meetings and provide information, which can demonstrate the difficulties you are experiencing. 
If you are caring for someone with a degenerative or progressive illness then the equipment can be updated and reviewed to ensure you are continuously receiving the support from the telecare service that you require.

The equipment can also provide advantages for the person you are caring for such as enabling  increased autonomy over their life by improved management of their situation. For example, by using a pill dispenser to remind them to take medication reduces reliance on you and the side effects of non-compliance.
It will enable increased independence because they will be able to alert you in times of difficulty either by initiating the alert or in the knowledge an automatic call will be raised. This will lower their anxiety about having to wait until someone checks on them.

For further information about Telecare go to www.surreytelecare.com