Telecare keeping you safe and well

Telecare is usually recommended by a GP, an occupational therapist or a social worker although a carer, relative or friend may also be involved. TSA now sees increasing numbers of family members recommending and often funding telecare services for their elderly parents.

When telecare is advised, the first step is to locate an experienced service provider in your area � your GP or health care worker may also recommend a service to you.

TSA members include service providers in your area and larger national organisations which monitor calls across a wider area, or even across the UK. TSA members provide telecare to the majority of UK telecare users.

You will find more details about TSA members here.

Next, your service provider carries out a telecare profile. This is where an experienced telecare adviser recommends the right level of support after visiting the home and identifying your individual needs, health and mobility. After a full assessment, the adviser will recommend the correct range and combination of sensors and the types of response available from the 24/7 monitoring centre to help you maintain an independent lifestyle.

Everyone�s needs are different. An older person recovering from a fall has different needs from a middle aged person with dementia. A young adult with learning difficulties, living in shared accommodation, requires a personalised package that is very different from a vulnerable adult with a disability. An experienced adviser takes all of these differences into account when recommending the correct level of telecare support.

Because telecare is a flexible service, it may be advised for only a short period of time, following discharge from hospital or when coping with bereavement or recuperating from illness. If more support is required at a later date, additional sensors or alarms can be added at that point. Re-evaluations are carried out at regular intervals to ensure that the equipment is working correctly and that all needs are met.

Following the profiling, the telecare sensors and devices are then programmed and installed. When the equipment is in place, the experienced installer explains how the sensors work and demonstrates them in action. The installer also shows you how they link through to the call monitoring centre.

Telecare equipment is designed to be easy to install and use and the installer will demonstrate the equipment until you are comfortable and confident in using it.

The telecare response centre (which is also known as the monitoring centre) holds important personal and medical information about all its customers. When you sign up for a telecare service, you will be asked to provide a list of contact details for a carer, family member or a keyholder and your GP as they will be the people the operator contacts when help is required.

Effective response is what telecare is about. In an emergency your telecare response centre brings the help you need, when you need it. You choose the people who should be contacted and you agree with your monitoring centre exactly what will happen in each circumstance.

Your telecare service will be re-evaluated at regular intervals and you will also be asked to check that the contact numbers for your carers and relatives are up to date.