Examples of Telecare equipment includes fall detectors, bed sensors, chair sensors, movement detectors, bogus caller buttons and temperature sensors. To have Telecare equipment you first need to have a Lifeline unit so the telecare equipment links to the Town Hall control room. You can view a List of Telecare Equipment (PDF document)
Telecare Equipment (clockwise from top left) - Lifeline Hub, Smoke Alarm, Bogus Caller Alert, Falls Detector, Flood Detector, Movement Sensor, Pullcord
What is the Lifeline Service?
The Lifeline Service consists of a Lifeline unit (which is a small box) plus a personal pendant and pull cord. If this is fitted in your home, it gives you support 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, if needed. By pressing the pendant or pulling the cord, this makes a call to the control room, who will make sure you are alright and ensure that you are supported. They speak to you through the speaker on the Lifeline unit box.
How can Telecare equipment help?
The difference between the Lifeline service and Telecare, is that Telecare equipment is triggered automatically. You do not have to press anything - the equipment would detect a problem and make the call to the control room. They would ensure an appropriate response is made by family, friends, carers, emergency services or one of our team of mobile response officers.
What is the cost of Telecare?
The cost of Telecare is £1.50 per sensor (effective 01/04/2011). This does not apply to Extra Care Schemes.
The Lifeline service, which is needed to run any Telecare equipment, currently costs £4.99 per week. This covers a rental of the equipment and monitoring of the service.
You may be entitled to extra help with the costs for these services, either by undertaking a financial assessment or through Supporting People Benefit. For example, if you are eligible to Supporting People Benefit you would only pay £1.72 per week and not £4.99
If you do not want to undertake a financial assessment or discuss whether you would be entitled to Supporting People Benefit, you could privately purchase the Telecare equipment. However, you would be asked to pay the actual cost of the equipment and any monitoring costs.
You can also view the Disability Equality Impact Assessment (PDF document, 389kb) which was carried out as part of the project.