Telecare is the provision of a 24 hour community alarm service which, when activated, would summon assistance for a service user if they needed help or were at risk. It offers reassurance to those who live alone and is often useful for people who are frail, have tendency to fall and might lie undetected. It is also often offered where someone has memory loss to maintain safety in the home from fire, flood or other risk situations. It can also enable live-in carers to go out knowing they can easily be summoned if needed.

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• Q: How do I apply to have it?
• Q: Is there anything my house needs to have to access the service?
• Q: How do people get into my house if I have collapsed?
• Q: What does an assessment involve?
• Q: I don't like gadgets - would Telecare work for me?
• Q: What would happen if I needed help in the middle of the night?
• Q: My house has old walls and long corridors- would the equipment work?
• Q: Does it matter where I live in Dumfries & Galloway?
• Q: What is the difference between Telecare and Telehealth?
• Q: My Dad would not think to press a buzzer if he needed help - what can Telecare do for us?
• Q: If I was a responder, what level of support would be expected off me?
• Q: How much will the Telecare service cost me?

• Q: How do I apply to have it?

  A: You can ask your normal care co-ordinator, nurse or social worker to refer you for assessment. Otherwise you or your representative can contact your local Social Work office (Annan- 01461 203311, Dumfries 01387 273600, Newton Stewart 01671 403933, Stranraer 01776 888450, Stewartry 01556 505777).

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• Q: Is there anything my house needs to have to access the service?

  A: The two things you need to have in your home are a BT landline which allows outgoing calls and also includes Calling Line Identity (CLI) and an electric socket close to the BT socket.

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• Q: How do people get into my house if I have collapsed?

  A: It is very important to have 2 people who would be able to act as your "responders" - that means them being able to hold a door key for your house and being able to go to your assistance if your care call alarm went off. You could perhaps ask a trusted neighbour, friend or relative who lives near enough to respond in an emergency.

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• Q: What does an assessment involve?

  A: For simple Care call only, only the buzzer (which can be on a pendant round the neck or on a wriststrap) is pressed by the service user if they need reassurance or help in an emergency.

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• Q: I don't like gadgets - would Telecare work for me?

  A: For simple Care call only, only the buzzer (which can be on a pendant round the neck or on a wriststrap) is pressed by the service user if they need reassurance or help in an emergency.

  Click here for more details about I don't like gadgets - would Telecare work for me?
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• Q: What would happen if I needed help in the middle of the night?

  A: If help was needed in the middle of the night, the call centre has operators working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They would raise the alarm exactly as they would if it were daytime and your responder would come to your aid. If emergency services were also required these would be summoned by the call centre. This might save a life or prevent a lot of distress for you and those who care for you.

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• Q: My house has old walls and long corridors- would the equipment work?

  A: The technical staff deal with every possible type of house and provide the apparatus which will best suit the layout of corridors and rooms. This occasionally means they will provide more than one transmitter unit.

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• Q: Does it matter where I live in Dumfries & Galloway?

  A: The service is available throughout Dumfries & Galloway. You should contact your local Social Work office or alternatively discuss with your regular care provider.

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• Q: What is the difference between Telecare and Telehealth?

  A: Telecare is the provision of a 24 hour community alarm service which, when activated, would summon assistance for a service user if they needed help or were at risk.

  Click here for more details about What is the difference between Telecare and Telehealth?
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• Q: My Dad would not think to press a buzzer if he needed help - what can Telecare do for us?

  A: Passive technology ensures that where someone lacks mental capacity to take action, the sensors can raise the alarm where a risk situation is detected e.g. an open door alert can be set to raise the alarm if someone goes outside inappropriately at night or, if someone has a tendency to falls, a bed sensor can be used to raise the alarm if they do not return to bed during the night after visiting the toilet.

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• Q: If I was a responder, what level of support would be expected off me?

  A: As a responder, you would attend the service user's house as soon as possible to comfort and assess what other assistance was needed. Where appropriate, you could help the person after a fall as far as was safe to do so without further assistance e.g. covering with a blanket or helping to sit up.

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• Q: How much will the Telecare service cost me?

  A: The equipment itself is always provided free but there is a small weekly charge (means tested) for the response service (£3.43 currently). Where someone with cognitive loss is assessed to need the protection of Telecare services, charges are usually waived i.e. where only automatic sensors would be practicable.

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