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North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership

Assistive technology in your home

Telecare

Telecare has several benefits, including:

  • peace of mind for the user, family/carers
  • helping the user can lead a more fulfilling and independent life with control and dignity
  • helping the user to continue living where they have friends, family and neighbours, preventing admission to a care home
  • assisting the user in returning home from hospital

Anyone living in North Ayrshire at any age can access this service. There is a small weekly charge.

Who can it help?

Telecare may help if you:

  • are prone to falling
  • need short term assistance whilst recovering from injury or illness
  • have mobility problems
  • may have a longer term condition
  • are a concerned carer
  • feel vulnerable or isolated in your own home
  • feel you have no support from family
  • have epilepsy
  • have memory problems as a result of dementia or head injury
  • are at risk from environmental threats such as fire, gas and floods

How does it work?

Telecare within your home is linked to a community alarm, which is provided as part of the package.

When triggered, using a neck or wrist worn pendant, an alert is sent to our friendly monitoring centre who will be able to speak to you through the loudspeaker on the unit. The operator will take immediate action to help you, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This could include contacting our mobile responders, a family member, a carer, or the emergency services.

Our Telecare service can provide more than just a push button alarm. Additional sensors can be supplied, ensuring the service meets your needs:

  • Fall Detector: can detect a fall has occurred and will send an automatic alert to our alarm receiving centre
  • Smoke, Heat or Carbon Monoxide Detectors: sends an automatic alert when harmful changes are detected within the home
  • Property Exit Sensor: sends an automatic alert when the door is open or closed, or if the resident doesn’t return within a pre-set time
  • Flood Detector: alerts the monitoring centre if excess water is detected
  • Temperature Sensor: alerts if the house becomes excessively hot or cold
  • Activity Monitoring: activity monitoring systems consist of five motion sensors and two door sensors - these systems are typically installed for a period of up to four weeks. They help to identify how you are managing within your home and allow us to tailor supports appropriately
  • GPS locators: GPS locators can be used to promote independent walking within the local community. GPS locators can locate the wearer should they not return home as expected. These devices are not linked to our alarm receiving centre. If you meet the criteria for the service, an assessing worker will carry out the appropriate assessment for the service and answer any questions you may have

Mobile responders

We have a unique team of highly trained mobile responders, who are equipped to assist you.

Whether you are an older person, vulnerable or disabled, the mobile responders can come directly to your aid.

They can:

  • get you back on your feet after a fall
  • wait with you until additional support arrives

Telecare service on isles of Cumbrae and Arran

If you live on the isles of Cumbrae or Arran you will pay a reduced weekly charge for your community alarm. Your alarm will be operational 24/7 and will be answered by the alarm receiving centre at all times, however our community alarm responder service is only operational as follows:

  • Isle of Cumbrae - 8am to 12.30pm and 5pm to 9pm
  • Isle of Arran - 8am to 11pm

Outwith these times, the alarm receiving centre will contact your keyholders, family or next of kin, so it is essential that island residents can identify two keyholders. If you require emergency assistance, emergency services will also be contacted by the alarm centre.

Cost

  • £5.32/ week for mainland
  • £2.60/ week for islands

(Exemptions may apply)