Press release

Described as perfect for those who love their independence, telecare provides the reassurance many people need to continue to live in their own home.

What is it, exactly? It’s a collection of smart technologies, linked to a central support centre, which monitor your wellbeing, and summon help if you need it. One popular telecare option, for example, is the ‘bogus caller’ alarm. Press the button, and a trained advisor can listen in to your conversation, and assess whether the caller is a regular tradesman or not. For anyone who has experienced door step crime, this can be very reassuring. Equally, if your spouse had dementia, you might want to put sensors on your outside doors, to alert you if he or she leaves the house.

Mrs Scotcher, from Bexhill, has used telecare for the last three months. This is what she has to say about the experience:

"I’ve found it absolutely brilliant. My husband has got Parkinson’s which means he’s unsteady on his feet. In the past, he’s fallen over in the night as he walks to the bathroom. Thanks to my telecare package, I’ve now got pressure mats on either side of the bed which trigger an alarm if he gets up. This then wakes me up, and I can then make sure he’s ok, and get him back to bed safely.

When the alarm goes off, you hear a voice saying ‘Hello Mrs Scotcher. Is everything alright?’ It makes such a difference knowing there’s somebody there and you’re not alone."

When someone with telecare in their home activates an alarm, they always get an immediate response. Staff at Wealden and Eastbourne Lifeline (the company that operates telecare services in East Sussex) work around the clock, every day of the year.

Critically, telecare can also work without any active participation. This means that if you fell and struck your head, special fall detectors could pick this up, and prompt a call to paramedics on your behalf.

Councillor Bill Bentley, Lead Member for Adult Social Care, praised the system saying:

"One of the reasons telecare is so popular, is that the technology is so discreet. Your home is still your home and only a keen eye will spot the different pieces of kit. It’s perfect for those who love their independence.

Many people find telecare stops them feeling vulnerable or isolated. It also gives reassurance, and peace of mind to families if they have a loved one that lives alone."

Telecare, however, is not just aimed at older people and carers. It also gives a better quality of life to people with long-term health problems – helping them to manage their conditions safely, in the comfort of their own home. For example, a flood sensor which tells you if you’ve left a tap running could be ideal for someone with mild short-term memory loss. And, in the future, these sorts of devices could go a lot further.

East Sussex County Council, together with East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust is currently piloting equipment that can alert clinicians to significant changes in your vital signs, thanks to a remote monitoring service, linking home to hospital. The trial, which is underway with up to 50 heart failure and respiratory disease patients, aims to help people understand their own conditions better and ultimately prevent avoidable hospital admissions.

If you’re interested by telecare and want to find out more, contact Social Care Direct or your social worker. They can refer you to a telecare assessor. The assessor will then visit you at home, and give you the chance to talk about your needs, and find out about the many options available.

For the majority of people, telecare is currently free or heavily subsidised, thanks to a preventative technology grant from the Government. (However, pricing may be reviewed over the next year.)

Telecare equipment can also be bought, direct from the Wealden and Eastbourne Lifeline company.

Notes to editors

The telecare service provides a package of equipment to help people maintain independence at home. It targets those over 65 years, plus those who may need extra support to remain independent, including people with learning disabilities or mental health issues. Telecare can also help people that who have been victims of crime, or who feel vulnerable to doorstep crime.

East Sussex County Council works in partnership with the Wealden and Eastbourne Lifeline company, to provide telecare services. You can contact them using the following details:

Wealden and Eastbourne Lifeline
Greencoat House
32 St. Leonard's Road
Eastbourne, BN21 3UT

Tel: 01323 644422
Email: info@welbeing.org.uk

Telecare increases personal security and safety in the home, alleviates feelings of isolation, provides peace of mind and improves quality of life. It also:

• reduces the need for residential or nursing care
• reduces the burden on carers and provides them with more personal freedom
• contributes to care and support for people with long-term health conditions
• supports hospital discharge and intermediate care
• reduces emergency hospital admission and length of stay, and
• helps those who wish to die at home to do so with dignity.

Telecare works equally for people with sensory impairments. For example, alarms can be adapted to trigger flashing lights and vibrating equipment, instead of sound operated sirens.

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