Telecare systems
Telecare systems involve a pendant or wristband which you wear. This connects wirelessly to a base unit in your home.
Most units provided have a built-in connection to the mobile phone network. We're moving away from landline connection in line with the digital switch.
If you need help because you have difficulties in your home such as being at risk of falling; if you're unwell, or have another emergency, you can press a button on the pendant, wristband or base unit. This connects you to specially trained staff at a monitoring centre.
They can give advice, reassurance, or contact nominated people such as family and friends, falls recovery or medical help when needed.
Alarms should be tested regularly to make sure they're still connecting calls successfully to the monitoring centre. You can do this by simply pressing the button and making a test call.
There are also a range of automatic sensors for risks including falls, ‘wandering’, fire and temperature. These work in a similar way – sending an alert to the contact centre, when the alarm is automatically triggered.
If you don't need to connect to a monitoring centre, such as if you have a carer in the same building, the alert can be received by the carer through a device like a pager instead.
TEC for supporting assessment of your needs
Your adult care worker may suggest use of a 'Canary Care Kit' to support assessment of your care and support needs.
Canary Care uses movement sensors to monitor which rooms you use, any time you leave your home, or use certain things in your home.
This helps to build a picture of what activities you're able to complete and where you may need help.
For more information, you can visit the Canary Care website or see our Canary Care information sheet for families attached to this page.
Proactive and preventative technology
We're passionate about taking a preventative and proactive approach, in line with national strategy.
We're currently completing a proof-of-concept for 'Access Assure' linked to a 24/7 in-person responder service, provided by Medequip Connect in Amber Valley, Erewash, North East Derbyshire and Derbyshire Dales.
Access Assure is a type of Technology Enabled Care (TEC) that helps people stay safe and independent at home. It combines:
- reactive equipment (like a pendant alarm or a falls detector)
- proactive monitoring using discreet sensors around the home
These sensors build a picture of someone's usual daily routine and if something changes, it can show that help may be needed.
For more information view our Access Assure information sheet for families attached to this page.