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Assistive technology

Assistive technology can provide peace of mind for you and your carers and is able to provide assistance whenever it's needed, 24 hours a day.

It can provide much needed reassurance if you are worried about you or someone else feeling safe at home, falling or becoming forgetful, for example.


There are 2 types of assistive technology available which can be used either independently or as combined assistance. They are community alarms and telecare.

Community alarms

Community alarm systems have a pendant or wristband you wear which connects wirelessly to a base unit in your home. Many units still connect to a telephone line but newer units connect to your router or via a mobile data connection instead.

If you need help because you have difficulties in your home such as being at risk of falling, or if you're unwell or have another emergency, you can press a button on the pendant, wristband or base unit that connects you to specially trained staff at a monitoring centre. They can give advice, reassurance, or contact nominated people such as family and friends, or the emergency services when needed.

For those who don't need to connect to a monitoring centre, such as where there's a carer in the same building, the alert can be received by the carer through a pager type device instead.

Currently, there are a range of alarms monitoring arrangements in place across the county based on each district authority area. From April 2024, we'll have one provider across all areas, so all those that have a community alarm from us will be monitored by the same provider, as well as all installations and repairs.

For anyone who has a wider package of the care, the monitoring charge will be included in the personal budget and reflected in your co-funding charge so there will be no separate monitoring charge. Anyone else will need to pay the monitoring charge direct to the provider - how much this is will depend on your local provider. If you're Care Act eligible, you'll not have to pay for the equipment itself, this includes those that have Care Act identified preventative needs, that is, the need to prevent, reduce or delay the need for formal care and support.

Alarms should be tested regularly to make sure they are still connecting calls successfully to the monitoring centre. You can do this by simply pressing the button and making a test call.

Telecare

Telecare equipment can be used throughout your home to support you and your carers where you have an identified health or social need. The telecare device is linked to your community alarm and automatically raises an alert when help is needed.

Examples of some of the telecare equipment are bed and chair occupancy sensors, falls detectors, property exit sensors, and smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.

Accessing assistive technology

To use a community alarm or telecare, you'll need a nearby mains socket for the lifeline unit. Most sensors are wireless and battery powered.

The base unit and any telecare equipment will be provided and installed for you, with a full explanation on how it works.

Assistive technology can form part of a care and support package or can be arranged privately. If you already have a care and support package in place, speak to your adult care worker.

As of 1 April 2024, Medequip Connect will provide the assistive technology service for all our funded clients across Derbyshire.

If you haven't got a care package, please contact Call Derbyshire tel: 01629 533190 if you'd like to ask for a Care Act assessment.

If you haven't got a care package, please contact your local community alarm provider to arrange privately, or contact Call Derbyshire tel: 01629 533190 if you'd like to ask for a Care Act assessment if you feel that you have care and support, or preventative support needs.

To arrange privately, you can now contact Medequip Connect on tel: 01706 572460. Packages start from £4.71 per week.

The following local providers can also be contacted to access assistive technology privately:

Other organisations offering assistive technology

There are many national companies that also offer community alarms and telecare. The Elderly Accommodation Counsel has information on these products and services and lists all providers in any given area, both local and national. They have a section on community alarms.

Other technology to help you live independently

A community alarm and telecare package can help you to maintain your independence at home. Other kinds of technology could support you too, including devices that you already own or have in your home.

Voice controlled technology products (such as the Amazon Alexa, Amazon Echo and Google Nest) can be used to support your independence. You can connect your mobile phone to some devices and phone or message anyone hands-free, which could help in an emergency.

If you already own a smartphone or smartwatch, these may already have features installed. Or you can buy apps that allow you to contact or locate friends or family easily and quickly.

There are also many options available purchase privately and can provide an alternative to a traditional community alarm pendant device. Examples include:

  • assistance buttons or keys to attach to a mobile phone you already own, like the Doro assistance key
  • customisable devices and watches that you can wear outside of the home, like the YourStride watch
  • voice operated technology devices to help you make calls and send and receive messages, such as the RealSAM Phone

Many organisations will also provide free, general advice about the alternatives available to you. The following organisations are a good place to start if you're looking for information and want to see what options are available to you: