Community Alarm and Telecare Service

Telecare is one of the most important tools we use to help you live independently in your own home. It ensures you receive help quickly when necessary.

Before applying for Telecare, you can now use the self-check online tool which will provide a summary page with useful information relating to your answers. It may also suggest that you contact your local Community Alarm and Telecare Service.

We would also encourage you to try out various pieces of other Telecare equipment that can support people to live at home safely and independently.

What is the Community Alarm service?

The Perth and Kinross Council Community Alarm service helps vulnerable people living in Perth and Kinross, who need some extra support to live in their own homes with the security of knowing that they can call for assistance in an emergency, such as a fall or an illness at any time of the day or night by activating an alarm unit. The alarm unit works via a SIM card and the mobile phone network, meaning that a phone line is no longer necessary. When an alarm is activated, our alarm receiving centre can speak to the person and find out what kind of assistance is required. The call handler can then:

• provide reassurance via the alarm receiving centre
• contact a family member or friend (keyholder)
• contact your GP/NHS24 or emergency services
• send our mobile response team to assist you (they have specialist lifting equipment)

The service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, and is available to any Perth and Kinross resident.

The service has a dedicated response team that respond to activation calls. If preferred activation calls can be routed directly to a family member or carer as an alternative to a Community Alarm responder. The response team cover the whole of Perth and Kinross which has an approximate area of 2,041 square miles and because of this, we encourage people to have at least 2 keyholders who can be contacted and are available to attend to give some reassurance and remain with the individual until our team arrive to assist.

Who can benefit from Telecare?

• Those who are vulnerable.
• Those who are at risk of abuse.
• Those who are frail.
• Those with mobility issues.
• Those at risk of falling.
• Those with learning disabilities/disabilities/sensory impairment.
• Those who live alone.

The alarm is activated by either pressing the button on the alarm unit or the pendant worn by the person, this button can be worn on a wrist strap or on a neck cord and is waterproof.

Applying for a Community Alarm and Telecare Service

Referral to the service is via self, family/carer referral to the Access Team or assessed referrals via Health and Social care professionals where a resident has been assessed as being at risk due to age and/or disability and/or social circumstances. You can contact the Early Intervention and Prevention service on 0345 30 111 20 or AccessTeam@pkc.gov.uk. If you are eligible, an assessing worker will carry out a home visit to assess for the service and discuss how the system operates.

How does it work?

The base unit has a button on it that can be pressed to call for assistance. You will also receive a pendant that you can wear and it has a similar button on it. When one of the buttons is pressed, the Community Alarm Control Centre is automatically contacted by phone. The base unit has a loudspeaker and a strong microphone on it so you and the Control Centre can speak to one another. More detailed information can be found in our 'How to use your Community Alarm' guidance.

Telecare equipment

The base unit is the hub of the system and connects to the telephone line and mains electrical power supply. It receives smart information from the other detectors and sensors positioned around the home and generates alarm calls for help.

As part of our standard package, we also offer to install smoke and heat alarms which are directly linked to our alarm receiving centre. If activated they send an alarm to our alarm receiving centre and this allows us to call the fire brigade, if necessary.

Other equipment that can be provided:

• falls pendant - suitable for people with cognitive or physical impairment who may not activate the alarm if they have fallen
• bed/chair exit sensor - used to detect when a service user gets out of bed during the night and fails to return after a specified period of time has elapsed
• door sensors - for use when there is evidence of someone going out at inappropriate times, eg during the night and could be at risk
• epilepsy bed sensor - can detect seizure activity
• flood detector - fitted to sinks/baths and can detect if water is going to overflow

These additional pieces of equipment require an assessment from our specialist assessor.

Watch the following short video for a brief introduction to some of the technology available:

Reporting a fault in the equipment

If there is a fault with the equipment this can be reported through the Community Alarm and Telecare Service Control Centre. This is a 24-hour service and the telephone number is 01738 459600.

Unhappy with the service?

Firstly, speak to the Community Alarm and Telecare Service Control Centre on telephone number 01738 459600. Most problems can be dealt with quickly by the people closest to the situation.

If you are still unhappy with the response or feel unable to approach these staff directly, view the complaints procedure.