Equipment

Telecare equipment falls into two categories:

• "Manual Triggers" - equipment that needs to be manually activated by you
  
• "Environmental Triggers" - equipment that monitors environmental aspects, such as smoke and temperature, and will activate themselves.
  

All the sensors work remotely through radio wave signals. This means that they do not need wires to connect to the lifeline base unit, and are therefore unobtrusive.

The "manual triggers" are:

Lifeline home unit

Supplied as standard with a personal trigger (pendant), it monitors a wide range of events around the home. An alarm can be raised by simply pressing the trigger or the large illuminated button on the unit. A call is received at the dedicated 24 hour call centre where the appropriate action is taken.

Personal pendants

Can be worn around the neck or as a wrist band. A press of the button will put you in touch with a trained operator in seconds. They will be aware of your circumstances and can call for help whilst communicating using the two-way speech function.

Safety pull cord

Activated by a single pull, the pull cord sends an alarm through the lifeline unit to the call centre. An essential requirement for the times when a personal trigger is not worn such as in the bath or shower or if removed in bed.

Big button telephone

This telephone has larger button for those users who have limited use of their hands and sight.

Bogus caller button

Placed by the door, enabling you to summon help if you are worried by unwanted callers. The two-way speech function on the lifeline unit will enable help to be summoned if necessary



Fall detector

The falls detector is an essential safeguard for those prone to strokes, blackouts or fainting. Though an alarm can be activated manually, in some cases fallers may not be able to press their lifeline button. In such cases, this device, worn around the waist, will detect a change of angle or sudden jolt and will automatically raise an alarm.



The "environmental triggers" are listed below. To make it easier to understand, we've listed where in the house each piece of equipment would go:

Smoke detector (Kitchen/Living room/Bedroom)

Whilst all homes should have a smoke detector, this device is part of the life line system and will automatically raise an alarm at the call centre in the case of a fire. The trained operator will call the emergency services enabling you to concentrate on vacating your property as quickly as possible - reducing the risk of injury.

Flood detector (Kitchen/Bathroom)

An unobtrusive sensor provides an early warning of potential flood situations and raises an alarm. Reassuring for any homeowner who is likely to be at risk from leaving taps running. It safeguards against costly and potentially dangerous accidents.

Sounder beacon (Any visible place)

This device is used as an addition to a first detector and is triggered when the first detector is activated, a smoke detector for example. Placed in a bedroom or favourite area, it will flash continuously and trill very loudly to ensure you are aware that there may be a problem.

PIR movement detector (Every room)

Monitors you within your home and can be set to detect if you have risen from your bed. No movement for an excessive period could raise an alarm at the call centre where the operator will check and see if you are safe and well. If they fail to speak with you, help would be called from a carer, relative, or one of the back-up response services, to visit and confirm that you are safe.

Bed occupancy sensor (Bedroom)

A pressure pad placed under the mattress, which is unobtrusive and undetectable. If you have to get out of bed during the night and fail to return after a given time, an alarm would be raised. It helps to manage the risks associated with independent living. The sensor can be set to switch on a bedside light that activates when the person gets out of bed.

Chair occupancy sensor (Living room)

This is a pressure pad that is placed under a chair cushion in a chair that you may sit. Working in the same way a bed sensor would, it detects if you have got out of the chair and failed to return in a given time. If the user fails to return to the chair then an alarm would be raised.


Pressure mat (Bedroom)

This device is placed under a mat or a carpet by a doorway for example, and can be used to indicate if that area has been walked on. The device works on the pressure of a person and may stay hidden and undetected whilst keeping you safe in the home.

Epilepsy sensor (Bedroom)

This device is for night time use and lies flat underneath the bed sheets at shoulder level. It is operated when the sensor detects sudden movement and an increase in pulse. The alert will be raised at the 24 hour call centre and the appropriate action can be taken.

Property exit sensor (Hallway)

Designed as a safeguard for people who have memory loss or confusion and who may be prone to leave their homes for extended periods at inappropriate times. A PIR movement detector works in conjunction with a door contact sensor and will detect if a person has walked out of the door and not returned. An alarm can be raised after a preset period.

Carbon monoxide detector (Kitchen)

Detects dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and raises an alarm call to a warden or 24 hour response centre. Carbon monoxide is a potentially lethal gas emitted by faulty gas and solid fuel appliances such as boilers or fires and is odourless, colourless and tasteless, which makes it very difficult to detect.

Temperature extremes sensor (Kitchen/Outside wall)

It detects a rapid rise or fall in temperature such as an unattended boiling saucepan, which without creating smoke is unlikely to be detected by the smoke alarm. Nevertheless these situations can still result in a fire. It also detects a rapid drop in temperature such as a central heating failure. It is an aid to safety and promotes independent living.

Natural gas detector (Kitchen)

This device provides an early warning of dangerous levels of gas in the atmosphere. It will detect if a gas tap has been left on, a jet has been blown out or if there is a gas leak.

Pillow alert (Bedroom)

This device is used as an addition to a first detector and is triggered when the first detector is activated, a smoke detector for example. Placed under a pillow for night time use, it will vibrate continuously to ensure user is aware that there may be a problem.

New and enhanced products are part of the Telecare development programme. A user pager alert (which alerts a relative or carer direct rather than routing through a call centre) and medicine/pill reminder are amongst the next range of products likely to be available to Telecare service users.


Return to a guide to Telecare

Photos on this page copyright of Tunstall Group Ltd - this link will open in a new window