Telecare and help alarms

A Telecare service consists of equipment and services that support your safety and independence in your own home (including sheltered or extra care housing).

People consider tele care and help alarms for a variety of reasons including wanting to

feel safer in their own home
maintain their independence
provide assistance in the event of a fall which may avoid hospital admission
stay safe whilst navigating dementia

The equipment can sense risks such as smoke, floods and gas, can remind you to take pills and even call for help if you fall.

Depending on the package chosen the telecare care services will connect either to a help centre which can action a pre-agreed emergency plan should a problem occur or send an alert to a nominated person, such as a family member or a friend, living in the property so they can establish contact or act as needed. The type of tele care package you choose should reflect the support you need.

The UK's telephone network has been delivered through an analogue network for decades and will be upgraded to a digital solution by December 2025.

The new system is called 'Voice over Internet Protocol' (VoIP). You may also hear this referred to as a digital landline or 'Digital Voice', the name of BT's new home phone service.

Moving to a digital landline does mean that you will need an internet connection to make and receive calls. If you already have a broadband connection, then the new digital landline system will use this.

If you don't have broadband, your network provider, will supply you with a connection to support the new digital landline system. You shouldn't pay extra for this if you don't choose to take up a broadband service.

If you are considering a new telecare package you should check with your supplier how they are preparing for the introduction of VoIP and make sure that the product you chose.

Moving to an internet based phone service may be worrying for a number of reasons but Age UK has a produced some useful information and advice on the process.

Changes to landline telephones | Ageuk.org.uk

Leeds Tele Care Service

Leeds City Council’s provision of telecare is called Leeds Tele Care Services, offering five packages each providing a range of sensors, alarms, and monitoring systems which can be tailored to meet the individual’s needs.

Leeds Tele Care Services helps people live independently and safely in their own homes – while providing much-needed reassurance to family members, friends, and carers. It can be used alone or as part of a package.

Sensors across the home on ceilings, walls, and doors – providing 24-hour safety monitoring sending alerts to the Telecare Response Centre.
Personal alarm pendant that the person wears can be used to raise an alert.
A falls detector which can automatically send the alert to Telecare Response Centre.
Key holder contacts and/or mobile response team attending person’s home in response to an emergency alert.
Leeds Tele Care systems are Digital Voice ready.

Leeds Tele Care Services offers a wide range of different sensors, alarms and monitoring systems including