One of families' biggest fears is the thought that a senior living alone will fall or feel unwell and be unable to call for help. Telecare was created precisely to take away some of that worry. It's a simple technology that lets an older person call for help with a single gesture, and gives family and caregivers the sense that someone will respond if needed. This article explains how telecare works and when it genuinely helps.
How telecare works
The most popular form of telecare is a band worn on the wrist or neck with an SOS button. After pressing it, the senior connects to a round-the-clock monitoring centre, whose operator assesses the situation and, if needed, notifies family, a neighbour, or emergency services. More modern devices can also automatically detect a fall and send an alert themselves, even when the senior is unconscious or unable to press the button.
Who telecare is a good solution for
Telecare works above all for people who are still fairly independent but live alone and are at risk of falls or a sudden decline in health. It's good support for seniors with heart conditions, after falls, with dizziness, or balance problems. It's especially valuable for families living far away, letting them respond faster. It's worth combining it with other home safeguards, which we write about in our article on how to prepare a home for a senior.
What it costs and where to get it
Telecare is available in several ways. Some municipalities offer it to residents free or for a small fee as part of support programmes for seniors, so it's worth asking at your local social welfare centre. There are also commercial services with a monthly subscription. The cost depends on the scope, for example whether the device detects falls and whether a round-the-clock monitoring centre is included.
What to look for when choosing telecare
- Does the device connect to a round-the-clock centre, or only call relatives?
- Can it automatically detect a fall?
- What is the range, only at home or outside it too?
- How long does the battery last, and how is it charged?
- Will the senior accept wearing the device every day?
What telecare can't replace
Telecare is valuable support, but it won't replace real care where it's needed for most of the day. If a senior needs constant help with everyday tasks, frequent supervision, or nursing care, an SOS button alone isn't enough. We describe the signs that home care is no longer enough in our article on preventing falls in seniors.
When broader care is needed
If telecare is no longer enough, and a senior's safety requires a constant presence, it's worth considering a facility with round-the-clock care. You can use our free help choosing a care home, describing your loved one's needs to us, and we'll present matching facilities.
Telecare is an inexpensive and simple way to increase the safety of a senior living alone and reduce the family's worry. It's worth treating it as one element of care, not the whole of it, and combining it with other forms of support.
