Telecare
Telecare Overview
Telecare makes it possible for people to retain an independent and dignified life in their own home by coupling high-tech equipment and communications technology with caring services.
At its simplest, Telecare can ensure that an alarm is raised when an individual is in difficultly at home. It can also provide 24-hour-a day lifestyle monitoring that gives carers more comprehensive information concerning an individual's well being. Through the advanced technology of Telehealth, it can even provide remote monitoring of a person's vital signs.
Telecare equipment includes a whole range of sensors, detectors, monitors and alarms tailored to individual need. These might include motion sensors that will detect if an individual has fallen, sensors to detect environmental dangers such as fire or gas, sensors which detect when a door has been opened or the provision of a bogus caller alarm.
Telecare services include 24-hour monitoring 365-days-a-year, professional call centres staffed by experienced and caring staff and a rapid response to difficulties.
The equipment feeds back information to a response centre via radio signals to the client's telephone. All information is automatically monitored and any changes to the 'norm' trigger an alert at WEL's response centre. Or, at anytime, clients can summon help themselves without even picking up the phone. As soon as an alert is received, response centre staff will act immediately.
As well as offering detection and response to emergencies, telecare can also work preventatively with services programmed to monitor an individual's health or well being. Often known as lifestyle monitoring, this can provide early warning of deterioration and prompt a response from a family member or professionals.
More complex systems can include telehealth, which is designed to complement healthcare via the monitoring of vital signs such as blood pressure. Data is transmitted to a response centre or clinician's computer where it is monitored against parameters set by the individual's clinician.
Telecare offers individuals the chance to remain in their own homes despite physical frailty or disability, mental impairment or external threats. The service gives carers and relatives the reassurance of knowing that the team at WEL are keeping a discrete 'eye' on a client's welfare.
Complete systems back up
Providing a secure, uninterrupted service is vital so for added security all our systems are fully backed up by a leading industry partner.
Environmental Control Solutions
Environmental control solutions enable people with limited dexterity and impaired mobility to perform a wide range of everyday activities such as: operating a TV or DVD; opening and closing windows, doors, curtains or blinds; switching a domestic appliance on/off; or controlling lighting. Environmental control solutions can be integrated with telecare solutions to provide people with a greater level of independence and quality of life and reducing reliance on carers to perform minor everyday tasks.
WEL's monitoring and response centre service
When anyone connected to the service calls us, activates an alarm, or if a sensor detects a problem we immediately respond.
This a non-stop service which goes on 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 356 days a year. It is fully backed up, so if the WEL system fails, monitoring is automatically and seamlessly switched to a different site.
Monitoring is carried out by our specially trained and skilled operators. Our team have been selected because they enjoy helping people, have the personal skills to provide reassurance, a high level of sensitivity and plenty of common sense. They understand that living alone can be stressful, that clients may need assistance with 'minor' difficulties, that there are times when clients may be confused, forgetful, uncomfortable and in poor humour. They spend as much time as is needed dealing with any difficulties, offering advice if appropriate or calling-in assistance or the emergency services when necessary.
When a call is received, staff can immediately see how the call was triggered, e.g. a pendant alarm. The caller's details are displayed, including name, address, carer's or neighbour's details, keyholders', doctor's details and, if appropriate, medical conditions. If the call centre receives no verbal response, the client is called on the telephone. If there's still no response, the centre uses the client's list of contacts to ask the nearest person to call at the house and check if everything is OK.
The centre is compliant with the Telecare Services Association Code of Practice.