Middlesbrough Council

Department of Social Care

Connect and TelecareHelping you live independently

What is Telecare?

Telecare is a way of managing the risks of living in your own home and can help you to be independent.Telecare uses sensors that raise an alarm at ourcontact centre in the event of an emergency, forexample, if you have a fall or leave the gas on.

How does the service work?

We fit a Telecare alarm to your telephone point andmains power supply and a range of sensors forexample, smoke, flood or carbon monoxide detectorsaround your home. We also give you a personal alarmtrigger.

If one of the sensors is triggered or if you press yourpersonal alarm trigger, the alarm connected to yourphone will ring our contact centre. One of our advisorswill try to speak to you over the speaker in the Telecare alarm. If they are unable to speak to you they will try to contact you by telephone. If it is an emergency or they cannot contact you they will arrange an appropriate response.

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This could be contacting:

l your family, friends or neighbours;

l the Police, Ambulance or Fire Service;

l your Doctor or

l a Connect Officer to help in an emergency.

Some Telecare sensors can just raise an alarm in yourhome without calling the contact centre.

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. . . or activate a sensor

The alarm calls the Connect Link Contact Centre

A Contact Centre Advisor will speak

to you over the loud speaker

We arrange an appropriate response

You press the button . . .

How will the service help me?

The service can make a real difference to your life.It can help you to stay in or move into your ownhome. It also gives those who care about you thereassurance that you are safe and well.

Who would benefit from Telecare?

Anyone, of any age, who would like to be independent and feel safer in their own home. The service cannot replace your family or other carers, but it can give you more confidence and give them that extra reassurance when they are not around.

Telecare may be of particular benefit for:

l older or infirm people.

l people who have been discharged from hospital and need additional support at home.l people with disabilities wanting to live more independently.

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How do I get a Telecare service?

If you already have a Social Worker please ask themfor a Telecare assessment.

If you do not have a Social Worker contact theDepartment of Social Care.

Telephone: (01642) 726004

Minicom: (01642) 726980

Email: socialservices@middlesbrough.gov.uk

If you are not eligible for the service, or you don’t want an assessment, you can buy Telecare services.Contact the Connect Contact Centre.

Telephone: (01642) 726009 to speak to an adviser

Email: telecare@middlesbrough.gov.uk

How much does Telecare cost?We may ask you to make a contribution towards theTelecare service. We will base your contribution onyour savings and income. Our leaflet ‘The Cost toYou - Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care andother Non-Residential Services’, explains how we willcalculate your contribution.

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If you do not meet our eligibility criteria or do not want a social work assessment you can still have aTelecare service. The weekly cost of this will depend onthe number of sensors you have installed.

Some of the Telecare sensors available

Telecare is constantly developing and there are alwaysnew sensors available. Our Telecare Officer can helpyou choose the sensors that best meet your needs.

Smoke Detector - raises an instant alarm if it detects smoke.

Fall Detector - automatically detects when you fall and raises an alert.

Flood Detector - identifies an overflowing bath or sink and raises an alert.

Bed/Chair Occupancy Sensor - raises an alert if you leave your bed/chair and don’t return within a set time period. We can also attach a sensor to switch on a light when you leave your bed.

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Bogus Caller Button – fitted near your door for you to press if you are concerned by a visitor.

Property Exit Sensors - raises an alert if someone leaves their home and doesnot return within a set time period.

What is the Connect service?

Connect is a way of calling for emergency help and support, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Connect gives you and those who care about you the reassurance of knowing that in an emergency you can get help at the push of a button.

The equipment is unobtrusive and installation is easy.We fit an alarm to your telephone point and mainspower supply and give you a personal alarm trigger.You can wear this on your wrist, clipped to your clothing or round your neck. One push of the trigger raises the alarm at our contact centre.

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Our advisors are on hand to take your call. When theyreceive a call they will assess the nature of theemergency and decide what action to take. ConnectOfficers are on call and able to help in an emergency24 hours a day.

You can purchase this service direct from Connect.For more information contact us.

For more information or a demonstration:

Telephone: (01642) 726009

Email: telecare@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Visit: www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/telecareandcarelink

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How to contact theDepartment of Social Care

In office hours:Our office hours areMonday to Thursday 8.30am - 5.00pmFridays from 8.30am - 4.30pm.You can contact us by phoneTelephone: (01642) 726004, orby using Minicom: (01642) 726980(please use announcer.).

In person you can visit us at ourContact Centre, Middlesbrough House,50 Corporation Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2YQ.Our Contact Centre is open Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 8.30am - 4.30pmWednesday 12.30pm - 4.30pm and on Friday 8.30am - 4.00pm.

Emergencies, out of office hours and weekends:For emergencies, out of office and weekends you canTelephone: 08702 402994 or you can call usingMinicom: (01642) 602346 (please use announcer.)

You can write to us at:Middlesbrough Council Department of Social CarePO Box 505, Civic Centre, Middlesbrough TS1 9FZ

You can email us at:socialservices@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Or visit our website at:www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/comments

If you would like more information or a demonstration of Connect or Telecare please complete this form and return it to:

Connect, Middlesbrough Intermediate Care Centre,Homerton Road, Pallister Park, TS3 8PN

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Email:

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www.middlesbrough.gov.uk

CL&T June 2013