What is Technology Enabled Care?
Technology enabled care is used to help people self-manage their own health, and stay happy, safe and independent in their own homes. It involves using different systems such as alarms, sensors, medication dispensers, home health monitoring or text messaging services, which are used in your own home and connect you directly to health services providers.
Digital technologies can empower patients/clients and carers by giving them more control over their own health.
What services are available?
The Technology Enabled Care (TEC) service includes Telecare, and Home and Mobile Health Monitoring.
Telecare alarm service Home Pods Florence (Flo)
Who is eligible?
Through the Integrated TEC Hub individuals can be assessed and have installed a range of services to aid their health and wellbeing.
People of all ages and disabilities can benefit from a TEC package, depending on their individual circumstances and assessed need.
Telecare
Telecare is available to any Argyll and Bute resident who is assessed as being at risk due to age and / or disability and / or social circumstances. This includes people who are:
- Living alone or living with another vulnerable person
- Living with a carer or carers where the service is essential to maintain the care arrangements
- Carers who require support to help look after a dependent
- Disabled due to clinical/medical condition such as MS, epilepsy or heart condition
- Responsible for a child/children who may be at risk due to the medical condition of their carers
- Vulnerable when living alone due to a history of domestic violence
- Isolated or housebound due to disability, regardless of age
How does the Telecare Service Work?
The Telecare Service is a 24 hour, 365 days a year service, which involves the provision of a telephone link between the base unit in your home and the monitoring centre. Should you press the button on your pendant or unit, or a sensor be activated, a message is sent to the monitoring centre where trained operators take the most appropriate action, whether it be contacting a family member, neighbour, doctor, the emergency services or responder service.
We are also able to provide other sensors including smoke detectors, heat sensors, open door alerts, flood detectors, bed and chair sensors and a range of other equipment which can be linked to the telecare unit. These sensors will activate automatically should assistance be required.
You can apply for Telecare online here on the website, for yourself or on behalf of someone else. We will ask you for details about you, your home, and who your keyholders will be to enable us to process your request as quickly as possible.
Apply for Telecare alarm services
Before you apply, if you have not already done so, you may find it useful to use the Telecare self-check tool, which asks you some questions about you and your needs, then provides Telecare specific and general advice based on your answers (there is no need to enter any personal data)
Charges for Telecare
A charge of £6.10 per week is made for provision of the Telecare Service. This charge will start following installation. There is a 4 week minimum contract term.
You can pay for the service in the following ways:
Telephone: 01546 605515
Online: (using our online payments system)
In person: at any of our Customer Service Points
The £5.75 a week charge only applies to Telcare services and equipment (not the home pods or Florence service)
Home and Mobile Health Monitoring
Home Pods
Our Home pod service enables people to be monitored for health changes from their home, making it possible for those with long term conditions to have less frequent unplanned contact with health services. This service is only available to people with certain long term conditions who may require intensive home monitoring and is at the recommendation of a Dr or nurse. As the home pods are provided by the NHS, there are no charges for this service.
- Patients can stay at home longer/leave hospital sooner as they can be monitored at home
- Improves patients' health
- Exacerbations can be reduced with early intervention
- Patient becomes expert in their own disease
- Gives people confidence to manage their own condition
Florence (Flo)
Flo is a text messaging system that also allows people to monitor their conditions at home through their mobile phone. It also sends patients prompts and health tips tailored to their individual needs. It is being used to support an ever growing list of conditions, including asthma, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It’s also being used to support mental health services, podiatry, stopping smoking, weight management and many other services. You can ask your GP or clinicians that you are seen by if they are using Flo and if it would be suitable for you.
As Florence is provided by the NHS, there are no charges for this service.
Contact us
If you wish to make a referral for yourself or someone else for TEC, please call the Servicepoint on 01546 605522 and ask to speak to someone about Technology Enabled Care, or use our online form to get in touch
Apply for or enquire about Technology Enabled Care
Alternatively you can email enquiries@argyll-bute.gov.uk and ask for the new TEC referral to be passed to the local Duty Social Worker for action.
If your enquiry is about Telecare, it would be helpful if you could provide details of named responders (Name, Address and Telephone Number, GP) at this time.