Telecare Products
This fact sheet gives information about the community alarm service and the telecare sensors that can be added to it.
- Lifeline Alarm Unit
- Radio smoke detector
- Temperature Extremes sensor
- Flood detector
- Fall detector
- Bed occupancy sensor
- Movement sensor
- Gas sensor/carbon monoxide
- Property Exit Sensor
Lifeline Alarm Unit
The Lifeline Alarm unit raises an automatic phone call to the regional call centre in Aberdeen, when it is activated either by a person pressing their personal trigger, or by one of the telecare sensors below. The call centre staff will attempt to make voice contact with the person. If they cannot do this, or if the person needs help, the call centre staff will ask a key-holder/responder to attend. If necessary, they will contact the emergency services, and in this case may ask a key-holder to attend to open the door.
Radio smoke detector
The smoke detector works in the same way as a conventional one, sounding an alarm when it senses smoke. The difference is that this detector will also trigger the Lifeline Unit to send an alarm call to the call centre. Staff there will call the Fire Service if necessary and may ask a key-holder to attend to open the door.
Temperature Extremes sensor
This sensor detects both high and low temperatures. It is often positioned near the cooker to raise an alarm if the heat is not switched off.
It can also be placed low on the wall in living areas to raise an alarm if the temperature becomes dangerously low, particularly if the occupier of the house is at risk of hypothermia.
Flood detector
The flood detector sits on the floor by the bath or sink, and detects if water has leaked or over-flowed onto the floor.
It sends an alarm call to the call centre, where staff will respond as above.
Fall detector
This sensor is worn by the person on a belt under the clothing. It senses if they fall down and do not get back up, and raises an alarm call.
Bed occupancy sensor
The bed occupancy sensor has a timer in it which is set according to each individual’s routine. It senses when the person has got out of bed during the night, and if they do not return within their usual time, due to a fall, or becoming unwell, an alarm call will be sent to the call centre.
Movement sensor
The movement sensor may be used in two ways. The first is to detect lack of movement, which may indicate that the person is unwell or has fallen. The sensors will be set to send an alarm call if no movement is sensed in the house during a set period, for example 2 hours.
Secondly, these sensors are sometimes used to alert a carer when someone moves into a dangerous area (eg near stairs).
Gas sensor/carbon monoxide
The gas sensor detects the presence of natural gas in the air. In the event of it activating, the call centre staff will contact Transco and may request a key-holder to provide access.
A carbon monoxide sensor may also be fitted, with the same activation and response.
Property Exit Sensor
A movement sensor can be used in conjunction with a magnetic door contact, to detect if a person goes out the door and does not come back in within a set time.
This sensor is used to alert family/keyholders if the person goes out and is at risk being out on their own.
It can be set for night time only, or for 24 hours.
Images supplied by Tunstall Telecom Ltd