What telecare means
Telecare covers technology that helps someone live independently at home and get help quickly in an emergency. It ranges from a simple pendant alarm to a network of sensors and a 24-hour monitoring centre.
It is not the same as telehealth, which is about remote medical appointments and monitoring. Telecare is about safety, security and peace of mind.
Emergency alarms
A pendant or wristband with a button linked to a monitoring centre or to family. Designed for one moment: a fall, a sudden illness or a crisis.
They rely on the person wearing it and being able to press it, which is the well-known weakness. Some newer alarms have automatic fall detection.
Passive sensors
Motion, door, bed and fall sensors that report activity or its absence. Useful signals, but they tell you after something has gone wrong, and they can feel like being watched in your own home.
Check-in and reminder services
Scheduled contact: a call, a text or a phone alert at set times, with confirmation that it was received. This is the preventative end — the drink taken, the meal eaten, the appointment remembered.
It does not detect a fall and does not call an ambulance. It reduces how often things reach that point.
GPS and mobile alarms
GPS-enabled pendants and mobile alarms work outside the home. They are useful for people who walk and may get lost or fall while out, but they need charging and a mobile signal.
How much telecare costs
- Council-funded telecare: often free or subsidised after a needs assessment.
- Private monitoring services: roughly £15–£35 per month.
- Installation and equipment: often £30–£100 upfront, though some providers waive this.
- GPS/mobile alarms: roughly £20–£40 per month, sometimes with a setup fee.
How to get telecare
- Ask your local council's adult social care team for a needs assessment.
- Many councils have approved telecare providers or run their own scheme.
- If you buy privately, compare at least three providers and read the contract carefully.
- Check whether the device works during a power cut and whether it is digital-ready.
How to combine different telecare options
- Use an alarm for genuine emergencies.
- Use reminders for the ordinary days, which is most of them.
- Use sensors only where there is a specific, agreed concern and consent to match.
- Always ask what happens if the broadband or power fails, and whether the analogue phone switchover affects the device.
The wider picture
3.9 million
people aged 65 and over in the UK live alone, around a third of that age group.
Source: Office for National Statistics