Living at Home Kit: Assistive Technology
Themes: Advocacy, , , Mental Health, Physical Disabilities
Aimed at: Adults 18+
What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive Technology is a range of equipment
which can help to keep you independent in
your own home and provide peace of mind to
carers. We provide three assistive technology
services:
• Telecare – Sensors in your home are
linked through your phone line and a
special telecare box to a 24 hour
monitoring centre. If the sensors detect
a danger, they will automatically call the
monitoring centre. Staff will immediately
call to check how you are, and if
necessary can request further help from
a friend, family or emergency services.
• Standalone Assistive Technology –
provides a similar range of sensors to
telecare, but instead of the alerts going
to a 24 hour monitoring centre, the
sensors alert a portable pager unit
which can be carried by a carer living in
the same home.
• Just Checking – a kit of special
sensors which can help with
assessments of how well a person with
dementia is managing daily living
activities at home. See the back of this
fact sheet for further information.
How can it help?
Telecare and Standalone Assistive Technology
equipment can help to alert a carer, or the 24
hour monitoring centre to a number of risks:
Falls - a small device worn on your clothes or
wrist can automatically detect a fall and alert
either a carer in your home, or the 24 hour
telecare monitoring centre. Bed leaving
sensors can also tell if you get up in the night
and need immediate help from a carer. This
can help to prevent a fall occurring in the first
place. Bed leaving sensors can also be used
to alert the telecare monitoring centre if you fail
to return to bed after getting up during the night
– perhaps indicating that you have had a fall
on the way to the bathroom, and need help.
We target automatic falls detection equipment
at people who go unconscious and fall, for
example due to a history of stroke, epilepsy or
poorly managed diabetes. This equipment is
also sometimes suitable if you have memory
problems, and forget to call for assistance after
a fall using a manual call button.
Wandering – a door sensor can tell if you
leave your home at an inappropriate time, such
as in the middle of the night when you might
put yourself at risk. An alert can be sent to a
carer in your own home, or to the 24 hour
telecare monitoring centre. The sensor can be
linked to a timer, so that it only operates when
you are most at risk, e.g overnight.
Managing Your Medication – if memory
problems mean you forget to take your tablets,
an automatic medication dispenser may help.
The device can hold up to 28 doses and alerts
when it is time to take your tablets. You will
need someone to fill the dispenser for you, and
a professional will need to confirm that your
tablets are safe to keep inside the unit.
Epilepsy – a bed based sensor can alert a
carer, or the 24 hour telecare monitoring centre
if you have a seizure at night. The sensor can
only detect tonic-clonic seizures, and is not
suitable for other types of seizure.
Smoke Detection – if you have dementia or
severe memory problems which mean that you
would forget how to respond if there was a fire
in your home, these sensors will automatically
alert the 24 hour monitoring centre to request
help.
Published August 2019 Page 2 of 2
Extreme Temperatures – a sensor can tell if
the temperature in your home falls or rises to a
level which could affect your health, and
automatically alert the 24 hour telecare
monitoring centre.
How much does it cost?
Telecare – The equipment will be supplied and
fitted free of charge. However, there is a fixed
charge of £2 per week for the 24 hour telecare
monitoring service. In addition you will have to
pay your telephone service provider for the
cost of any calls made by the telecare
equipment. Calls are made to an 084415
number which usually costs the same as a
local call. However, please check call charges
with your service provider as they do vary.
Please note that if you already have a lifeline
or warden call system in your home it is not
usually possible for us to add the telecare
sensors to this service. If you wish to receive
the telecare service you would normally have
to give notice to your current lifeline service
provider and transfer to our telecare service
and equipment.
Standalone Assistive Technology – the
equipment is supplied and installed free of
charge. As the alerts go to someone in your
home, there are no ongoing charges.
How do I know if I am eligible?
If you struggle with daily tasks and need long
term support, your social care assessment
worker will explain if telecare can help to keep
you independent in your own home, and
arrange for it to be installed. You can request
an assessment for long term support by calling
us on 0300 500 80 80. If you already receive
our long term support services, you can
request telecare or standalone assistive
technology equipment directly by calling us on
the number above.
Just Checking – Dementia
Assessment Kit
This system uses sensors placed in each of
the rooms of your home and on the final exit
doors to help show how well you are managing
daily living activities. The system does not use
cameras. Information from Just Checking is
sent to an activity chart which can be accessed
on a secure website by family and
professionals. Without Just Checking it can
sometimes be difficult if you have dementia to
accurately remember or communicate what
activities you are doing at home. Just
Checking is only installed for a short period
(typically 2-4 weeks) to help health and social
care professionals to better understand what
support you will need to remain safe and
independent in your own home. There is no
charge during the short assessment period.
Just Checking often shows that people with
dementia are managing at home much better
than originally thought by family and
professionals. The system is only available if
you are being assessed for long term support,
or receiving our START reablement service.
Contact information
To discuss your need for long term support,
please contact us:
Phone: 0300 500 80 80
Email: enquiries@nottscc.gov.uk
Website: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk
Minicom: 01623 869598
If you are in hospital please ask to speak to the
hospital social work team.
Calls cost 3p/min from BT landlines. Mobile costs may be more
Phone 0300 500 80 80 if you need the
information in a different language or format.
The Council is committed to protecting your
privacy and ensuring all personal information is
kept confidential and safe. For more details
see our general and service specific privacy
notices at:
https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/globalcontent/privacy
Assistive Technology is a range of equipment
which can help to keep you independent in
your own home and provide peace of mind to
carers. We provide three assistive technology
services:
• Telecare – Sensors in your home are
linked through your phone line and a
special telecare box to a 24 hour
monitoring centre. If the sensors detect
a danger, they will automatically call the
monitoring centre. Staff will immediately
call to check how you are, and if
necessary can request further help from
a friend, family or emergency services.
• Standalone Assistive Technology –
provides a similar range of sensors to
telecare, but instead of the alerts going
to a 24 hour monitoring centre, the
sensors alert a portable pager unit
which can be carried by a carer living in
the same home.
• Just Checking – a kit of special
sensors which can help with
assessments of how well a person with
dementia is managing daily living
activities at home. See the back of this
fact sheet for further information.
How can it help?
Telecare and Standalone Assistive Technology
equipment can help to alert a carer, or the 24
hour monitoring centre to a number of risks:
Falls - a small device worn on your clothes or
wrist can automatically detect a fall and alert
either a carer in your home, or the 24 hour
telecare monitoring centre. Bed leaving
sensors can also tell if you get up in the night
and need immediate help from a carer. This
can help to prevent a fall occurring in the first
place. Bed leaving sensors can also be used
to alert the telecare monitoring centre if you fail
to return to bed after getting up during the night
– perhaps indicating that you have had a fall
on the way to the bathroom, and need help.
We target automatic falls detection equipment
at people who go unconscious and fall, for
example due to a history of stroke, epilepsy or
poorly managed diabetes. This equipment is
also sometimes suitable if you have memory
problems, and forget to call for assistance after
a fall using a manual call button.
Wandering – a door sensor can tell if you
leave your home at an inappropriate time, such
as in the middle of the night when you might
put yourself at risk. An alert can be sent to a
carer in your own home, or to the 24 hour
telecare monitoring centre. The sensor can be
linked to a timer, so that it only operates when
you are most at risk, e.g overnight.
Managing Your Medication – if memory
problems mean you forget to take your tablets,
an automatic medication dispenser may help.
The device can hold up to 28 doses and alerts
when it is time to take your tablets. You will
need someone to fill the dispenser for you, and
a professional will need to confirm that your
tablets are safe to keep inside the unit.
Epilepsy – a bed based sensor can alert a
carer, or the 24 hour telecare monitoring centre
if you have a seizure at night. The sensor can
only detect tonic-clonic seizures, and is not
suitable for other types of seizure.
Smoke Detection – if you have dementia or
severe memory problems which mean that you
would forget how to respond if there was a fire
in your home, these sensors will automatically
alert the 24 hour monitoring centre to request
help.
Published August 2019 Page 2 of 2
Extreme Temperatures – a sensor can tell if
the temperature in your home falls or rises to a
level which could affect your health, and
automatically alert the 24 hour telecare
monitoring centre.
How much does it cost?
Telecare – The equipment will be supplied and
fitted free of charge. However, there is a fixed
charge of £2 per week for the 24 hour telecare
monitoring service. In addition you will have to
pay your telephone service provider for the
cost of any calls made by the telecare
equipment. Calls are made to an 084415
number which usually costs the same as a
local call. However, please check call charges
with your service provider as they do vary.
Please note that if you already have a lifeline
or warden call system in your home it is not
usually possible for us to add the telecare
sensors to this service. If you wish to receive
the telecare service you would normally have
to give notice to your current lifeline service
provider and transfer to our telecare service
and equipment.
Standalone Assistive Technology – the
equipment is supplied and installed free of
charge. As the alerts go to someone in your
home, there are no ongoing charges.
How do I know if I am eligible?
If you struggle with daily tasks and need long
term support, your social care assessment
worker will explain if telecare can help to keep
you independent in your own home, and
arrange for it to be installed. You can request
an assessment for long term support by calling
us on 0300 500 80 80. If you already receive
our long term support services, you can
request telecare or standalone assistive
technology equipment directly by calling us on
the number above.
Just Checking – Dementia
Assessment Kit
This system uses sensors placed in each of
the rooms of your home and on the final exit
doors to help show how well you are managing
daily living activities. The system does not use
cameras. Information from Just Checking is
sent to an activity chart which can be accessed
on a secure website by family and
professionals. Without Just Checking it can
sometimes be difficult if you have dementia to
accurately remember or communicate what
activities you are doing at home. Just
Checking is only installed for a short period
(typically 2-4 weeks) to help health and social
care professionals to better understand what
support you will need to remain safe and
independent in your own home. There is no
charge during the short assessment period.
Just Checking often shows that people with
dementia are managing at home much better
than originally thought by family and
professionals. The system is only available if
you are being assessed for long term support,
or receiving our START reablement service.
Contact information
To discuss your need for long term support,
please contact us:
Phone: 0300 500 80 80
Email: enquiries@nottscc.gov.uk
Website: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk
Minicom: 01623 869598
If you are in hospital please ask to speak to the
hospital social work team.
Calls cost 3p/min from BT landlines. Mobile costs may be more
Phone 0300 500 80 80 if you need the
information in a different language or format.
The Council is committed to protecting your
privacy and ensuring all personal information is
kept confidential and safe. For more details
see our general and service specific privacy
notices at:
https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/globalcontent/privacy
Area: Bassetlaw
Contact Details
enquiries@nottscc.gov.uk
0300 500 80 80
https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk