Getting help in an emergency
The products described in this section allow a person to contact someone if help is needed. The contact may be by actually speaking to them or just by sending a message.
Alarm speech unit
Allow a person to speak to a monitoring centre, carer or warden when help is required. Some of the speech units are automatically activated if a telecare device (such as a flood detector) has generated an alert.
Bogus caller
Allows someone to call for help if they in doubt about anyone visiting their home. These products are usually placed near the door.
Fall detector
Detects if a person has fallen and sends an alert. These are usually worn on the body, either using a belt clip or in a pouch. Other products are worn about the wrist. Some of the fall detectors also have emergency buttons to allow a person to contact someone, like a warden or community alarm monitoring centre, in an emergency
Intruder alarm
Raises an alert if a an intruder enters a person's home or dwelling. Products use PIR movement detectors to detects movement in rooms and door contacts detect opening of windows and doors. Products use different ways to turn on/off the alarm, such as keypads, keys, buttons.
Many of the intruder alarm systems use PIR movement sensors
Lone worker alarm
Used by people working on their own to call for help in an emergency.
Monitoring/Response Service
Provides a call monitoring service to answer alert calls generated by a telecare system in a person's home. Staff within the call monitoring can often talk with the person in their home through a speech unit (lifeline unit). Depending on the type of alert, a call monitoring service will provide an appropiate response. This may include coming out to the person; contacting friends/relatives; or contacting emergency services, GP, etc.
Pager systems
Used to notify carers or carer providers of request for help. Some pagers provides details of the source of the alert
Pendant alarm
These product consist of an emergency button to allow a person to contact someone, like a warden or community alarm monitoring centre, in an emergency. These can either be worn around the neck, wrist or on a belt/waistband.
Property exit/Door Contacts
These systems detect and send an alert if someone has left their dwelling or room when it is not appropriate or it may be dangerous for them to do so. Some of these products may be suitable for people suffereing from dementia.
Pull Cord
Used by a person to call for help in an emergency. These are usually placed in different rooms around the house. When a person needs help, they pull on the cord an alert is sent to a warden or monitoring centre.