Page 256 - Handbook of Electronic Assistive Technology

Chapter 8 • Assisted Living 245

domestic AT systems. The UK’s National Health Service has tried to outline what it consid-
8
ers telecare to be on its website as follows:
A telecare system is typically made up of a network of sensors that are fitted all around
the home. These sensors can be linked through a telephone line to a call centre.

What is clear is that telecare means different things to different people. Some see telec-
are as the devices outlined next, while others consider telehealth and telecare to be one
service. This does depend on whether the view is from a medical or social standpoint.
Telecare consists of a range of devices that can produce alerts. This alert can be local (a
simple alarm or buzzer) or through a dialled number, similar to traditional call systems.
The telecare devices are designed to provide alerts in a stimulus response method, hence
if a person makes an alert call the alert is raised. This means that the ‘intelligence’ is built
into the device and the device is programmed to do just one thing.
There are a range of telecare devices, which include:

• Body worn buttons.
• Carbon monoxide telecare sensors.
• Door sensors/contacts.
• Fall sensors.
• Fixed buttons.
• Gas sensors.
• Minimum room temperature sensors.
• Mobile phones.
• Movement sensors.
• Pressure sensors.
• Pull cords.
• Sensors that monitor activity in the home.
• Smoke and heat sensors.
• Switches and sensors.
• Communication hub and alarm/alert buttons.
• Communication hub/base unit.
• Water sensors.

In addition there are more health-orientated telecare devices such as:
• Medication reminder/pill dispenser.
• Epilepsy monitor.

The evidence is undecided on whether telecare is effective or not as the largest random
controlled trial (RCT) study undertaken in the United Kingdom called the Whole Systems
Demonstrator (WSDAN) proved inconclusive in its findings (Giordano et al., 2011). It is

8 http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/Pages/telecare-alarms.aspx.