Equipment

What is telecare?

Telecare means a range of electronic devices that have been developed to assist people with physical, sensory or mental health difficulties to continue to live at home as safely and independently as possible.

In Sandwell, STAY (Sandwell Telecare Assisting You) is responsible for providing and installing these devices.

We aim to provide equipment that will:

• assist people to monitor and maintain a safe home environment
• assist carers to care for someone at home
• reduce the risk of falls and accidents within the home
• prevent avoidable admissions to hospital.

Who could benefit from our equipment?

Anyone who:

What equipment is available?

With advances in technology the list of available equipment is constantly expanding. It includes:

• fall detectors
• movement sensors
• gas cooker lock off valves
• smoke detectors / heat detectors
• door and window contact alarms
• automatic medication reminder boxes
• flood detectors
• high and low room temperature sensors
• automatic night light sensors
• alarm buttons / pendants
• remote control switches.

The sensors and alarms can be programmed to alert individuals or their carers via:

• a telephone landline
• a mobile phone
• an alarm call centre
• an audible alarm in the house
• a vibrating pager.

How can I get equipment from STAY?

If you think you need equipment from us, or would like to find out more, contact Sandwell Council ASSIST on 0845 352 2266, or by fax on 0121 569 5789 or email sandwell_assist@sandwell.gov.uk

Or speak to:

• your doctor
• district nurse
• occupational therapist
• physiotherapist
• other health or social care worker.

They will make a referral to us if they feel that you will benefit from the services we provide. 

If you are a health or social care professional you can use the SAP1(STAY) form to make a referral. This form is for professional referrers only, for example trusted assessors, health and social care professionals and voluntary sector organisations. Please return the form to sandwell_assist@sandwell.gov.uk

What happens next?

Depending on your individual circumstances and the information we receive we may either:

• ask a STAY assessor to visit you in your home to carry out an assessment of your needs; or
• instruct a technician to install equipment.

Who installs and maintains the equipment?

A STAY technician will install and test the equipment. STAY will continue to maintain it for as long as you have the equipment. We will provide an annual maintenance visit to ensure your equipment is in correct working order.

The majority of sensors and alarms are wireless. They can be fitted easily and quickly and will be installed and tested by a STAY technician.

How much do you have to pay?

There is no charge for the equipment and services of STAY.

Dependant upon the equipment identified to meet your needs, a community alarm may be required. Where this is the case this alarm will need to be monitored by an alarm response centre. There will be a nominal weekly charge made by the alarm response centre to cover the cost of the rental of the alarm and 24/7 monitoring.

Our leaflet

You can download a copy of our leaflet here.

Useful websites

Home Safety - RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) seek to inform, educate and help prevent accidents in the home

Living Made Easy - General information about telecare services from the Disabled Living Foundation.