What service can Care Connect offer?

We offer a monitoring and response service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to your home. We can provide assistance and reassurance and send a member of staff to you if required.

We currently help over 18,000 people to remain living in their own homes.

Who can be connected to the Service?

Anyone who lives in County Durham who feels they are vulnerable or at risk and would benefit from the reassurance and assistance the service can offer.

What do I need to be connected to the service?

• An active telephone line which can make incoming and outgoing calls
• An electric power supply which is close to your telephone socket
• Care Connect will provide the alarm unit or arrange to reconnect your pull-cord system.

Applying for the Care Connect Service could not be easier!

Please visit our website at www.durham.gov.uk/careconnect

Or you can telephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, on: 01388 728806

Or e-mail: care.connect@durham.gov.uk

TELECARE

Helping our customers maintain independence in their own homes.

The following descriptions advise how some Telecare items assist you to maintain your independence:

NB: An assessment of your care needs will be required.

Fall Detector For people who are frail and/or at risk of falling. It identifies a genuine fall and registers an emergency call to Care Connect’s Control Centre so that appropriate action can be taken.

Epilepsy Sensor For people who are epileptic, this equipment monitors and detects seizures, raising an alarm call to Care Connect’s Control Centre where appropriate action can be taken.

Bed Occupancy Sensor A solution to protect people who may get out of bed during the night and fail to return. People who would benefit include those who are at risk of falling. An alarm call is raised to Care Connect’s Control Centre after a specified period of time has elapsed and
appropriate action taken.

Pillow Alert Solution Useful for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. It provides a smoke alarm alert to a sleeping user by the use of a vibrating pad (linked to smoke alarm), which is positioned underneath a pillow.

Choice

Can I choose the level of support/service I want?

Levels of service are based on customer’s individual support needs. Care Connect’s trained staff will assess and agree with you the level of support you require. However, we do offer a range of services and you may choose a higher level of service but this may incur additional charges.

‘Our Health, Our Care, Our Say’

Cost of Service

There is a weekly charge for the service but you may receive the service FREE if you have an assessed support need and are in receipt of one of the following eligible benefits:

• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Guaranteed Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance

NB: You may be required to provide
documentary proof of the benefit you
are receiving.

If you do not receive any of the stated benefits you may still be eligible for some help towards your charges by requesting a financial assessment.

There may be a one-off installation charge but this will be discussed with you prior to installation. The weekly charge will depend on the level of service we agree with you.

Additional Services

We provide additional support services
to meet your needs at a small charge.
These include:

• Reassurance calls
• Weekly visits
• Additional pendant
• Monitored smoke alarm