Equipment around the house / Care technology

There are numerous outlets with a huge range of equipment available to help you around the house. The choice and variety can be confusing but here are a few points to bear in mind:

• Equipment such as grab rails can be purchased through DIY stores.
• Equipment to help you with daily living can be purchased through major chemists or specialist companies.
• For larger items of equipment or adaptations, get at least two quotes.
• Where appropriate check warranties, servicing and maintenance and other general after-sales backup.
• Try out equipment wherever possible.

You may be able to obtain some equipment through an occupational therapist. See our 'Help from occupational therapists' page. 

See our Managing at home section for advice about staying safe in your home, including fire safety and smoke alarms.

The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF)  offers independent, professional advice and information to help you find out what is available for private purchase. Their Living Made Easy website offers guidance on and information about products you can buy to help you with everyday tasks. They also have a Helpline on 0300 999 0004 where you can discuss areas of daily living you find difficult with an experienced advisor.

Click on our  Equipment House below to find advice and suggestions on the right equipment to help you.

What is care technology?

Care technology (sometimes referred to as 'telecare') is monitoring and alert equipment that can help to support people who wish to remain independent in their own homes and even when they are out in the community. This equipment provides them, their carers, family and friends, with the reassurance that help is available to them in an emergency 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Care technology covers a wide range of equipment, such as alarm systems, motion sensors and GPS location trackers, which is connected to a team of fully trained advisers in a monitoring centre who will respond when an alarm is raised.

How does care technology work?

Your equipment is connected to your telephone system and linked to a monitoring centre by a unit with a built-in loud speaker and a microphone.  All alarm units work on mains electricity and have a battery backup. The battery will automatically cut in if the power is disconnected or fails.

When the alarm is activated, either manually or via an automatic device, an adviser will speak to you through your unit. They will establish how you are and what kind of help you need before taking the appropriate action, such as contacting someone who you have assigned as your responders (a local family member, neighbour or friend) to visit and check you are all right. If necessary, the adviser will contact the emergency services.  Where possible, the adviser will stay on the line with you until help arrives.

Who is care technology for?

This equipment can help anyone who needs extra support to stay independent - older people as well as younger people with learning or physical disabilities.

Watch some videos which show the range of care technology equipment, including GPS location devices and telecare working in conjunction with the Amazon Alexa.

Watch a video about Oysta mobile devices with GPS tracking and panic alarms.

Click on our Care Technology House below to find out more about some of the equipment which is available*.

(*Descriptions are for equipment provided by Hampshire County Council’s partner, Argenti. Other suppliers will provide similar but not always identical products.)

Further information

The Disabled Living Foundation has more detailed information and advice about Personal alarm systems and telecare.

Living Made Easy provides comprehensive information about different care technology products.

Providers of care technology equipment

You can purchase your own care technology package from a private provider. Prices will vary depending on the packages and products that you require.

For those living in the Hampshire County Council area, the Council recommends Argenti:

• please go the Argenti website
• or contact Argenti by email enquiries@argenti.co.uk or phone 01962 670721.

Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils offer telecare services to their residents:

•  Telecare provision from Portsmouth City Council 
•  Telecare provision from Southampton City Council

Other providers are available with different options available in different parts of the county. You can search online for providers or equipment or you can contact:

• your housing association or your district or borough council  (usually the housing department)
• charities such as Age UK
• the Disabled Living Foundation's AskSARA website provides information on Assistive Technology that can help people with dementia live more independently.
• the Telecare Services Association  which has an online search for local providers.