Community Alarm and Telecare Service
Find out about the community alarm and telecare digital switchover.
Our Community Alarm and Telecare Service is called Aberdeenshire Lifeline. Community alarms and telecare cover a range of devices that use modern technology to help keep you safe and independent in your own home.
Find out more about Aberdeenshire Lifeline:
- Community alarms
- Telecare
- Types of equipment
- Eligibility for Aberdeenshire Lifeline
- Making a referral to Aberdeenshire Lifeline
- Contact us
Community alarms
The community alarm scheme allows you to call for help in an emergency at any time, day or night.
A community alarm connects to, and uses, your own telephone to contact a trained operator. You wear a pendant with a button which, when pressed by you, sends a signal through the telephone to our centre operators. Our trained operators will speak to you directly to ask what kind of help you need. They will arrange for help to arrive, if needed.
Telecare
Telecare provides a range of additional alarm systems that can alert you when something needs your attention, or alert others to help you when you need it.
The equipment is unobtrusive and is installed in your home by trained technicians, with minimal disruption. Examples of telecare alert systems are:
- fall detector
- smoke or fire detector
- flood detector
- gas detector
- occupancy detector
- door contacts (which can raise an alert when the door is opened)
- pressure mats (which detect movement or lack of movement)
Telecare can offer a safer home environment and give you greater control over your lifestyle. Telecare can provide reassurance and access to immediate help, if needed.
Types of equipment
Our guide to community alarms and telecare (PDF 632KB) has more information about the equipment available and may help you identify which equipment may provide the best support.
Eligibility for Aberdeenshire Lifeline
You may be eligible for Aberdeenshire Lifeline if you need care to live independently at home, whatever your age, and if you have:
- increasing frailty
- dementia
- a long term health condition
- physical disability
- sensory impairment
- mental health problems
- problems with substance misuse
You may need to contribute towards the cost of community alarms and telecare.
Making a referral to Aberdeenshire Lifeline
You can make a referral if you think you, or someone you know, may benefit from our community alarm or telecare service.
Or you can:
- call 03456 08 12 06
- ask health care staff at your local GP practice to make a referral for you
The referral form details information about the person who may need help in an emergency at any time, day or night. You need to complete the personal details and nominate three contacts including their home, work and mobile telephone numbers. These contacts should be (if possible) family, friends or neighbours who are happy to be contacted in an emergency to help you. The form also includes information such as your doctor's details and the type of equipment requested. You can use our guide to community alarms and telecare to help you decide the equipment you need.
On installing the equipment, you or the nominated person will be asked to sign our service level agreement. This explains what we are responsible for and what the person using Aberdeenshire Lifeline is responsible for. It also includes the weekly charge for community alarms and telecare equipment.
A member of staff will contact you to arrange installation of the equipment requested in the referral form.
Our Adult and Older People Services privacy notice (PDF 297KB) explains how we may use your in providing the Aberdeenshire Lifeline service.
Contact us
For general enquiries email Jointequipmentcentre@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or phone 03456 08 12 06.
If you aren't happy with any part of the referral process please contact us. If you are still dissatisfied you can use our complaints procedure.