The Telecare Service aims to help older people with disabilities and/or dependence to continue living in their own homes in safety, while reducing the risk of isolation.
It consists of installing a simple apparatus in the user’s home, connected via their phone line to a central unit which they can communicate with in the event of an emergency. Users also get an emergency button on a chord which they can wear about the home, even in the shower, giving them the peace of mind of being able to contact the centre from any part of the home.
From the Telecare Support Centre, which operates around the clock every day of the year, the team of professionals handle users’ queries and if necessary activate the most suitable resource for the situation: locating contact people (friends, relatives etc.), sending a mobile unit to the home or activating emergency services (ambulance, fire service, police, etc.).
– Age:
- People aged 75 or over.
- People of legal age but under 75, if they have a disability certificate issued by the Government of Catalonia, indicating that the surpass the third person threshold (loss of personal autonomy) and/or reduced mobility threshold or have a recognised degree of dependency.
- People whose vulnerability means the social worker considers they need to be able to use the service.
– Registration on the municipal register: Users must be on the municipal register for the city of Barcelona and live there on a permanent basis.
– Required documentation: DNI (Spanish national identity document), NIE (identity number for foreign nationals), passport.
– Other requirements:
- They live alone permanently or for much of the day, or live with other people with identical characteristics, disabled or dependent older people.
- They have the sufficient mental and cognitive capacity to use the service correctly.
Face-to-face procedure:
- Citizen Help and Information Office (OAC): Appointments available by calling 010
- Primary Healthcare Centre (CAP)
- Social Services Centres