Telecare consists of equipment and services that support your safety and independence in your own home. The equipment can sense risks such as smoke, floods and gas, can remind you to take pills and even call for help if you fall. A help centre can be contacted automatically if any of these problems occur in your home. If needed the help centre can arrange for someone to come to your home or can contact your family, doctor or emergency services. The system can also warn you of problems by sounding an alarm, flashing lights or vibrating a box which can be kept in your pocket or under your pillow.

The equipment listed has been categorised into equipment that can be used in an individual home, equipment that is suitable for use in sheltered accommodation / warden controlled accommodation or grouped homes, and equipment for use outside of the home, for example when shopping.