Cash-strapped council considers introducing weekly charge for Telecare safety alarms

Telecare devices, sometimes referred to as 'care alarms' or 'lifeline' systems, are a way for elderly, disabled or vulnerable people to signal for help if they are in need while at home. 

The system often includes a call button for a person to wear around their wrist or neck or a fall detector worn on the wrist, to generate an alert in the event of an emergency.

The alert would then be picked up by a 24/7 response centre, which would assess the situation and call an emergency contact, listed service or the emergency services.

It has been offered free through Shropshire Council, but now the authority is proposing the introduction of a weekly charge and start-up fee in order to "recover some of the costs" associated with the service. 

Under the proposals, both existing and new users would be charged a subsided rate of £3.45 a week for the service. New users would have a free six-week trial of the service.

Those who receive a package of care from Shropshire Council or those entitled to after-care services provided under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act would not be charged.

The council is also considering a one-off start-up fee for new users of £35.

A spokesperson for Shropshire Council said: "Our older population is growing at faster rates. Councils all over the country are under pressure from the rising need and cost of social care services. In Shropshire, this accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the council’s overall budget. 

"Central government funding restrictions mean that the council has been looking at alternative ways to recover some of the costs of running some services. One of the options is to introduce charges for some of the services that were previously free. Around £4 in every £5 the council spends is on social care, looking after the most vulnerable people in the county. More people than ever now need this support, which the council must provide, while costs to do so are rising.

"Shropshire is currently one of very few councils that do not charge any residents for the Telecare service. The typical charge for Telecare services in other councils ranges from £1.50 to £19 per week. 

"Introducing a charge in Shropshire would bring the council in line with other areas and help us to recover some of the costs associated with running the Telecare service, allowing us to sustain and develop the service. 

"If the proposed charge is introduced, and all users paid the relevant charge, it is estimated that the council could recover a proportion of the full cost of running the Telecare service. Therefore, the charges outlined above would be a contribution to the full cost of the service."

A consultation into the proposed changes has been launched and is available to view and complete online at shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/telecare-charging-consultation/.