Gateshead Care Call
- Introduction
- Help we can provide
- Care Call packages
- Free telecare for four weeks
- Additional services
- How to apply for the service
- Partnership working
- Our Telecare Services Association membership
Care Call is Gateshead Council's low-cost emergency telecare alarm and response service for older, disabled, or vulnerable people living in Gateshead. We have provided a 24/7 monitoring and response service for over 30 years.
Care Call enables you to live safely and independently in your own home and provides emergency cover 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from trained staff who are available to respond to a variety of situations. Our staff are trained to establish quickly what help is needed. They immediately know your name, address and other relevant information and will call for any help required.
We can provide a wide range of different technology solutions that can manage many risks around the home. Find out about the types of technology we offer.
Help we can provide
- mobile response to non-injury falls ( lifting our clients safely from the floor using lifting equipment)
- calling an ambulance, 111 or other health professionals should the client become unwell
- support with general queries and advice
- welfare checks
- shopping service
- annual visits
We are unable to provide
- personal care requests (an assessment of need may be required)
- support going to and from the bed
- nutrition requests providing drinks or meals
Care Call packages
There are various Care Call packages you can choose from. The price you pay* reflects the package you receive. All packages can include a key safe for access in emergencies.
Bronze:
Our basic package costs £9.30* a week. For this you receive the monitoring and response service plus an annual visit.
Silver:
The silver package costs £10.29* a week and besides the monitoring and response service and annual visit, you get one item of assistive technology.
Gold:
For £14.66* a week you will have the monitoring and response service, annual visit and unlimited use of assistive technology.
Platinum:
For £22.42* a week you will have the monitoring and response service, annual visit, welfare call, unlimited assistive technology and activity monitoring service.
*VAT may be added on to these prices depending on the package you choose and the way you were referred to the service. All prices may be subject to an annual increase.
Installation charge
An installation charge of £29.56 will be charged after the installation has taken place.
Invoices for all packages are sent on quarterly basis and paid three months in advance.
Free telecare for four weeks
If you're aged 75 years or over and live in Gateshead, you could get four weeks free telecare from Gateshead Care Call. This offer is not applicable to existing telecare users and is subject to eligibility criteria.
Additional services
In addition to our range of services above, we now offer the following add-ons
Shopping service
For just £7.04 per week, we will give you a call on a day of your choice and take your shopping order from you by phone. We will then book a delivery from your chosen supermarket and have your order delivered to your door. An invoice will be sent to you monthly for the cost of your shopping, which you can pay via any of the council's payment options.
This service is limited to one order per week.
Weekly home visits
At Care Call, we understand the importance of combating social isolation. You can request weekly home visits, and during this time our staff can assist you with certain tasks*, including:
- assisting you with online shopping
- keeping you company
- providing support for important phone calls
- helping you deal with your mail and so much more
*tasks are subject to criteria and can be checked on request when calling.
| Time | Cost |
|---|---|
| 20 minutes | £9.01 |
| 30 minutes | £13.51 |
| 40 minutes | £18.01 |
| 60 minutes | £27.02 |
Weekly phone call
We can call you weekly on your chosen phone number. This service is an add on to the bronze and silver packages only. It is already included in the price of gold and platinum packages. During this call we can talk to you about your day or your week and reassure you about any questions or concerns you have.
| Time | Cost |
|---|---|
| 5 minutes (addition to bronze/silver packages) | £2.20 |
| 10 minutes (addition to bronze/silver packages) | £4.50 |
| 15 minutes (addition to bronze/silver packages) | £6.75 |
| 20 minutes (addition to bronze/silver packages) | £9.01 |
| 30 minutes (addition to bronze/silver packages) | £13.51 |
How to apply for the service
You can also apply directly with the Care Call team by phoning 0191 478 7665.
Assessed referrals can be made through our Adult Social Care Direct team by phoning 0191 433 7033.
Financial Assessments can also be requested through our Adult Social Care Direct team, which may offer support towards the costs of the service.
Partnership working
Care Call works closely with other organisations, ensuring our residents of Gateshead are kept safe.
On installations and annual visits, our trained safe carry out home safety checks on behalf of the Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service (TWFRS).
We also work alongside Northeast Ambulance Service (NEAS), providing a mobile response to non-injury falls within the hours of 7pm and 7am.
Our Telecare Services Association membership
Since 2011, Gateshead Care Call have been accredited members of the Telecare Services Association (TSA). Find out more about our membership and our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).