Top marks for EDDC alarm service

East Devon District Council’s Home Safeguard service is one of the highest performing in the country – and that’s official!

Following a rigorous annual inspection by the Telecare Services Association (TSA), Home Safeguard was given a clean bill of health for the fourth year running.

TSA is the largest industry body for telecare services and the largest industry specific network in Europe. They provide an external inspection to telecare services to ensure services are running up to standard and to certify the well-being of customers using the service.

Councillor Jill Elson, cabinet member for sustainable homes and communities, said: “This is excellent news. The Home Safeguard service runs to a very high standard and I’m delighted that the hard work of the team has been rewarded with a further vote of confidence from the industry’s regulator.”

The council’s Home Safeguard service provides support for 5,000 people.

Councillor Elson added: “Home Safeguard operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and gives peace of mind to those living by themselves and can give assurance to relatives of those who live alone. It also helps people in their own homes as opposed to hospital or residential settings, if that is their preference.”

Customers of the service wear a small personal alarm personal alarm, called a pendant, around their neck, on a wrist strap, or clipped to clothing. The pendant transmits to a small base unit connected to a telephone line. When activated, a call goes through automatically to the Home Safeguard control centre, where it is answered by a trained operator.

The news comes ahead of the launch of a new campaign to promote Home Safeguard further afield and a one day Working Together conference for voluntary and community groups on 10 October which focuses on isolation.Home Safeguard has been running for over 25 years.

Anyone interested in the service should contact Home Safeguard on 01395 519739, email  or visit www.eastdevon.gov.uk/homesafeguard