2025 Highlight Day 7: Preparing for Digital With The Housing Programme

Throughout 2025, council and housing association partners have demonstrated strong commitment to digital telecare transition, despite challenges and delays. In response the sector is shifting away from fixed warden call to more individualised approach using dispersed alarm solutions creating more flexible and bespoke choices for residents.

Digital Transition Highlights

• Link Group: Successfully decommissioned all grouped housing warden call systems, adopting dispersed alarm solutions, following the lead of Highland Council. This transition has been well received by both staff and residents.
• Castlehill Housing Association: Implemented tailored solutions based on resident needs. Housing with Care schemes were upgraded to Appello’s digital warden call, while only 30% of residents in 24 retirement sites opted for telecare, with the open option to adopt council telecare services at a later if needed.
• East Lothian Housing Association: Collaborated with East Lothian Council to provide and pay the capital costs for dispersed telecare units with 2yrs SIM connectivity. This followed an assessment review that found only 25% of residents required or wanted telecare. This approach and realignment of telecare allows housing associations to focus on core housing services.
• East Dunbartonshire Council: Initiated decommissioning of legacy warden call equipment across all grouped housing complexes, progressing towards the 2027 digital migration deadline with dispersed digital alarms.

Enhanced Processes and Engagement

• Edinburgh City Council: Launched a hospital discharge step-down service, offering temporary supported housing for patients leaving hospital. The service, funded for another year, has demonstrated significant benefits and cost savings.

Plans are also underway to introduce self-installation as a service. The plug and play nature of basic telecare alarms allows postal delivery of equipment for telecare users or their families to install. A 2026 case study will demonstrate how this was achieved.

• Recognition and Guidance: The implementation award scheme continues, with two applicants nearing completion of all migration milestones. The main options appraisal guidance (Play117) has been updated to reflect trends towards bespoke dispersed equipment and use of digital adaptors and bridging services. Procured by some, Pre-Digital Phone Line is also explained; BT service supporting transition beyond the January 2027 deadline.
• Resource and Collaboration: The Housing resource pack remains the primary guide for digital telecare, outlining available resources and support. Presentations and workshops at sector conferences, as well as programming workshops by Legrand Care and Tunstall, have facilitated feedback and continuous improvement.
• Communications and Awareness: National campaigns by communication providers, collaboration with Trading Standards Scotland, and updated scam guidance have increased awareness and supported staff and telecare users across Scotland.

As 2025 concludes, the sector’s achievements are well recognised, and efforts will continue to gather pace in 2026 to advance digital telecare transitioning across Scotland.