Home alert services (teleasistencia) for older people living alone

Terms used

• Teleasistencia — Teleasistencia is a home alert service: you press a pendant or button and a call centre sends help or contacts your family.
• Dependencia — Dependencia is Spain's public care system for people who need help with daily life, based on a recognised dependency grade.
• Padrón — The padrón is the register of residents kept by your town hall.
• Servicios sociales — Servicios sociales are the town hall or regional social services offices that assess and arrange public care help.
• Copago — The copago is the share of a public service's cost that you pay, scaled to your income and wealth.
• PIA — The PIA, or Individual Care Programme, lists the care services assigned to you under Dependencia.

Key rules

• Padrón: Public teleasistencia generally needs you to be registered on the padrón where the service is provided and to live in the home.
• Dependency grade: Some public services need a dependency grade, but the state-funded service for older people living alone does not.
• Private option: Anyone in Spain can buy a private service, whatever their residence status.
• Coverage: Without a landline or mobile signal, the button cannot reach the call centre.

Set it up now, not after a fall

Arrange teleasistencia while you are well. The public route involves an assessment and can take time, so start it early. If you want protection sooner, a private service can usually be installed faster. You can also start the public application and use a private service while you wait.

Public or private: how to choose

Public service. It is run through your town hall or region, and usually costs little or nothing. Equipment installation is usually included. There are four main types:

• Teleasistencia as a Dependencia benefit. This needs a recognised dependency grade.
• Town hall or provincial council services for older people. Many do not need a dependency grade.
• A state-funded service aimed at older people living alone or at risk. It does not need a dependency grade.
• ATENPRO, a free service for women who are victims of gender violence.

Operators and rules vary by region and town hall, so ask your local social services which one applies to you.

Private service. Anyone in Spain can buy one, whatever their residence status. There is no assessment. Prices differ between providers and depend on the device, the contract length and any installation fee. Many charge a monthly fee, and some add a one-off fee for the device or installation.

Who qualifies for the public service

• You generally need to be registered on the padrón of the town where the service is provided, and to live in the home. Without padrón registration you are usually excluded.
• Dependencia access also needs legal residence in Spain. Some regions require a minimum period of residence, often a few years.
• Services outside Dependencia are usually set by age and income, and your local social services decide.

What the public service costs

Some areas give it free to people on low incomes or with Dependencia recognition. Others charge a co-payment (copago) based on your income and wealth, typically a small monthly amount or a share of the service cost. The formula is set locally and changes over time, so ask for your exact figure when you apply.

How to apply for the public service

1. Request an appointment with the servicios sociales of the town hall where you are registered. You can also go through the regional social services department.
2. Complete the application form. You can often submit it in person, online with a digital certificate, or at a registry office.
3. Social services assess your need. If you qualify, the service is assigned.
4. If you have Dependencia recognition, ask for teleasistencia to be included in your Individual Care Programme (PIA).

The documents and the step-by-step checklist are below. Ask about waiting times at your first appointment.

Check the device works in your home

The button only helps if it can reach the call centre.

• A traditional unit needs a landline and uses a pendant button.
• Many newer units have a built-in SIM and use the mobile network, so no landline is needed.
• Mobile units with GPS work outdoors where there is mobile coverage.
• With no landline and no mobile signal, the button cannot call for help. Check coverage in every room before you choose, especially in rural areas.
• Fall-detection pendants usually depend on the base unit and work only within a limited range, a few tens of metres. Ask the provider for the real range for your home and garden.
• In a power cut, a backup battery works for a limited time. Ask how long.

Comparing private quotes

Ask several providers for a written quote with the device type, monthly fee, contract length and any installation fee. Check how to cancel before you sign. Check current prices directly with the providers.

Documents you need

• Your ID or residence card, for the public service application.

• A padrón certificate from your town hall, showing you are registered where the service is provided.

• A medical report from your doctor, so social services can assess your need.

• Income documents, which social services use to decide whether you qualify and whether you pay a co-payment.

Checklist

• Ask your local social services whether you qualify for a public service, as a Dependencia benefit or as a service for older people who are not dependent.

• Complete the application form and submit it in person, online with a digital certificate, or at a registry office.

• Check the signal at your home before choosing a device: a landline for a traditional unit, or mobile coverage for a SIM unit or a GPS unit.

• Ask how far a fall-detection pendant works from the base unit, and how long the backup battery lasts in a power cut.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a dependency grade to get public teleasistencia?

No, you do not need a dependency grade for the state-funded teleasistencia service for older people living alone or at risk. A grade is only needed if you want teleasistencia as a Dependencia benefit. Many town halls and regions also run their own service for people who are not dependent, usually based on age and income.

Can I get public teleasistencia if I am not on the padrón?

No, you will usually be excluded if you are not registered on the padrón (the town hall residents' list) where the service is provided. You also need to live in the home.

Does public teleasistencia cost anything?

It can be free or cost a small co-payment, depending on your town or region. Many places give it free to people on low incomes or with Dependencia recognition, while others charge a copago based on income and wealth.

Will an alert button work if my home has no landline or weak mobile signal?

No, a button cannot reach the call centre without a landline or mobile signal. Many current units have their own SIM card, so you do not need a landline. A backup battery covers power cuts for a limited time.