Telecare or a family SOS app: who receives the alert and responds?
The crucial question is who answers when you press the button. A monitored telecare service and an app that alerts relatives can complement each other, but they require different arrangements.
Identify the actual recipient
Write down the chain: device, connection, recipient, verification and possible response. With monitored telecare, the service receives the alert; with My Safe Circle, your chosen approved contacts do. A relative may be at work or far away. A notification does not assign them an agreed duty of care.
Ask what the service provides
The Italian Red Cross service charter distinguishes telecare from telemedicine. It is an Italian reference, not a worldwide offer. Ask a local provider about staffed hours, alarm verification and escalation. Obtain a written answer about what happens when the person cannot answer a verification call.
Understand the family app
My Safe Circle sends SOS and All OK to trusted contacts, with optional location. Recipients need the app, an account and approved connections. How are you? requests and Reminders support a routine: creating or reactivating a Reminder requires Premium and the invited person’s approval. No response centre watches the results.
| Criterion | Telecare centre | Family app |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient | Service under contract | Selected approved contacts |
| Availability | Check staffed hours and services | Agreed contact availability |
| Cost | Quoted device, service and support | Store price and Premium requirements |
Check the device, not just the button
A phone must be reachable and usable, with unlocking when required. For a wearable, check bathroom and outdoor coverage, base station or mobile connection, charging and the manufacturer’s water resistance rating. A manual button does not imply fall detection. If someone cannot activate a control, a manual SOS alone does not meet that need.
Compare the full cost
Request comparable quotes covering purchase or rental, activation, mobile service, subscription, support, replacement and cancellation. Check any local assistance schemes. For an app, consult the actual store price and Premium requirements. Family availability still matters when software is free. Prices and service contracts differ by provider and country.
Make a decision together
A person comfortable using a phone may only want a daily greeting and an agreed response routine. Someone needing an organised responder while relatives are unavailable may benefit from a monitored service. Request an authorised demonstration: who answers, what information they see and how the alert closes. Prepare a backup independent of that device.
Frequently asked questions
Does an SOS app replace telecare?
Not automatically. Alerting relatives does not itself provide a staffed centre or organised intervention.
Does every pendant detect falls?
No. A manual button and a sensor are different features; sensors also have product-specific limits.
Can both be used?
Yes, with clear channel roles and a named person handling each alert so that duplicate requests do not cause confusion.
Sources consulted
Technical and safety information was checked against the following official sources.
Comparison by the My Safe Circle team using the listed official sources, consulted on 13 September 2026. This is not a hands-on comparative test.
Try before choosing
Explore My Safe Circle
Explore the features and try the Demo before setting up your circle.
Explore My Safe CircleMy Safe Circle helps contact trusted people. It is not an emergency dispatch centre and cannot guarantee delivery, reading or intervention.