Tunstall journal
Rethinking Telecare Funding: a practical path from public provision to personal choice
Demand on social care continues to rise. Technology is developing quickly, and expectations are changing too. People increasingly want services that fit around their lives, while local authorities and other care organisations need models that are financially sustainable and operationally manageable.
For technology-enabled care, this creates an important question: does support need to be either fully funded or entirely left to the individual?
The Tunstall partner model is a flexible approach designed for local authorities, housing associations and charities that want to offer people continuity, choice and access to trusted support, even when the traditional funding model needs to change.
More than a device
Technology-enabled care conversations often begin with products: a pendant, a smartwatch, a sensor or an alarm unit. But the real value does not come from the device alone. It comes from the service wrapped around it — assessment, monitoring, maintenance, customer support and the confidence that someone will respond when help is needed.
That is the thinking behind Tunstall.
Rather than starting with a list of equipment, the model starts with the person: their circumstances, support network, routines, risks and what they want to achieve. Technology can then be matched to their needs, with the flexibility to change as those needs evolve.
A more flexible approach to funding
There is no single funding route that will work for every person or every organisation. Some people will continue to qualify for a fully funded service. Others may be able to pay directly. In some cases, a partner may fund the core service while the individual chooses to pay for additional support.
The Tunstall partner model is designed to accommodate that reality. It can support fully funded, self-pay and co-pay arrangements, while giving the individual a consistent experience regardless of who pays.
The partner rate starts at £13 per month, plus VAT where applicable, for a Lifeline Digital unit and automatic-fall-detection pendant. This includes device ownership, connectivity, monitoring, maintenance, replacement and wraparound customer support. Additional technology can be added according to individual need.
For partners, this creates a clear and scalable option. For individuals, it provides reassurance that they are not simply purchasing a piece of equipment; they are joining a supported service.
Supporting a positive transition
Moving from a publicly funded service to a different model can feel significant, especially for people who have relied on that support for many years. It needs to be approached as a customer and care transition, not simply a change in billing.
Our work with a local-authority partner is helping us shape how this can be done well. The emerging approach is collaborative and deliberately measured: starting with a small group, listening to customers, learning from their experience and refining the journey before considering a wider rollout.
It has also highlighted the importance of clear, joint communication and a warm handover. People need to understand what is changing, what remains the same, what support is included and where they can go with questions. Above all, they need confidence that continuity of care will be protected.
This is not about moving responsibility from one organisation to another overnight. It is about creating a thoughtful pathway that combines local knowledge with Tunstall’s experience and operational capability.
Reducing pressure on partner organisations
For many organisations, the challenge is not only how a service is funded. It is also how referrals, payments, fulfilment, equipment maintenance and reassessments are managed.
Tunstall is designed to take on that operational responsibility. People referred through a partner are treated as Tunstall customers, with Tunstall managing the ongoing service and support around them.
Looking beyond reactive telecare
The opportunity is bigger than finding a new way to fund an existing alarm service.
Technology-enabled care is moving from a largely reactive model (waiting for an alarm and responding) towards more proactive and preventative support. Patterns in behaviour, activity and device health may help identify emerging risks earlier. Digital tools can also give trusted family and friends greater visibility and reassurance.
As these services develop, flexible funding and partnership models will become increasingly important. They can help more people access the right support, at the right time, without requiring one organisation to fund every element indefinitely.
Starting a new conversation
Local authorities and care organisations should not have to choose between continuing an unsustainable model and leaving people to navigate the market alone.
Tunstall offers a different possibility: a supported bridge between public provision and personal choice, built around the individual rather than the funding source.
The model will continue to evolve as we learn alongside our partners and customers. But the idea is simple: combine flexible funding, trusted technology and wraparound service to help more people remain safe, confident and independent.
If you are exploring the future of your technology-enabled care service — or your monitored and maintained provision costs more than £13 per person per month; discover Tunstall for organisations and let’s start a conversation https://shop.tunstall.co.uk/organisations.