Is there more to supporting people within their own home than just providing telecare?

This article introduces the background and drivers behind the use of telecare and discusses the fit of telecare in providing support to people to enable them to continue living independently within their own home. It mentions the need to see telecare as one element within a care solution and illustrates the importance of an overall client‐focused assessment approach if a better long‐term outcome is to be achieved. It suggests that telecare needs to be embedded within the care pathway to enable it to become integrated and mainstreamed. Information, awareness, training and good signposting will be important factors to understanding the potential benefits of telecare. Evidence‐based practice data is important to provide a resource both for practitioners and commissioners of services to make decisions. This article reaffirms that telecare and other technology should fit around the user and not the other way round.