Telecare is the remote or enhanced delivery of care
services to people in their own home or community
setting using ICT. Telecare is expected to play an
important role in addressing some of the challenges of
an ageing population. However, products are often
unsatisfactory and a major contributing factor is that
suppliers do not typically involve users in design
processes. This paper describes a participatory design
project involving 25 designers, 6 service users, 11
potential future service users and 2 telecare suppliers:
six concept designs were created for a wearable alarm
button in two half-day workshops. Our main contribution
is to present the design features considered most
important to users, which can be incorporated into
future product designs and inform other wearable alarm
systems for older people. As a result of the project, a
leading supplier has invited users to participate in their
research and development activities for the first time.