Since the early 2000s, Andalusia has established telecare services, making regular phone calls to older people in need of long-term care, living in their homes. It is a way to give older people living at home a feeling of security and to have someone look after them regularly. It is also a way to detect immediate care, for example, when someone has fallen and does not pick up the phone call.  Unfortunately, it can happen that it takes a while until the telecare service detects that an older person needs immediate help, as people may encounter difficulties in the time period between two calls from the telecare services. 

By checking their water consumption remotely, the region of Andalusia, the city of Malaga and the local water company wants to ensure that situations, when older people need immediate care, are identified more effectively based on their water consumption at home. EMASA's smart metering system would alert the Andalusian Telecare Service to contact the user in order to clarify the situation and find out whether further action is necessary. In the event that contact cannot be made, community social services at Málaga City Council would be notified, who would proceed to carry out an on-site visit of the home. The system has a notification service and updates on the status of the incident so that the Andalusian Telecare Service can be kept updated as to the status of the case and notify family members or contacts if necessary.