Elderly alarms: a reassuring solution for independent living

The best emergency alarm for your needs will depend on your lifestyle and personal preferences for the type of elderly care alarm you want. There are a variety of different features available that will suit different individuals and your requirements.

Some of the considerations for choosing the best emergency alarm for your needs could include:

• Whether you want an elderly care alarm for your home or one that also works when you’re out and about.
• Whether you want certain features such as GPS tracking or fall detector technology.
• How you would like to wear your emergency alarm, such as a pendant alarm around your neck, or worn like a watch on your wrist.

Find out more about different types of elderly alarm devices.

Don’t worry - if you press the button accidentally, our friendly Emergency Resolution team will check everything is okay. You can then tell them that it was a false alarm and you don’t need any assistance at this time.

Some older adults with a personal alarm spend time with loved ones and that might involve visiting or staying in someone else’s home for a period of time. It’s important to know if this will have an impact on your personal alarm system.

Whether or not your personal alarm for seniors can be taken away with you will depend on the specific type of emergency alarm you have and what its capabilities and features are.

Some of our products, such as the Taking Care GO GPS Alarm, are designed to work anywhere in the UK so you can take it with you if you visit or stay with loved ones in the UK. Some of our other products are designed to work only in the home and garden and have a base unit in your home that cannot be taken away with you.

If you are travelling abroad to visit or stay with loved ones, our personal alarms will not work outside of the UK.

Many of our emergency alarms are rented for the length of your contract, including the Digital Personal Alarm, Digital Fall Alarm, Taking Care Anywhere and Taking Care Sense. If your rented Taking Care emergency alarm device develops a fault, we will fix this as part of our subscription service.

Some products, including the Personal Alarm Watch, are purchased and include a 12-month warranty.

Call Customer Services (Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm) on 0800 085 7371 if your elderly care alarm device develops a fault.

A personal alarm for seniors can often be a more straightforward way to get assistance in an emergency than using a mobile phone. Some of the reasons for this include:

• An alarm for seniors is worn, so it’s always there if needed and can’t be put down or forgotten like a phone may be.
• A single button press will raise an alert on an elderly care alarm, with no need to unlock a phone, search contacts or dial for help.
• Some older people find mobile phones and smartphones very complicated to use, so prefer to have a straightforward alarm with one button to avoid any confusion and save time in an emergency.
• Many personal alarms for seniors come with a long battery life, so the devices don’t need to be charged as often as mobile phones do.
• TakingCare alarms are monitored 24/7, every day of the year, so are always there if an alert is raised. With a mobile phone, family members or friends that you would call may be asleep or otherwise unable to take the call, so help might not be reached in an emergency.

Find out more about mobile phones vs personal alarms.

Most of our personal alarms are waterproof or water-resistant, allowing you to wear them in the shower or bathroom where falls are more likely to occur. This also means they are protected if you are out of the house and get caught in the rain.

Our home and garden personal alarms have a base unit with a backup battery that activates during a power cut. This ensures the alarm remains operational for up to 40 hours.

If you have a GPS alarm, you should aim to keep your alarm pendant or watch charged, as it will be unaffected by a power cut and continue to work as long as it still has charge.

If you experience a fall, the response process varies depending on the type of personal alarm you have.

If you press the emergency button:

• Pressing the button on your personal alarm sends an immediate alert to Taking Care’s 24/7 Emergency Resolution Team.
• A trained operator will speak to you through the alarm base unit or mobile alarm device to assess your situation.
• The operator will discuss what help you need and contact a designated family member, friend, neighbour, or the emergency services to assist you.
• If you are injured or unable to speak, they will ensure help reaches you as quickly as possible.

If you have a fall detection alarm:

• With automatic fall detection technology, the alarm will trigger automatically when it senses a sudden fall, even if you are unable to press the button.
• The Emergency Resolution Team receives the alert and will attempt to contact you through the device.
• If you do not respond, the operator will assume you are incapacitated and arrange for help to reach you.
  

What if you are unconscious or unable to speak?

• If the Emergency Resolution Team cannot reach you via the alarm's speaker or phone, they will follow your emergency protocol.
• They will contact your emergency contacts and may call paramedics or other services to check on you.
• If you have a key safe, the emergency services will use the code provided to safely enter your home without causing damage.

This process ensures that you receive prompt assistance, reducing the risk of complications from prolonged immobility or untreated injuries.

You can take your personal alarm system with you when you move. Contact Taking Care in advance to update your details and new address.

Yes, you should provide your medical details when setting up a Taking Care personal alarm. This information is crucial for the Emergency Resolution Team to provide the best support. 

Knowing your medical conditions, such as heart problems, diabetes, epilepsy, or mobility issues, helps operators understand the urgency and type of help you may need.

If you have conditions affecting communication, such as hearing loss, speech impairments, or cognitive decline (e.g. dementia), operators will use appropriate methods to communicate and support you.

In an emergency, your medical details can be shared with paramedics, enabling them to provide appropriate care faster. For instance, knowing about medication allergies or chronic conditions can be critical for safe treatment.

By sharing your medical details, you ensure that Taking Care’s Emergency Resolution Team can act swiftly and effectively to safeguard your health and wellbeing in any emergency situation.

We will ask you to share your medical information by completing a form after you have ordered your personal alarm.

If you lose your personal alarm device, you should contact us as soon as possible. We will arrange for a replacement device to be sent out to you, which will incur an additional cost.

Depending on the model you have, your personal alarm may alert you with voice notifications and low battery lights. If you have a home and garden alarm, the Emergency Resolution Team will also be automatically alerted.

Our in-home personal alarms should also work in your garden and we will ask you to check its range when you first set it up.

We also offer personal alarms with GPS tracking that work outside the home, keeping you protected wherever you go, as long as there is mobile network coverage.

If you have a long-term illness or disability, you may not have to pay VAT on our personal alarms, which can save you 20% on the cost.

You may be eligible for VAT exemption if you:

• Are chronically sick or disabled (a condition that has lasted or is expected to last for a long time).
• Have a physical or mental impairment, such as reduced mobility, heart disease, arthritis, hearing loss, or another condition affecting daily life.
• Require a personal alarm to help you maintain your independence and safety at home due to your condition.

You can test your personal alarm by pressing the button to trigger a call to the Emergency Resolution Team. Inform them that you are conducting a test. It’s recommended to test your alarm when you first receive it andonce every three months.