Family-contact alarms: how they compare with monitored alarms

Feb 17, 2025 • 4 min read

As our loved ones age, we often worry about their safety, especially if they live alone. One common question is what would happen if they needed help and couldn’t easily reach the phone.

Some alarms contact friends or family members directly when the button is pressed. These are often called family-contact alarms or unmonitored alarms. Other alarms connect to a specialist 24-hour monitoring team, who can speak to the person and arrange help if needed.

This guide explains how family-contact alarms work, how they compare with monitored alarm services, and why relying only on friends, family or a mobile phone may not always provide the reassurance needed in an emergency.

Family-contact alarms vs monitored alarms

If you're short on time, this table shows the key differences between family-contact alarms, monitored alarms and mobile phones in an emergency.

There are two main types of panic buttons:

• Unmonitored panic buttons: These alarms contact friends and family and rely solely on pre-set emergency contacts instead of a monitoring centre.
• Monitored panic buttons: These connect to 24/7 emergency monitoring centres, which can contact family, friends, or emergency services as needed.

Unmonitored alarms that contact family and friends

Panic buttons that contact family and friends connect the wearer directly to a list of pre-set contacts during emergencies. They may initiate calls, send text messages, or trigger app notifications, depending on the features of the device.

These devices can use landline connections or operate through a SIM card. Some models also provide GPS location data to help family members respond quickly.

Benefits of panic buttons that contact family and friends

• Direct communication with family: These alarms connect wearers with familiar voices during vulnerable moments, providing reassurance and recognisable support.
• Personalised contact list: Users can save trusted contacts, including neighbours, if family members live far away.
• Cost-friendly: Unmonitored alarms are usually a one-time purchase, as there is no subscription fees. This makes them a budget-friendly choice.
  
  

Concerns with panic buttons that contact family and friends

• Reliance on emergency contacts: Family and friends may be unavailable or miss alerts, potentially delaying help. Contacts may be working and unable to respond or if it is late at night, they may be asleep and miss the call.
• Lack of professional support: These alarms don’t provide access to trained professionals who can assess emergencies and decide on the best course of action.
  
  

Why not just use a mobile phone in an emergency?

Mobile phones are essential for communication, but they have limitations in emergencies that a personal alarm, monitored or otherwise, is designed to overcome.

Challenges of using a mobile phone

• Accessibility issues: Phones may not always be within reach, especially during emergencies like a fall or sudden health scare.
• Ease of use: Older adults may find smartphones difficult to operate due to small buttons or complicated interfaces, particularly in stressful situations.
• Battery life: Phones need regular charging, and a dead battery could leave the user without help when needed.
• Reliance on coverage: Poor signal areas can prevent calls from going through, leaving users stranded during critical moments.

Why should you choose a monitored panic button?

Monitored panic buttons offer greater reliability than family-contact alarms, providing peace of mind for the wearer and those who care about them.

Benefits of monitored panic buttons

• Immediate access to help: Trained professionals respond promptly, minimising delays in emergencies.
• Reliable support 24/7: Monitoring centres provide continuous coverage, even during holidays or late at night.
• Professional emergency management: Operators assess situations calmly and efficiently, contacting emergency services or family members as needed.
• Reduces stress and anxiety: Knowing help is always available alleviates worries for both the wearer and their loved ones.
• Additional features: Monitored emergency buttons and fall alarms often come with extra functionality like automatic fall detection and GPS tracking.
  
  

Why monitored panic buttons are better than mobile phones

• Ease of use: With a single button press, users can call for help. Some devices even include automatic fall detection.
• Wearable and accessible: Unlike a mobile phone, monitored alarms are designed to be kept on the body at all times, ensuring help is always within reach.
• Long battery life: Many devices have batteries lasting 2-5 years and include low-battery warnings.
  
  

Added peace of mind with a Taking Care alarm

Taking Care offers monitored alarms for different needs, including home alarms, fall alarms and GPS alarms. They connect to our 24-hour Emergency Resolution Team, so help can be arranged even if family members are unavailable. 

Compare personal alarms for elderly or call our Independent Living Advisors on freephone 0800 085 7371 Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Written by Aanchal Raghav, Content author and reviewer
and checked by John Swaffield, Content Manager

Written: 17/02/2025 • Checked: 07/01/2025
Next review: 31/03/2027

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