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Personal alarms for arthritis

Arthritis affects the joints and can cause pain, stiffness and swelling, and symptoms can vary from day to day. For some people this makes everyday activities harder, and it can make a fall more likely or a phone harder to use when you need help. 

If arthritis affects your hands, wrists or mobility, a personal alarm can give you a simple way to call for help. The right one depends on which joints are affected, so this guide matches Taking Care alarms to the difficulties arthritis can cause.

Explore and compare Taking Care's personal alarms below, including options with automatic fall detection and support at home or while out and about.

Compare alarms Which alarm suits me?

Quick answer

If arthritis affects your hands, a neck-worn pendant with a large help button and automatic fall detection is a good place to start. If a pendant is uncomfortable, a wrist-worn alarm or alarm watch can work better. The table further down this page matches common arthritis symptoms to a Taking Care alarm.

How can a personal alarm help someone with arthritis?

A personal alarm cannot prevent or treat the symptoms of arthritis. But if arthritis affects your mobility or makes some everyday activities more difficult, having a simple way to call for help can provide extra reassurance.

With a wearable personal alarm, help is available at the press of a button. If you fall, feel unwell or need assistance, you can quickly contact a 24-hour monitoring team without needing to reach a telephone.

Some personal alarms can also detect certain falls automatically, without needing to push a button. This can provide additional reassurance if reduced mobility or problems with balance are a concern.

For example: If a flare-up leaves your hands too sore to use a phone, or you slip getting out of the bath, one press of the button (or, with fall detection, no press at all) connects you with our Emergency Response Team.

Most importantly, a personal alarm can provide extra support without getting in the way of your independence, helping you feel more confident carrying on with everyday life.

Compare Personal Alarms

Older woman doing stretching exercises

What types of personal alarm are available?

Personal alarms come in different forms, and the right choice depends on where you want to use it, how you would prefer to call for help and who you want to respond.

In-home alarms or GPS alarms

In-home personal alarms are designed to provide support in and around the home. They usually include a wearable help button connected to an alarm unit in the property.

GPS personal alarms use mobile networks and location technology, allowing them to work away from home as well. They can be a good option for people who regularly go out independently and want the reassurance of being able to call for help while they're away from home.

Monitored or unmonitored alarms

A Monitored personal alarm connects you to a dedicated response service when an alarm is raised. Taking Care's monitored alarms connect to its 24-hour Emergency Resolution Team, who can speak to you, assess what help is needed and contact family, friends or the emergency services where appropriate.

Unmonitored alarms usually contact nominated family members or friends directly. These can work well for some people, but the person receiving the alert needs to be available to respond.

A monitored service means there is someone available to answer an alarm at any time of day or night, rather than relying solely on family or friends being available.

Wearable alarms or home sensors

Wearable alarms include pendants and wrist-worn devices. They stay with you throughout the day, giving you a button you can press when you need help, and may include other features like automatic fall detection.

Home sensors work differently. Telecare systems can use sensors around the home to identify particular events or changes, without the person having to press a button. Depending on the system, these can include movement, door, bed or chair sensors.

Sensors may be used alongside other telecare equipment rather than as a direct replacement for a wearable personal alarm.

For arthritis, a monitored wearable alarm is usually the best place to start, because it stays with you around the home and does not depend on reaching a particular spot when you need help.

Compare Personal Alarms

What to look for in a personal alarm if you have arthritis

If arthritis affects your hands, wrists or mobility, some personal alarms may be easier to use than others. Think about how you will wear, activate and charge the alarm, as well as where you would like to use it.

    Tab Title

    Easy ways to call for help
    Woman sitting in a chair reading a newspaper, wearing a personal alarm

    Look for an alarm that does not require complicated controls or precise movements. 

    Taking Care alarms are designed to make raising an alarm simple, using either a single help button or an easy pinching action, depending on the device.

    Automatic fall detection

    If arthritis affects your mobility or balance, you may want to consider an alarm with automatic fall detection. This can detect certain types of fall and raise an alert without you needing to press the help button.

    No automatic fall detector can identify every fall, so you should still press your alarm whenever you are able to.

    Comfortable and easy to put on

    Consider whether you would find a pendant or wrist-worn alarm more comfortable and easier to manage. A pendant slips over your head, so there is no clasp to fasten. If arthritis affects your neck or shoulders, a wrist-worn alarm may feel better.

    Taking Care's Personal Alarm Watch is also available with an optional magnetic wrist strap. This may be easier to fasten than a conventional watch buckle if you have reduced dexterity in your hands.

    Easy charging

    Small plugs and connectors can be difficult to handle if arthritis affects your hands, so it's worth considering how an alarm is charged.

    Some Taking Care alarms sit in a charging dock, with no cable to plug into the device. The Personal Alarm Watch uses a magnetic charging connector that attaches to the watch without needing to be inserted into a small charging port.

    Works on a flare-up day

    Symptoms can change from day to day, so choose an alarm you could still use on your worst day. Wear it all the time, including at night, and keep the charger somewhere easy to reach.

    Compare Taking Care personal alarms

    Everyone’s needs are different. Taking Care offers a range of personal alarms with different ways to wear, use and call for help.

    Compare the options below to find the personal alarm that best suits your needs and everyday routine.

    Annual Pricing
    Monthly Pricing
    Close up of digital personal alarm

    Find out more

    Digital Personal Alarm

    A simple care alarm that works in and around your home, giving quick access to help at the touch of a button.

    • In-home and garden
    • Neck or wrist worn
    • Speak through the base unit
    Set-up Cost: £69.99
    Monthly Cost: £24.49
    Close up digital fall alarm pendant

    Find out more

    Digital Fall Alarm

    A care alarm for use at home and in the garden, with automatic fall detection for added reassurance.

    • In-home and garden
    • Fall detection
    • Neck or wrist worn
    • Speak through base unit
    Set-up Cost: £69.99
    Monthly Cost: £28.49
    Black pendant alarm on a chain held by a hand against a yellow background

    Find out more

    Taking Care Anywhere

    A GPS personal alarm for support at home and out and about, with fall detection for reassurance on the move.

    • In-home and out-and-about
    • Fall detection
    • Neck worn
    • Speak through the pendant or base unit
    • Shares GPS location in emergency
    Set-up Cost: £70.00
    Monthly Cost: £31.49
    Person using a personal alarm watch with a blurred background

    Find out more

    Personal Alarm Watch

    A discreet and stylish personal alarm watch combining emergency support with everyday health features.

    • In-home and out-and-about
    • Fall detection
    • Wrist worn
    • Speak through watch
    • Shares GPS location in emergency
    Set-up Cost: £99.99
    Monthly Cost: £26.49

    Prices shown exclude VAT. Most customers qualify as VAT exempt - find out if you qualify here. Free next working day delivery in England and Wales for orders before 1pm, Monday to Friday. 48-hour delivery is available for other areas.
    Offer and pricing terms and conditions apply. View full details.

    Which Taking Care alarm suits your arthritis symptoms?

    Start with the symptom that affects you most. The table shows what to look for and which Taking Care alarms fit, and why. It is a guide, not medical advice, and our team can talk it through on 0800 085 7371. Prices and full details are in the comparison above.

    If you find this hard Look for this in an alarm Taking Care alarms that may suit Why it fits
    Hands and fingers
    Pressing small or stiff buttons, or pinching or gripping objects A large, clearly marked help button that's easy to press without pinching or gripping.

    Digital Personal Alarm

    Digital Fall Alarm

    Personal Alarm Watch

    		 The Digital Personal Alarm and Digital Fall Alarm can also be supplied with an easy-press attachment to make the help button easier to push.

    To request this, call 0800 085 7371, as it isn't available to order online.
    Fastening clasps, buckles or small catches A pendant that slips over your head, or a wrist strap with a magnetic fastening.

    Digital Fall Alarm

    Taking Care Anywhere

    Personal Alarm Watch

    		 The first two can be worn as neck pendants with nothing to fasten. The Personal Alarm Watch has an optional magnetic strap, easier than a conventional buckle.
    Plugging in small connectors to charge Look for alarms that do not require charging.

    Digital Personal Alarm

    Digital Fall Alarm

    		Neither alarm requires recharging, or changing batteries - Taking Care will automaticaly send you a replacement device when the battery runs low.
    Dialling or using a phone screen An alarm that lets you speak to the monitoring team through the device itself.

    Taking Care Anywhere

    		 The Taking Care Anywhere is a two-way voice alarm, with no digital screen to navigate. Simply pinch to activate.
    Wrists, neck and shoulders
    Sore or swollen wrists A pendant rather than a wrist-worn device.

    Digital Fall Alarm

    Taking Care Anywhere

    		 Both can be worn round the neck, which keeps pressure and fastening away from the wrist.
    Neck, shoulder or upper back pain A wrist-worn alarm rather than a pendant.

    Digital Personal Alarm

    Digital Fall Alarm

    Personal Alarm Watch

    		 All three can be worn on the wrist, which takes the weight off the neck and shoulders.
    Hips, knees, feet and balance
    Walking, balance or getting up after a fall Automatic fall detection, so help can be called even if you cannot reach or press the button.

    Digital Fall Alarm

    Taking Care Anywhere

    Personal Alarm Watch

    		 All three include fall detection. No detector catches every fall, so press the button whenever you are able to.
    Feeling safe when you go out on your own A GPS alarm that works away from home.

    Taking Care Anywhere

    Personal Alarm Watch

    		 Both work in the home and out and about, and share your GPS location in an emergency.
    Symptoms that change from day to day
    Flare-ups that make some days much worse An alarm you could still use on your worst day, worn all the time.

    Digital Fall Alarm

    Taking Care Anywhere

    		 Fall detection backs up the button on days when pressing is difficult, and the devices can be worn 24/7.

    What customers say about our personal alarms

    Trusted by over 250,000 people across the UK. Read real experiences from people using our alarms.

    What happens when the alarm is raised

    Choosing a personal alarm is about more than the device. With a monitored Taking Care alarm, there is a trained team ready to respond whenever help is needed. Taking Care's Emergency Resolution Team is available 24 hours a day. If an alarm is raised, the team can speak to the wearer, understand what has happened and arrange the appropriate help.

    • Keep your alarm close
      Wear your personal alarm throughout the day, so it is there when you need it.
    • Immediate alert
      Pressing the button connects directly to our Emergency Resolution Team
    • Answered within seconds
      A trained specialist will speak to the wearer through the device
    • Help arranged quickly
      We contact family members, carers or emergency services as needed
    Dementia watch charging

    Supporting people living with arthritis

    Living with arthritis can affect people in different ways, and your needs may change over time.

    A personal alarm can provide extra reassurance if pain, stiffness or reduced mobility make some everyday activities more difficult. Having a simple way to call for help can support confidence and independence, while also providing reassurance for family and friends.

    Why choose Taking Care Personal Alarms?

    • 24-hour UK-based Emergency Resolution Team
    • No long-term contracts
    • Cancel anytime with no cancellation fees
    • No hidden costs or extra SIM charges
    • Trusted by over 250,000 people across the UK
    • 30+ years experience
    • Trusted by NHS partners

    View the full range of Taking Care’s personal alarms.

    Senior person on stairs with necklace alarm pendant

    How reliable are personal alarms?

    No alarm is perfect, so it helps to know what to expect and how to get the best from yours.

    Pressing the button by accident

    If you press the button by mistake, just tell the Emergency Resolution Team member who answers that you are fine. There are no additional charges for false alarms.

    What fall detection can miss

    Automatic fall detection is designed to detect a hard fall, so many not detect all falls. You should press your button whenever you are able to.

    Battery and charging

    Some alarms require recharging. Keep your alarm charged so it is ready when you need it. Low-battery notifications will let you know when the alarm requires recharging.

    Signal and connection

    Taking Care personal alarms use mobile networks, and do not need a landline or Wi-Fi.

    Tips for using your alarm with arthritis

    • Practise pressing it on a good day and on a bad day, so you know how it feels when your hands are sore.
    • Wear it all the time, including at night, and in the bathroom if your alarm is water-resistant. 
    • Choose a spot for the charger that is easy to reach, and charge at the same time every day.
    • Tell family and neighbours what the alarm does and who will be contacted, so everyone knows what to expect.
    • Review it if things change. If your symptoms change, a different type of alarm may suit you better. Call 0800 085 7371 and our team can help.

    Frequently asked questions about personal alarms for arthritis

    What is a personal alarm and how does it work?

    A personal alarm is a wearable device that allows someone to call for help or be located using GPS tracking. It connects to a 24-hour Emergency Resolution Team who can arrange support when needed.

    Can a personal alarm help someone with arthritis?

    A personal alarm does not monitor or treat arthritis or its symptoms. Instead, it provides a simple way to call for help if you need assistance, have a fall or feel unwell.

    If arthritis affects your mobility or makes some everyday activities more difficult, having an alarm close by can provide extra reassurance while helping you remain independent.

    What if arthritis makes it difficult for me to press a button?

    If arthritis affects your hands or fingers, look for a personal alarm with a simple, easy to press button to call for help.

    Taking Care offers alarms that use a single help button or a simple pinching action, depending on the device. Some alarms also include automatic fall detection, providing another way to raise an alert if a fall is detected and you are unable to press the button yourself.

    Some alarms can also be provided with an easy-press attachment, to make pushing the button even easier.

    You may also want to consider how easy the alarm is to put on, remove and charge when choosing the right device for you. 

    How does automatic fall detection work?

    Some Taking Care personal alarms can detect movement associated with certain types of fall. If a fall is detected, the device can automatically raise an alert with Taking Care's 24-hour Emergency Resolution Team without you needing to press the help button.

    Automatic fall detection can provide additional reassurance if arthritis affects your mobility or you are concerned about falling.

    No fall detector can detect every type of fall. If you need help and are able to activate your alarm yourself, you should always do so.

    Can I use a personal alarm during an arthritis flare-up?

    Yes, but it helps to choose an alarm you could still use on your worst day. A large button pressed with the flat of your hand, automatic fall detection as a back-up, and a charging method that does not need small plugs can all make flare-up days easier.

    Is a pendant or wrist alarm better if I have arthritis?

    This depends on which joints are affected and what you find most comfortable.

    A pendant is usually easier if your wrists or fingers are sore or swollen, because it slips over your head and does not need fastening. A wrist-worn alarm can suit you better if arthritis affects your neck or shoulders. The Personal Alarm Watch has an optional magnetic strap, which is easier to fasten than a conventional buckle.

    See our table matching each difficulty to an alarm.

    How do you set up a personal alarm?

    All our alarms are designed for simple self-installation, and come with an installation guide. 

    If you would rather not set it up alone, a family member or friend can do it for you, and Customer Services team can talk you through it.


    Our installation guides are available here.

    Do I need a landline or Wi-Fi for a personal alarm?

    No. Taking Care personal alarms use mobile networks and do not require a traditional telephone landline or Wi-Fi connection.

    What happens when I use my Taking Care personal alarm?

    When an alarm is raised, you will be connected to Taking Care's 24-hour Emergency Resolution Team.

    A trained specialist can speak to you, find out what has happened and arrange appropriate help. Depending on the situation, this could include contacting a family member, carer or the emergency services.

    Can I wear a personal alarm in the shower?

    This depends on the personal alarm you choose.

    - The Digital Personal Alarm, Digital Fall Alarm and Taking Care Anywhere can be worn in the shower or bath.

    - We do not recommend wearing the Personal Alarm Watch in the shower or bath.

    Check the water-resistance guidance for your chosen alarm before wearing it in the bath or shower.

    What happens if the alarm is set off accidentally?

    Just let our Emergency Resolution Team know it was an accident, and they will cancel the alarm. There are no additional charges or other steps needed for a false alarm.

    How long does the battery last?

    Battery life varies depending on the personal alarm.

    Alarms that don't need regular charging:

    - Digital Personal Alarm: Up to 5 years.

    - Digital Fall Alarm: Up to 2 years.

    When the battery runs low, we'll automatically send you a replacement device.

    Rechargeable alarms:

    - Taking Care Anywhere: 1–2 months between charges.

    - Personal Alarm Watch: Up to 3 days between charges.

    These devices will let you know when they need charging. You can recharge them using the supplied charging dock or cable.

    Can I get VAT exemption on a personal alarm if I have arthritis?

    If you have a long-term illness or disability, you may be eligible for VAT relief on products and services designed or adapted for your personal or domestic use, subject to HMRC eligibility rules.

    If you qualify, you can complete a VAT exemption declaration when purchasing an eligible Taking Care personal alarm.

    A non-exhaustive list of qualifying medical conditions can be found here.

    Is there a contract?

    All our alarms are on a 30-day rolling contract. We ask for 30 days notice for cancellations.

    Sources

    This page is for information only and is not medical advice. If you have unexplained joint pain, swelling or stiffness, or questions about your condition, speak to your GP or specialist nurse.

    Still unsure which personal alarm is right for you?

    Choosing the right personal alarm depends on how your loved one lives and what level of support they need. Some may prefer a simple wearable device, while others benefit from GPS tracking and automatic alerts for added reassurance.

    Our team can help you find the most suitable option based on your circumstances.

    Find the right alarm for you

    Answer a few simple questions to get a personalised recommendation based on your needs. It takes less than 2 minutes.

    Take our quick assessment

    Prefer to talk it through?

    Prefer to talk it through? Our friendly UK-based team can guide you and answer any questions. No pressure, just helpful advice. Lines open Monday – Friday, 9am - 6pm.

    Freephone 0800 085 7371

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