The technology used to provide traditional landline phone calls is no longer fit for the future. Landline phones are switching to digital and this could stop some telecare alarms from working.
Make sure your personal alarm will still work.
If your alarm uses an analogue landline, it may no longer work reliably after the switchover.
That’s why it’s important to check what type of alarm you have, and if it needs to be upgraded to a digital-ready model.
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Follow these simple steps to determine if your personal alarm will be affected by the Digital Switchover.
✅ If your alarm does not have a base unit that plugs into a telephone wall socket, you have a digital personal alarm.
Your digital personal alarm does not use a telephone landline to make emergency calls so it will be unaffected by the Digital Switchover.
You do not need to take any further action.
❔ If your personal alarm has a base unit that plugs into a telephone wall socket, then you have a landline alarm.
Your alarm may be affected by the Digital Switchover.
Whether you need to take action any will depend on who provides your personal alarm. Continue this guide to find out what to do next.
✅ If your analogue alarm is supplied by Taking Care, Age Co or Age UK, it will continue to provide you with 24/7 support.
Analogue landline alarms from these providers have been tested for compatibility with the digital switchover changes. If you have an alarm from one of these suppliers, you can find out more here.
You do not need to take any further action.
❌ If your analogue alarm is supplied by a different provider, it may be affected by the Digital Switchover.
If your personal alarm connects to a telephone landline and is not provided by Taking Care, Age Co or Age UK, you should contact your telephone landline provider and personal alarm provider immediately to ensure it will continue to provide you with 24/7 support.
Your analogue landline alarm may be affected by the Digital Switchover.
We recommed you follow the Government advice at digitalphoneswitchover.com/telecare-devices
If you or a loved one is considering a new personal alarm or wants to upgrade to a digital model, choose a provider that is ready for the digital switchover. Look for providers that follow these best industry practices to ensure your alarm will continue to provide you with 24/7 support.
Digital alarms do not rely on a telephone landline and will be unaffected by the switchover.
The TSA is the industry advisory body for technology enabled care in the UK.
Providers should have clear, upfront pricing with no hidden costs.
These providers offer fully digital alarms that work independently of your landline, with 24/7 help at the press of a button:
Taking Care have supported over ¼ million people and their families with monitored alarms. Taking Care is the largest private provider of personal alarms in the UK.
Taking Care's digital alarms are reliable and easy to use with a 30-day money back guarantee and free delivery.
Age Co is 100% owned by Age UK and gives its profits to the charity. In the last 5 years Age Co has donated more than £12m to Age UK.
Buying an Age Co personal alarm supports Age UK's charitable work.
Digital personal alarms are unaffected by the switchover because they do not use a telephone landline. Instead, digital personal alarms have a roaming multi-network SIM that will automatically switch to the strongest available mobile network.
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If you enjoy being out of the house but want some reassurance you can call for help in an emergency, this will suit your active lifestyle.
Subscription
£20.99 per month
(£25.19 including VAT)
Plus one-off setup cost
£29.99
(£35.99 including VAT)
Save £40 and lock your subscription price until 2027 - offer ends 1st July!*
If you enjoy being out of the house but want some reassurance you can call for help in an emergency, this will suit your active lifestyle.
Subscription
£29.99 per month
(£35.99 including VAT)
Plus one-off setup cost
£30.00
(£36.00 including VAT)
Telephone providers, including BT and Virgin, are upgrading the landline network, also known as the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) to digital. This upgrade is called the Digital Switchover. Telephone calls will be sent as data over a broadband connection, however for most people the upgrade will be straightforward. The change is happening because the ageing PSTN network is difficult to maintain and does not support today's digital needs.
Your telephone provider will write to you in advance to let you know when this is happening. Openreach have already started moving some customers from the analogue telephone network to the new fully digital network.
No, your telephone number will remain the same.
No. There should be no change to your plan or bill, and your number won't change either.
Some criminals are using the switchover as an opportunity to scam people, for example tricking them into providing their bank details or passwords. Telecoms companies and personal alarm providers will never call or email to ask for this type of personal information.
If you, or someone you know, thinks they have been a victim of a scam or fraud relating to the switchover, contact your bank and report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.
You can find out more at digitalphoneswitchover.com. The website is run by the Digital Connectivity Forum (DCF), the government advisory body on telecommunications, and developed with the telecommunications industry including BT, Openreach, Virgin Media O2, TalkTalk, Vodafone and Sky.
You can also find out more on the Ofcom website.
Taking Care have completed extensive testing of our personal alarms with Openreach. This means Taking.Care are the first personal alarm provider to complete full testing of their product range before the planned switchover from analogue to digital telephone networks by 2025.
The results from the testing will help ensure our customers receive uninterrupted support for their vital personal alarm service.
Not only can falls result in fractures and sustained injuries, but they can also have a long-term effect on your confidence, impacting independence.
With some careful thought and preparation, however, falls can be prevented.
Read how an out-and-about GPS personal alarm gives Steve the confidence to remain active in his local community.
Taking Care have supported over ¼ million people and their families with personal alarms and telecare services for over 30 years.
If you are considering a digital personal alarm, here some of the reasons to choose Taking Care, the largest provider of alarms in the UK.
Help whenever you need it, 24-hours a day, 365 days of the year.
No hidden fees, no surprises. All repairs, calls, and data are included.
Full refund for unused months, even on annual plans – no long contracts.
Try the alarm. Full refund if not satisfied, free return postage.
Our alarms are digital-ready, ensuring uninterrupted service during the UK's digital switchover. This means no upgrade costs after the landline switchover.
Existing customers never pay more than new customers.
If you’re a member of the media and would like to speak to someone from our team about the Digital Switchover, please do get in touch with us via marketing.team@ppptakingcare.co.uk.
Please only use this email address for media enquiries. Anyone requiring information on a product or purchase can email enquiries@ppptakingcare.co.uk.
