Calling for help
a guide to community alarms, 2003
(go to list of report contents)
Where can you get an alarm?
You won't find much choice of alarm units in high street shops - so where do you start?
Local authorities
There are some 300 alarm schemes around the country. These are run mainly by housing departments but also by social services departments. In Scotland they are run by social work departments and in Northern Ireland by the health and social services boards.
Most schemes provide services to local authority and private tenants and to home owners. Charges vary from one authority to another, and also according to the service provided. They are mostly around two or three pounds a week and generally cover renting and maintaining the alarm and the response service.
When the centre receives a call they can automatically identify who it is from. They will have your details and contact numbers for the people you have nominated as helpers. Other centres send out a mobile warden - a member of the centre staff. Some also offer the option of telephoning or calling occasionally to see how you are.
You may need to meet the scheme's eligibility criteria. Many give priority to older and disabled people and those who live alone, or with someone who is also frail.
If your own local authority does not run a scheme, there are some that take on people outside their area. Most alarm schemes are members of the Telecare Services Association (formerly ASAP) Contact them for information on schemes that operate in your area.
Housing associations
Some housing associations have alarm schemes for their residents and some of these offer services to other people. They operate in the same way as the local authority schemes. Again, contact Telecare Services Association (formerly ASAP) for housing association schemes in your area. In recent years some housing associations have taken over the responsibilities of local authority housing departments, including their alarm services.
Charities
Two charities provide alarm services nationally.
Help the Aged runs SeniorLink which has rental options from free (depending on your finances) to £4.29 a week for the first quarter then £3.75 a week. Alternatively they sell new or reconditioned alarms (Horizons) and charge £1.50 a week for the service. They will contact volunteer keyholders if necessary.
Age Concern Aid-Call rents alarms (Lifelines) and also calls out nominated helpers with a key to your home. Payment options include varying initial fees plus a subscription that works out between £1.50 to £2.96 a week.
A number of other charities provide alarm services for their beneficiaries.
Commercial firms
Most alarm manufacturers and distributors sell and rent direct to the public; others sell only to organisations. Some telephone and security shops and centres for disabled people stock a few community alarms. Ask the manufacturer (Addresses are listed on the contacts page) where you can buy or rent their products. Some security firms that monitor burglar alarms take on community alarm clients too. Telecare Services Association (formerly ASAP) can tell you of their member firms.
Alarms can give people the
confidence to
live at home indendently
Finding a good alarm service
A community alarms service is there to respond to calls from people needing help. A good centre will do this reliably and sympathetically. So, how do you find a good centre?
The majority of community alarms services in the UK belong to ASAP. Its members have to meet or be working towards standards set out in its Code of Practice. Check to see if any service you are considering is a member of Telecare Services Association (formerly ASAP) .
Click checklists for details of what any good community alarms service will provide. Talk to the centre staff and to people already using it - ask to be put in touch if you don't already know anyone.
Staff at the centre are
trained to take appropriate
action whatever the call
Report Contents
About alarms
What
is a community alarm?
How
does an alarm work?
Basic
choices
Who
will receive your calls?
Where can you get an alarm?
Alarms on test
Models tested
Antenna
Princess AP1000
Antenna
AP2000
CareSec
Homelink
Extra II
Horizon
II
IntelliLink
Lifeline
400
Lifeline
4000
LIfeline
4000+D
Lifeline
TalkBack trigger
S11
Carephone
Sayphone
In
Touch 1000
In
Touch 2000
In
Touch 2000 Package
Other information
Using
an alarm
Checklists
of things to look for
Alarms
in the future
Acknowledgements
Contact
details
