Community alarm services

These are personal alarm systems that can be installed in your home to make sure that you can get help in an emergency, for example, if you fall and can’t get up. These systems use your existing telephone line to form a link with a remote call centre. These call centres employ operators who man the phone lines 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You can in an emergency contact these operators for help by pressing a small personal alarm button which you can wear either around your neck or on your wrist.

You can obtain a community alarm in a number of ways:

• In some areas the local council operate their own scheme and you would just need to contact then for further details. You do not need to be one of their tenants.

• In other areas you can contact the social housing department to get connected.

• Some Councils of Voluntary Service (CVS) run personal alarm or Lifeline systems.

• You can also get connected through a national operator such as:
  Age Concern tel 08457 413103

• Telecare - this is a system providing a wide range of alarms and sensors that can enable people to live safely and independently in their own homes. It is available through Hampshire County Council's Adult Services Department, as well as from a wide range of district councils, community alarm providers and housing associations.