Personal Alarms

Yes, customers are encouraged to wear their alarm pendant in the bath and shower where slips are common. The Age Co Personal Alarm, Age Co Fall Alarm and Taking Care Anywhere alarm pendants are water resistant up to 1 metre / 3.2ft for 30 minutes.

When the call is answered just inform the staff at the Emergency Resolution Centre that you pressed it by accident. In fact, customers are asked to press the alarm button quarterly to ensure the system is working properly and that they understand how it works.

You can cancel any false alerts by pressing the alarm pendant button. The Emergency Resolution Centre will always contact you to make sure you are OK if they receive an alert.

Other household equipment should not interfere with the functionality of the personal alarm systems. If you are in any doubt please call the Taking Care Customer Services team on 01364 651 555. Lines are open Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm.

If there is a power cut, please don't worry as there is a battery in the base unit that will keep the Age Co Personal Alarm and Age Co Fall Alarm equipment working. Once the power is up and running again, please ensure to test your alarm pendant by pressing the button and making sure an adviser answers your call through the speaker on the base unit.

The Taking Care Anywhere location-aware GPS alarm pendant will continue to work if the base unit is switched off or out of range.

Yes, it is. You will need to set up with ‘Type talk’ or ‘Next Generation Text’ to allow the Emergency Resolution Centre to contact you. Alternatively, the Emergency Resolution Centre can call your nominated emergency contacts.

Yes, Taking Care keep some medical information on file, as well as details of your doctor, to assist the emergency services.

You need to tell Taking Care your new address, telephone numbers and any change to keyholders. Please call Taking Care’s Customer Services team on 01364 651 555. When you move, reconnect your base unit and press the alarm pendant button to test that the alarm is working.

Contact Taking Care's customer services team on 01364 651 555 to advise the details you wish to change. Lines are open Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The C500 KeySafe is the first and only key safe in the UK to have police approval. To provide added reassurance, it also has a security rating denoting it as strong as a domestic front door.

If you install broadband into your property and already have an alarm system, you should test your alarm after the broadband installation by pressing the button on your alarm pendant. If pressing the alarm pendant button does not call the Emergency Resolution Centre, you should contact Taking Care Customer Services on 01364 651 555 who will advise. Lines are open Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Please call 01364 651 555 and tell Taking Care Customer Services that you no longer require the service. Lines are open Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm. A freepost Royal Mail collection bag will be sent to you to return the alarm equipment in. If you cancel within 30 days, you will receive a full refund, including the installation cost if you ordered the We-Connect installation service.

The Taking Care service agreement includes the provision of the base unit and alarm pendant(s) so you can access the 24-hour personal alarm service. You pay the initial upfront one off cost and then the ongoing monitoring & maintenance service, which you can choose to pay monthly or annually.

No, your personal alarm system cannot be triggered by a different alarm pendant.

You can still call for help from the alarm button on the base unit. The Age Co Fall Alarm and Taking Care Anywhere packages include a free backup button-press alarm pendant that works in the home and garden.

If you lose your alarm pendant, a replacement can be supplied at an additional cost; if you need a replacement alarm pendant please call 01364 651 555. Lines are open Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The Age Co Personal Alarm pendant has a two-year battery life. The Age Co Fall Alarm pendant has a five-year battery life. The Emergency Resolution Centre will automatically know when your battery is running low and will arrange for a free replacement alarm pendant to be sent. If you are concerned about the battery, you can always call Taking Care Customer Services on 01364 651 555. Lines are open Monday - Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

You can have 2 alarm pendants on one base unit, enabling 2 people at the same address to be covered. A small additional charge is made for this service; you can add an additional alarm pendant when you order online or tell the Taking Care advisor if ordering by telephone.

The alarm pendants do not interfere with a pacemaker because it operates on a separate frequency.

The personal alarm and fall alarm pendants work up to 75m/246ft from the base unit, although the range may vary according to environment.

The landline-free digital personal alarm and fall alarm models work in exactly the same way as the standard alarms. The important difference is that the landline-free models do not need a telephone landline to work. This makes them perfect for the growing number of people who don’t have a telephone landline, for example if they use a mobile phone instead. The landline-free digital models call the Emergency Resolution Centre using a multi-network SIM card, just like a mobile phone.

The landline-free digital models are easy to set-up. The SIM card is pre-fitted so you just need to plug the base unit into a power socket. There are no Pay As You Go mobile or SIM card costs to worry about as this is all included in your subscription.

You can find out more information about the landline-free personal alarms and fall alarms on the Age Co personal alarms website.

The landline-free digital models work in exactly the same way as the standard alarms. However, they have a multi-network SIM card included in your subscription. The alarm base unit uses the SIM card to call the Emergency Resolution Centre, rather than using a telephone landline. There are no Pay As You Go mobile or SIM card costs to worry about as this is all included in your subscription.

No, there is not; all technology-based fees and line charges are all included within your personal alarm subscription.

An easy-to-follow user guide is included with your order, although you may need to bend down to reach the power socket for the base unit. If you would prefer to have the alarm set up for you however, add the installation service to your package for an extra £99 (£118.80 including VAT). You can do this when you order online or by telephone.

The Taking Care Anywhere package includes a base unit and backup button-press alarm pendant. Also included is a location-aware GPS pendant with wireless charger, cable and plug. The location-aware GPS pendant comes with a hypo-allergenic stainless steel chain and a split ring, so you can choose to wear it around your neck or on a key ring or belt.

The Taking Care Anywhere package includes a button-press alarm pendant that works in the home and garden, up to 300 metres (98 ft) from the base unit. For extra peace of mind, you can wear it when your location-aware GPS pendant is charging. In an emergency, you can speak with the Emergency Resolution Centre through the base unit’s in-built speaker and microphone.

The location-aware GPS pendant has a 1 to 2-month battery life. Low battery notifications will remind you to charge the location-aware GPS pendant. The backup button-press alarm pendant has a 5-year battery life.

If you have a pacemaker you cannot wear Taking Care Anywhere as a pendant and fall detection will need to be turned off. Select the pacemaker option when ordering online or let Taking Care know that you have a pacemaker if ordering by telephone.  The Taking Care Anywhere location-aware GPS pendant can be worn using the supplied split ring, which can be attached to a belt clip or keys.

As with other GPS personal alarm models, the Taking Care Anywhere location-aware GPS pendant will work anywhere in the UK where there is a 3G cellular network to communicate. The pre-fitted multi-network SIM provides the best possible coverage.

No, there is not; all technology-based fees and line charges are all included within your personal alarm subscription.

The Taking Care Anywhere has an easy-to-follow voice setup and a user guide is provided, although you may need to bend down to reach the power socket for the alarm base unit.

You may not need to pay VAT on your personal alarm order. Personal alarms are VAT exempt if you, or the person you are ordering for, have a condition that requires regular medication, are chronically sick or are registered disabled††.

You can find out more about VAT exemption and whether you may qualify here. Key safes do not qualify as VAT-exempt products so customers will always pay VAT on key safes, even if ordered with a personal alarm.

Once the personal alarm system is set up, you can get on with living your life independently.

Hopefully you never have to use the alarm in an emergency but rest assured, if you need assistance, simply press alarm pendant and the Taking Care Emergency Resolution Centre will assess the situation and get you the help you need quickly.

Quarterly checks

In order to ensure the service runs smoothly for you, please test the alarm quarterly on the day of the month that matches your birthday. Customers say they find that easy to remember. For example, if you were born on 11th March 1930, you may wish to test your alarm on the 11th March, 11th June, 11th September and the 11th December.

All you need to do is:

• Press the button on your alarm pendant or button on the base unit just once and wait to be connected.
• A Taking Care operator will answer and speak to you. Then simply let them know you'd like to run a test.
• Taking Care will test your alarm system, make sure the signal is strong and check all is working as it should.

Keyholders

• It is a good idea to have a chat with your keyholders about anything they may need to know about you or your home, e.g. if you have a pet or a particular medical condition.
• If you want to add addtional keyholders please contact Taking Care.

Let Taking Care know of any changes

• Keep in touch with Taking Care and let them know of any changes to your health.
• You can update your details by calling the Taking Care Customer Services team on 01364 651 555. Lines are open Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Recommend a friend

• Receive a £20 M&S gift card when you recommend a friend.***
• Simply fill out the leaflet in your welcome pack and your friend will be sent a free brochure. If they register for the service, Taking Care will send you a £20 M&S gift card as a thank you. You can recommend as many times as you like. Either complete and return the coupon within the recommend a friend leaflet, or call 0800 012 1436^. Terms and conditions apply.

Tips

• Wear the alarm pendant 24 hours a day.
• When you lock your doors, remember not to leave your key in the door. Otherwise, your keyholders won't be able to unlock the door and reach you quickly if you need help.
• Be sure to test your alarm equipment after a power cut or if your electricity has been turned off for any reason.
• Let Taking Care know if there are any access issues or instructions to let others know the location of your home.
• Contact Taking Care if you are going away and always leave the alarm system plugged in and switched on while you're not at home.
• Don't worry if you press your button by mistake. The operator will be glad to know that you're ok and that your alarm unit is working correctly.

Connect the Age Co Personal Alarm unit yourself and save £99.

If you choose to Self-Connect, you will receive the Self-Connect user guide with your personal alarm. This step-by-step guide has easy to follow instructions to show you how to quickly connect your personal alarm.

• Connect the system yourself using the quick and easy step-by-step guide.
• Includes free next working day delivery where available.**

Let Taking Care set up the alarm for you.

Leave the alarm set up to the advisors at Taking Care. If you are ready to order simply choose We-Connect installation service at an additional £99 upfront cost. Please note, installation is not available in Scotland.

All prices include 24-hour monitoring, plus on-site maintenance service.

• Installed by Taking Care's professional advisors.
• Can usually be fitted within 5 working days.

To get help to you quickly in an emergency, it is recommend you have:

• Two keyholders within 30 minutes travel time. These can be local friends, neighbours or family who have a key to your home and can be called by Taking Care in an emergency.
• Or if you wish to use the service without any keyholders, it is recommended you have a key safe. This can be your own key safe or you can purchase one from Taking Care.
• For more information, please call 0800 011 3846^ (lines open Monday - Friday, 8am to 6pm).

If you are ordering the standard Age Co Personal Alarm or Age Co Fall Alarm packages, you will need a phone socket and a mains electricity socket which is near your phone.

The Taking Care Anywhere package and landline-free digital personal alarm and fall alarms models do not need a phone socket. You will just need a mains electricity socket to plug the base unit into.

A personal alarm is a device, available as a wristband or pendant, that allows you to call for emergency help at the push of a button. The device is on your person constantly, so while you’re at home you can always feel safe knowing help is at hand.

Should you need emergency help, follow these 3 steps:

Step 1
Press the button on your alarm pendant at any time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Step 2
Pressing your pendant alarm will automatically alert the 24-hour Emergency Resolution Centre. A quick response means help will be on its way as soon as possible.

If you are using the Age Co Personal Alarm or Fall Alarm, you will be able to speak with an operator through the base unit’s in-built speaker and microphone. If you are using the Taking Care Anywhere location-aware GPS alarm pendant, you will be able to speak with an operator directly through the alarm pendant.

Step 3
The help you need is on its way. Be it one of your emergency contacts or the emergency services, as soon as you make the call, the assistance you need will come to you.

To get help to you quickly in an emergency, Taking Care recommend you have a key safe, especially if you do not have any keyholders.

If you do not have a key safe you can purchase one for £65.99 including VAT^^ when you order your personal alarm. If you would like Taking Care’s telecare consultants to fit your key safe for you, add the We-Connect installation service to your order for £99 excluding VAT.

A key safe is a simple, secure way to keep a door key handy. It can be fitted to an external wall on a house or a wall on an outhouse or a garage. The wall must be made of brick or dense concrete. It can only be opened by entering a unique code on the keypad.

Taking Care supply the C500 KeySafe, which is the only mechanical key safe in the UK to have police approval for being tested on outside walls. To provide added reassurance, it also has a security rating denoting it as strong as a domestic front door. You can find out more about C500 KeySafe on Taking Care’s key safe page.

There are various ways to find out more, get in touch or buy an alarm today:

• Order a personal alarm online.
• Request a call back.
• Request a brochure.
• Call the Taking Care team on 0800 011 3846^ Monday - Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.
• Send the Taking Care team an email at enquiries@ppptakingcare.co.uk.