Personal Alarms

Yes, customers are encouraged to wear their pendants in the bath and shower where slips are common.

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 that the system is working properly and to ensure they understand how it works.

You can cancel any false alerts by pressing the pendant button. The Emergency Resolution Centre will always contact you to make sure you are OK if they receive an alert. The fall sensor has five levels of sensitivity to eliminate most false alarms associated with day-to-day movement.

The Emergency Resolution Centre will automatically know when your battery is running low and will arrange for a free replacement pendant to be sent. If you are concerned about the battery, you can always call Taking Care customer services on 01364 651 555.

You can still call for help from the alarm button on the base unit. A replacement pendant can be supplied at an additional cost; if you need a replacement pendant please call 01364 651 555.

You can have 2 pendants on one base unit, enabling 2 people at the same address to be covered. A small additional charge is made for this service; if you need an additional pendant please call 01364 651 555.

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

Other household equipment should not interfere with the functionality of the personal alarm system. If you are in any doubt please call the customer services team on 01364 651 555.

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

If you are set up with "Type talk" or "Next Generation Text" then you can be contacted. Alternatively contact can be made with your chosen keyholders.

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 the customer services team on 01364 651 555. When you move, simply unplug the system and then plug into your new telephone point and electrical socket at your new home. Then, press the pendant button to test that the alarm is working; if all is well an adviser should respond to you from the speaker on the base unit.

Contact Taking Care's customer services team on 01364 651 555 to advise the details you wish to change.

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.

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

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 pendant. If pressing the pendant button does not call the Emergency Resolution Centre, you should contact Taking Care customer services on 01364 651 555 who will advise.

Please call 01364 651 555 and tell customer services that you no longer require the service. Packaging will be sent to you and a courier will pick up up the base unit and pendant(s) from you. If you cancel within 30 days, you will receive a full refund, including the installation cost if your ordered the We-Connect service.

The PPP Taking Care service agreement includes the provision of the alarm unit and pendant so you can access the 24-hour personal alarm service.You pay the initial upfront one off cost and then the ongoing weekly monitoring & maintenance service, which is billed quarterly.

The important difference is that the landline-free models do not need a telephone landline to work. This makes it perfect for the growing number of customers 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 them into a power socket.

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.

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 your pendant and the Taking Care dedicated team 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:

1. Press the button on your pendant or help button on the unit just once and wait to be connected.
2. A Taking Care operator will answer and speak to you. Then simply let them know you'd like to run a test.
3. Taking Care will test your alarm, 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.
• In the event of a personal alarm fault or if your pendant battery needs replacing,Taking Care will fix the issue free of charge. Depending on the nature of the issue, Taking Care may send you a replacement personal alarm or one of their advisors will visit your home to repair the equipment or replace the battery.

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 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 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

Easy to install

If you choose to Self-Connect, you will receive the Self-Connect install 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**
• Many customers do not have to pay VAT for health reasons†

Compare personal alarm or Fall Alarm models. 

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 at an additional £99 upfront cost.

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

• Installed by professional advisors
• Can usually be fitted within 5 working days
• We-Connect option not available in Scotland. 

Order your personal alarm or landline-free digital personal alarm.

Compare personal alarm and fall alarm models.

Set up requirements

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 8am-6pm; Monday to Saturday).

If you are ordering the standard personal alarm or fall alarm, you will need a phone socket and a mains electricity socket which is near your phone.

The landline-free digital personal alarm and fall alarm does not need a phone socket. You will just need a mains electricity socket to plug it into.

How does it work?

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 wristband or pendant at any time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Step 2
Pressing your alarm will automatically dial through to the 24-hour Emergency Resolution Centre. A quick response means help will be on it’s way as soon as possible. You’ll be able to speak to an operator through a two-way speech link on the base unit or operators will call your emergency contacts to get help to you.

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.

Personal alarms are easy to install yourself, or with the help of a friend or family member.

If you choose to Self-Connect, you will be sent the Self-Connect installation 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. If you would like to see how easy it is to install, please download the self-install guide below.

Standard personal alarm set-up instructions: download the installation guide (PDF)

Landline-free personal alarm set-up instructions: download the installation guide (PDF)

Key safe

To get help to you quickly in an emergency, Taking Care recommend you have a key safe 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 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 in 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 a strong as a domestic front door. You can find out more about C500 KeySafe on Taking Care’s key safe page.

How to get in contact

• You can order your personal alarm or fall alarm online
• Alternatively, you can order by calling 0800 011 3846^ 8am-6pm, Monday to Saturday.
• You can request a brochure from Taking Care.
• Taking Care can call you back and answer your questions.
• Contact by email if you have any questions or to make an enquiry.

If you are already a customer and have any queries about the service, please call Taking Care Customer Services on 01364 651 555. Lines are open 9.00am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.