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Home 6 Best Personal Alarms for the Elderly

Best Personal Alarms for the Elderly

Personal alarms are pendants or watches worn to call for help by an older person after a fall, medical emergency or if they get lost. In their simplest form, personal alarms for the elderly feature a big, clear panic button that can be pressed, connecting any time day or night, to a care team or family member for assistance.ย 

A personal alarm will help an older person to remain living independently and safely at home, giving peace of mind to their families.

Our list of the best personal alarms for the elderly have been tested by our panel of over 70s reviewers for at least a week, after which we asked them their thoughts. We highlight key features and provide ratings for customer service and value forย money/price.

Our Top Picks
5
How we've scored and rated the elderly alarms:
Our top 6 are rated in order from the highest score, using our 3 key metrics to give us an overall score for each.

Our 6 Best Personal Alarms for the Elderly

1. SureSafeGO

ยฃ18.99 / month
Best all-round mobile personal alarm
Panic Button being pressed on the SureSafeGo - Age Space Review Image
Reviewed by Kay, 88
Reviewed by Kay, 88
4.8
Read More

Best for most people, this alarm has all the latest features at a reasonable price.

Discount Code: (SAVE ยฃ30)

ยฃ30 Age Space Discount using the link below

Stand Out Features

  • Automatic Fall Detection
  • Speak directly through the alarm
  • Mobile - Wear it anywhere (at home and out and about)
  • GPS Location
  • Alarm linked to mobile phone through Friends & Family App - notifications, view geo-fences, chat feature, activity notifications

Who is it good for?

The SureSafeGO will meet the needs of most people. It covers the important requirements of having an emergency call button and automatic fall detection. It should work anywhere the wearer is located as it is a mobile alarm with an inbuilt SIM. It enables the wearer to talk to the 24/7 response team through the alarm pendant itself.It includes extra useful features without adding too much to the price. The Friends and Family App enables: geo-fencing for notifications if the location of the wearer changes at a strange time; a chat feature for carers to co-ordinate help, as well as a step counter and activity monitor.

Everything you need to know

  • Emergency button
  • Step / Activity counter (with App)
  • 7-10 day battery life
  • Showerproof
  • Geo-Fence capabilities (with App)
  • Home Beacon for Accurate Location
  • Worn around the neck (or on a belt with additional purchase)
  • Chat Feature (with App)
  • Digital voice quality when speaking through the device
  • Easy-to-use charging cradle

Our Reviewer's Thoughts

A brilliant all-round alarm with fall-detection, gps capabilities and a hand friends and family app.

Read the full SureSafeGO Review

Full Price Breakdown

  • One off cost of ยฃ149.95
  • Then ยฃ18.99 / month

Automatically includes Age Space discount (ยฃ30), Friends and Family App (worth ยฃ36 / year) and free lifetime warranty

About SureSafe

SureSafeย Alarms are leading providers of personal alarms for the elderly. They offer a broad range of alarms that can be used both in the home as well as when โ€˜out and aboutโ€™. They help over 170,000 people in the UK through two UK-based monitoring centres, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. SureSafe are rated โ€˜Excellentโ€™ by their customers on Reviews.io and average 4.8 out of 5 stars. 98% of customers say they would recommend SureSafe to a friend.

2. Careline SmartLife

ยฃ19.99 / month
Best in-home alarm
Careline365 SmartLife Review Image
Reviewed by Sacha, 71
Reviewed by Sacha, 71
4.4
Read More

If you donโ€™t want or need a mobile alarm, or you donโ€™t want to worry about charging, we think this is a good option.

Discount Code: (SAVE ยฃ20)

Stand Out Features

  • Digital in-home alarm - doesn't need a landline, just mains power
  • Pendant never needs charging
  • Super simple set up
  • Emergency button
  • 24/7 monitoring by trained care team

Who is it good for?

As a digital in-home pendant alarm the Careline SmartLife is great for anyone who would benefit from the security of a personal alarm at home, but doesn't need one out and about: because they are housebound, or when they're out they are accompanied by someone.ย  It is easy to set up, just plug the base unit into the mains, put it on and press the emergency button if needed. You can add automatic fall detection for ยฃ4 a month if the wearer is less stable on their feet.Its main feature is the SOS call button and connection to the 24/7 care team, and is ideal for those with a tight budget.

Everything you need to know

  • 600m range
  • Add fall detection for just ยฃ4/month
  • Waterproof
  • Base unit has 24 hour battery back-up in case of power cut
  • Wear with a wrist strap or as a neck pendant
  • Less than 10 second response time
  • Lightweight design

Our Reviewer's Thoughts

"It was almost too simple to set up and use! Technology usually takes me a while to get my head round however this really was as simple as plugging it in anywhere I wanted!" - Sacha, 71Read the full Careline SmartLife Review

Full Price Breakdown

Buy Annually (with Age Space Discount) = ยฃ211.99

ย 

Buy Quarterly (with Age Space Discount) = ยฃ59.97 every 3 months + one-off set-up fee of ยฃ40

About Careline365

Careline365ย is a leading provider of personal alarms for the elderly and disabled. They provide a life-saving service up and down the UK, helping thousands of people stay safe and independent in their own homes.

With a range of simple, affordable alarms and accessories, Careline users can rest assured that help is always on hand. The Careline Response Centre is based right here in the UK and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They rated as excellent on Trustpilot from over 2,200 reviews.

3. Telecare24 Fall Alarm Plan

ยฃ19 / month
Great in-home landline fall alarm
Telecare24 Fall Alarm Plan
Full Review Coming Soon
Full Review Coming Soon
4.4
Read More

For a simple fall alarm pendant, at a good price, we recommend the Telecare24 Fall Alarm Plan.

Discount Code: (SAVE ยฃ10)

Stand-out features

  • Emergency button
  • Automatic fall detection
  • In-home alarm
  • Digital Connection (not landline)
  • 24 / 7 monitored

Who is it good for?

The Telecare24 Fall Alarm Plan is ideal for people who who just want a simple alarm with fall detection. This product will appeal to someone who is housebound, frail and at a high risk of falls.ย ย 

This is the best value/cheapest fall alarm on this page. Telecare24 is a well respected provider with an award winning 24/7 response team.ย 

Everything you need to know

  • Wear as watch or as a pendant
  • Call directed through base unit
  • Waterproof
  • 200m range
  • 18 - 24 month battery life
  • Two wearing options
  • 24/7 monitored
  • 35 grams
  • Fall sensor: 37 x 33 x 12.7mm

Our Reviewer's Thoughts

Super simple and affordable fall detecting alarm.

Read the full Telecare24 fall plan review here

Full Price Breakdown

ยฃ170 billed annually (including Age Space discount) + one-off set-up cost ofย ยฃ45

About Telecare24

Telecare24ย is the only national personal alarm and careline service that is recommended by TVโ€™s Dr Hilary Jones. Telecare24 is rated โ€˜Excellentโ€™ by its customers, with new positive reviews every day

4. Companion Personal Alarm Watch

ยฃ25 / month
Most stylish alarm watch
Companion Watch - Mobile Alarm Watch with Box
Reviewed by Roey, 89
Reviewed by Roey, 89
4.2
Read More

If you are looking for a more discrete mobile elderly personal alarm, with the ability to talk through the watch should you need help.

Discount Code: (SAVE 15%)

Stand Out Features

  • Works and looks just like a normal watch
  • Automatic fall detection
  • Talk directly through the watch
  • GPS, heart rate and activity monitored
  • Family Monitored - alarm linked to mobile phone app and website

Who is it for?

The Companion Watch is ideal for those who want something that looks different from the more classic form. This personal alarm looks, and tells the time, just like a normal watch.The look was very important to our reviewer Roey who readily switched to the Companion Watch from a classic pendant alarm. She knew she needed the protection of a personal alarm, and her family needed that reassurance, but disliked wearing the SOS pendant.The Companion Watch has another important feature: a health tracker, tracking heart rate, activity and respiratory rate. Many users give the account log-in details to their GP so they get a live update on heart rate variations.

Everything you need to know

  • Panic button you can cancel
  • Easy-to-use charging cradle
  • Cycles through emergency contacts until call is answered
  • Up to 5 day battery life
  • Water-resistant
  • Multiple colours available
  • Geo-fences
  • Accompanying app for friends and family
  • 46mm diameter
  • 13.99mm thickness
  • 45 grams

Our Reviewer's Thoughts

โ€œI love it. People just donโ€™t believe itโ€™s a personal alarm watch. Iโ€™m not embarrassed to wear it and in fact I get a lot of complimentsโ€ - Roey, 89Read the full Companion Watch review

Full Price Breakdown

Buy new atย ยฃ295ย + ยฃ25 / month for monitoring

or you can buy a refurbished, like-new watch atย ยฃ195ย +ย ยฃ25 / month

About Companion

Companion are a newer company in the personal alarm space who saw a gap in the market for a stylish wrist alarm that takes useful features from smart watches.They pride themselves on a personal customer experience and a great product.

5. Taking Care Anywhere + Sense

ยฃ26.99 / month
Mobile personal alarm with environment sensor
Taking Care Sense with Anywhere Mobile Alarm and in-home backup pendant
Reviewed by Caroline, 74
Reviewed by Caroline, 74
4
Read More

A great mobile alarm from a well-respected provider, with movement, activity and temperature monitor.ย 

Get 3 months free with annual plan

Stand-out features

  • GPS, Fall Detecting Mobile Pendant
  • Talk through pendant
  • Free back-up pendant for when it is charging
  • Sense: environment detection with alerts e.g. temperature
  • 24/7 monitoring

Who is it good for?

The Taking Care Anywhere and Sense package is a holistic and robust approach to safety and reassurance, leaving no gaps with round-the-clock monitoring.ย 

This package means that the wearer can have the Anywhere mobile pendant when out-and-about, the back-up in-home pendant when at home and the Anywhere is charging, and the Sense will be there when they are wearing neither.ย 

Taking Care is a well-known, respected and reviewed provider of telecare equipment so if you are looking for a trusted brand you can't go wrong with Taking Care.ย 

The package is a little more expensive than others (although you can choose not to include the Sense) but in this case with expense definitely comes quality.

Everything you need to know

Mobile Alarm

  • Emergency button
  • Two-way communication through pendant
  • Easy-to-use charging cradle
  • Automatic fall detection
  • Completely mobile
  • Wear as pendant, keyring or on belt
  • Water resistant
  • 33 grams
  • 67mm x 47mm x 13.5mm (length x width x height)
  • Digital Unit in home (to cover mobile blackspots at home)
  • Free digital in-home unit and backup pendant to cover home use and when charging
  • Waterproof backup pendant
Sense
  • No cameras or microphones (movement detector)
  • 3 year battery life
  • Does not use Wi-Fi or a SIM that needs topping up
  • Sends a weekly summary email detailing wellbeing and temperature extremes
  • Free lifetime warranty and repair
  • Next day delivery in England and Wales (order before 1pm)
  • 86mm x 86mm x 26mm (width x length x depth)

Our Reviewer's Thoughts

Wearing this personal alarm made me feel very confident that there would be a speedy response if I had a problem and needed help whether I was at home or out and about. I am sure that this would be very reassuring to my relatives who live quite a distance away.ย  - Caroline, 74Read the full Taking Care Anywhere review

Full Price Breakdown

Annual Cost of ยฃ460.78

Includes:

  • ยฃ242.91 (with first 3 months free)
  • ยฃ70 set-up fee
  • ยฃ149.87 for Sense package

ย 

About Taking Care

Taking Careย are the only Which? Trusted Traders Approved personal alarm provider. They work closely with Age UK as the exclusive supplier of the Age Co Personal Alarm Service. They are the largest private provider of personal alarms in the UK, and have three, UK-based, Emergency Resolution Centres to ensure no alarm call goes unanswered. The 24/7 award-winning service is rated โ€˜excellentโ€™ on Trustpilot, is TSA-accredited and certified to the Quality Standards Framework. Taking Care have a range of alarm products that can be used at home, in the garden or out and about, including fall sensors and GPS personal alarms.

6. SECOM Smart Wellness

ยฃ30.64 / month
A different approach: activity monitoring and home security.
SECOM Couple Drinking Tea
Full Review Coming Soon
Full Review Coming Soon
3.8
Read More

Personal alarm pendants aren't for everyone. A great alternative for those who might benefit from non-intrusive motion sensors at home.

Stand-out features

  • A monitoring set-up tailored to individual needs
  • No cameras - only sensors
  • Learns daily activity patterns to identify changes in behaviour
  • Home security included
  • All visible through an app for families

Who is it good for?

Perfect for people who don't like or remember to wear their personal alarm, the SECOM Smart Wellness is a non-intrusive approach to making sure your loved one is safe.

Its sensors, placed discreetly around the home, identify and capture daily patterns of activity and behaviour and will alert you when significant change is detected. Plus it comes with some home security capabilities.

Everything you need to know

  • Call with SECOM to determine the package that is right for your needs
  • Basic pack contains:
    • 2 Pet-tolerant movement Detectors
    • 2 Door Open / Close Detectors
    • Full Intruder Alarm System - Sounder and Control Panel
    • Automatic Behaviour Trends Report - and notifications if something seems wrong
    • Customisable Notifications - e.g. if the front door has opened at a strange time or hasn't been closed

Our Reviewer's Thoughts
Full Price Breakdown

Package is tailored around your needs. Basic package starts at ยฃ250.90ย 
+ ยฃ30.64 monthly monitoring

About SECOM

SECOM are a well-known and respected company in the security sector, who have used their knowledge and experience to create a smart home monitoring system to give security, independence and reassurance to older relatives and their families.

Buyerโ€™s Guide to Choosing the Best Personal Alarm for You

You, an elderly parent or relative may be worried about a fall alone at home, unable to get out of the bath, or a health emergency out shopping or walking. Wearing a personal alarm means they can summon help, and speak directly with a trained member of a 24/7 care team, or a designated contact. Motion sensors in-built to some alarms will automatically detect a fall and trigger the alarm if the wearer is unable to do so themselves.ย 

Personal alarms are constantly evolving and the choice is wide: from simple alarms connected via the landline for use in the home, to mobile/digital alarms with a range of features that work wherever there is a mobile signal.

To choose the most suitable personal alarm, we have compiled the main considerations for you here:

1. Do you need it to work everywhere?

Where will the personal alarm be used? If you want an alarm that will work both in the home and when the wearer is out in town or on walks alone, then you will need a mobile alarm like the SureSafeGO, Companion Watch or Taking Care Anywhere.

If the alarm will only be used at home, and the wearer can speak, possibly at a distance,ย  through the base unit, then an in-home alarm is all that is needed. Here we recommend the Careline SmartLife or Telecare24 Fall Plan.ย 

If you’re not sure then it is safer to go with a mobile alarm that will work everywhere.ย 

2. Talk through the alarm or base unit?

Mobile alarms allow the wearer to talk to the monitoring team directly through the pendant or watch. This is an important feature when the wearer is either away from the home, or if they fall in or around the home but out of speaking range of the base unit. These alarms include the SureSafeGO, Companion Watch or Taking Care Anywhere.

In-home alarms are a more waterproof, smaller and cheaper option however, the wearer needs to be able to communicate with the monitoring team through a base unit, plugged into the wall in the home. The microphone in the base unit is sensitive and the call centre teams speak clearly and loudly and are trained to speak with wearers who may have fallen some way from the base unit. If they can’t hear the wearer after an alert is sounded they can call a neighbour or family member to go round to make sure all is well. The following alarms work like this: Careline SmartLife or Telecare24 Fall Plan.ย 

3. Landline, mobile signal or Wi-Fi connection?

Different personal alarms use different methods to connect user to monitoring team.ย 

Mobile alarms use SIM cards (like a mobile phone), and in-home alarms either use a landline or a digital connection.ย 

We recommend choosing your preferred alarm first and talking with your chosen provider to determine how best to set up that alarm in your home.ย 

4. Is GPS tracking important?

In-home alarms do not have GPS capabilities.ย 

Mobile alarms all have GPS capabilities, but not all of them make these accessible to the family. The Taking Care Anywhere only uses the GPS function to locate the wearer if an alert call has been made.ย 

The SureSafeGO (with app) and Companion Watch allow family members to locate the wearer and set up areas call ‘Geo-fences’ that enable an alert to be sent if the wearer enters or leaves a denoted area at a strange time. For SureSafe you will need to ask them to set up the geo-fence for you.

Mobile Fall Alarm for the Elderly

Versus Symbol
Top Pick
SureSafeGO 24/7 Mobile Alarm

SureSafeGO

Versus Symbol

In-Home Personal Alarm for Seniors

Top Pick
Careline365 SmartLife Alarm - on wrist in garden
Careline SmartLife

5. Payment options and value for money

Most providers have a few ways for you to buy your alarm and different ways to break down the costs.ย 

24/7 Monitoring requires a monthly payment of between ยฃ10-ยฃ20. In some cases you can pay for this in one annual payment that can save you money in the long run.ย 

Most providers have a one-off set-up fee that covers postage and setting up the device and emergency contacts on their systems. This is between ยฃ30 and ยฃ70.ย 

Rented devices come with no initial cost, although you will have to return it when it is no longer in use. Purchased ones will come with an initial fee to buy the device. This won’t include any further monitoring costs.ย 

Finally, some providers offer extras that can be added to your plan including automatic fall detection, wellness monitoring and notifications, additional app features, keysafes and more.ย 

6. Automatic Fall Detection

Automatic fall detection refers to the ability for the wearable device to detect when a fall has occurred, sending out an alert without the wearer needing to press the SOS button. All the alarms on our list include automatic fall detection (the Careline Smartlife for an additonal ยฃ4 / month).ย 

7. Type of monitoring

When the SOS pendant is pressed on most personal alarms, the alert goes to a 24/7 monitoring centre, where a trained team member will contact with the wearer through the pendant to understand what is wrong and resolve the situation.ย  This means that help is available whatever time of day or night.ย 

Another option is to agree a list of priority contacts who receive the alarm notification. This avoids paying for the monthly monitoring but does put the onus on the family contacts to be available to answer the call.ย 

The SureSafeGO is available in both 24/7 monitored and family monitored options. The Companion Watch is only family monitored. All other options on this page are only available as 24/7 monitored.

24/7 Monitored Personal Alarm

Versus Symbol
Top Pick
Taking Care Anywhere - pendant in hand
Taking Care Anywhere
Versus Symbol

Friends & Family Monitored Alarm

Top Pick
Companion Watch Alarm watch
Companion Watch

8. How will they wear it?

Most personal alarms have a few options when it comes to wearing them. They can be worn around the neck as a pendant, on the wrist like a watch, clipped to a belt or attached to a keychain.

One important consideration is that some mobile alarms can not be worn around the neck if the wearer has a pace maker, however they do have other wearing options.ย 

Ben Profile photo - Age Space Tech Expert
Written by
Ben Steel

This information on this page was
researched and written by Ben, our in-house elderly technology expert.

He consulted both information on each device found online, his own experience with the device and the thoughts and experience of our panel of over 70s reviewers with each device.

UK Providers
There are many providers of personal alarms for the elderly across the UK.Below you can click to learn more about each provider and the other products they offer.

FAQs on buying a personal alarm for elderly relatives

A. There are many different types of personal alarms but the idea is similar for each one. Your older relative wears a simple button pendant all the time that they can press to alert someone that they need help. A personal alarm can work anywhere (mobile) or only in the house (landline-based), include extra features (e.g. GPS or fall detection), or be answered by either a trained, 24/7-available response team or a trusted family member.

A. The Digital Switchover is a planned switching of all home phone lines from analogue to digital by 2025. For households with an analogue personal alarm โ€“ one that uses a landline โ€“ there will be changes for it to be able to work. You can learn more about theย digital switchover in our simple guide.ย 

A. Elderly alarms are designed to be as simple as possible to set-up and use and are either mobile or landline-based. If a personal alarm is mobile it means there will be a SIM card (exactly like those used in phones) inside that allows the pendant to work wherever there is a mobile signal. This means that your relative can wear it in the garden or when they are out and about, safe in the knowledge that if they fall or get lost, they can press the button and get help.

Landline-based personal alarms are usually smaller, simpler to use, and cheaper, but will only work a certain distance from a โ€˜base unitโ€™, plugged into the landline (i.e. within the house). When your relative presses the alarm button the monitoring team will only be able to talk to them through the base unit.

Both types of alarm are better at different things. Mobile alarms have more additional features, (sometimes) enable communication directly through the pendant, and work anywhere but landline alarms can be more reliable (as they almost always have signal), easier to use, waterproof, and never require charging

A. No. While most personal alarm packages include monitoring from a UK-based, 24/7-active trained monitoring centre, you can also find options that alert a family member directly if the emergency call button is pressed. The simplest personal alarms will just make a loud noise that can alert someone living in the same house. These options are less expensive but do rely on someone always being within range of hearing the alarm to provide help.

A. If youโ€™ve decided that a personal alarm would make living independently safer for your elderly parents, and would reassure the family, there is still a lot to consider depending on you and your parentโ€™s circumstance.

For example: Dementia/wandering:

GPS ability: If your relative is more active or has a dementia meaning they are prone to wander, you will probably need a mobile, GPS-aware personal alarm. This enables you to be able to locate, and get help to, your relative even if they donโ€™t know where they are themselves. Other things that might be included in the price of a personal alarm for elderly parents are the type of monitoring and whether you want to include fall detection (that sends an alert if it detects a fall, even if the button hasnโ€™t been pressed).

A. The answer depends on what features are included in the alarm. For a basic emergency call button and landline-based base unit, you can expect to pay between ยฃ100 โ€“ ยฃ250 a year. For a personal alarm with additional features such fall detection and GPS you could pay between ยฃ200-500. Other things that might be included in the price of a personal alarm are:

โ€“ One-off set-up/installation/registration fees
โ€“ Monthly subscription to 24/7 monitoring
โ€“ SIM card costs (for mobile personal alarms)

A. Personal alarms are applicable for VAT exemptions if the person you are buying for has a long-term health condition that they receive medical treatment for, a chronic illness, or they are registered disabled. Advanced age is not enough on its own to qualify someone for VAT exemption. To get a VAT exemption you must prove to the seller that you are eligible โ€“ usually they will offer you a form to fill out, or that you can fill out on behalf of the person you are buying for.

A. Yes, in some places in the UK, local councils supply โ€˜lifeline alarmsโ€™ to those who need them. These are just simple pendant alarms for the elderly with the emergency call button and landline base unit. Some councils pay for it outright or will ask you to make a contribution towards the, depending on your relativeโ€™s financial circumstance. Often they will be an option following the result of a care needs assessment.

A. Donโ€™t worry, monitoring teams are very used to this happening and wonโ€™t be annoyed โ€“ just relieved that there is nothing wrong. It is much better for your elderly relative not to be worrying about accidentally pressing the button versus not pressing it if they are in trouble. However, depending on the alarm they have, they might need to recharge the pendant after pressing the emergency call button.

A. Your relative may not be able to wear some personal alarms around their neck if they have a pacemaker, as they might interfere with it. This might also mean that they are unable to make use of some features like GPS and/or fall detection, depending on how they work. Always check with the provider if a personal alarm is safe to use before buying.

A. The SureSafeGO with its friends and family app. Through the app, not only can you track the wearers current location but you can set up ‘geo-fences’ – that means you get a notification to your phone if the alarm leaves a set area. You can ask SureSafe to set-up geo-fences for you.

You should also consider the Companion Watch as it has the same features but looks like a standard watch, which may be easier to remember to wear.ย 

The ordering of personal alarms for the elderly on this page does not mean that the top one will be best suited to your familyโ€™s needs as different features will be more useful to different people. Age Space has done thorough research to provide the information on this page. To enable Age Space to continue to be a free resource, we use affiliate links where suitable. If you have any questions with any of the information on this page you can fill out our contact form.