Age Concern Personal Alarm Services is 30
Published on 08 July 2010 03:30 PM
Age Concern Personal Alarm Services 30th anniversary
This summer, Age Concern Personal Alarms celebrates 30 years of helping people in later life or with health vulnerabilities to live independently.
The Personal Alarms Service provides help at the touch of a button by connecting a customer who, for whatever reason, needs to speak to someone from a dedicated Response Centre staffed 24 hours a day.
In the last 30 years, Age Concern Personal Alarms has:
- Provided support to more than 200,000 customers
- Handled 22,500,000 calls over 30 years (on average 750,000 calls each year)
- Answered 97% of calls within 60 seconds
- Provided support to our oldest customer of 107 and our youngest one of 14
- Answered the most unusual call out for someone who wanted a taxi for their dog.
Lindsay Kirk, Personal Alarms Marketing Manager for Age Concern said ‘This is a real milestone for Age Concern Personal Alarms, marking 30 years of helping people live independently. Our product makes a difference to the lives of thousands of people across the UK who with our support feel reassured about their safety and security at home. Most importantly, it gives family and friends peace of mind about their loved ones while at home."
The Personal Alarm has been designed specifically to meet the needs of those with health vulnerabilities or in later life. It is lightweight, can be worn around the neck as a pendant or as a wristband, is waterproof and will operate up to a range of 50 meters so can be worn at all times whether in the bathroom, kitchen or garden.
A key benefit of the service is that should a user either not have a nominated key holder, or that person is unavailable, the GE Keysafe facility, a secure storage unit, ensures the Personal Alarm team can provide emergency access. This provides further reassurance to users and their friends and family.
Age Concern Personal Alarms are part of the Age UK family of products and services designed to enhance the lives of those in later life. The organisation does not exist to make a profit and where any surplus is made, it is gift aided back to the charity to fund its work, nationally and locally.
- ENDS -
Notes to editors
For further information or interviews please contact Natalie Orringe or Imogen Dunn at Teamspirit Public Relations on 0207 360 7877 or ageuk@teamspiritpr.com or visit http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/personal_alarms.asp.
Personal Alarm Service
Age Concern's Personal Alarm system summons help at the touch of a button. Over 40,000 people throughout the UK rely on the emergency alarm service. Users are not exclusively older people; some have a physical disability, or a chronic condition such as epilepsy or diabetes, some are recovering from illness, while others are more concerned for their security than their health.
Age UK is inspired by the belief that it can improve the lives of people in later life. It celebrates ageing and believes it presents unprecedented opportunities and challenges at home and abroad. The charity will challenge ageist prejudice in society, provide services that address market failures and support the public and private sectors to design age-friendly products and services. It will support people to remain in their own homes through campaigning and practical services and its Information and Advice service will offer millions of people support on a range of issues from claiming benefits to staying fit and healthy.
Age UK will fund biomedical research that helps tackle the ill health and poor quality of life that are too common as people age. Working with over 350 partners across the country the Charity will help influence local decisions and deliver the most appropriate services. Its network of over 500 shops will act as a focal point for the local community, providing information and help with local services.Age UK works across the globe as well as in the UK, championing older people's rights and needs.
The new organisations will have a turnover of more than £150 million, nearly £400m with its brand partners. In addition to campaigning and influencing, their work will include providing information and advice to over five million people, commercial services for over one million customers and reaching 14 million customers through over 500 retail shops. Internationally, they will support a global network for older people in more than 70 countries and will fund pioneering research into all aspects of ageing.