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.

Find out more about home security  and home content insurance from Age UK.