Emergency Pendant Proves Its Worth - Aid Call Is A Real Support For Older People Living Independently, UK

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 28 Nov 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Those aged 80 years and over currently constitute for 4.5% of the total population¹ and many of these people are choosing to live in their own homes for longer. Yet, with the risk of falling at home increasing with age, families and friends will be looking for practical assistance that will enable older relatives to live independently.

Personal alarms can become a supportive friend, offering assistance at the touch of a button. The benefits of such a system were highlighted over a three month period this year in which Aid Call's response centre received 2,650 calls requiring assistance and 1,170 calls for the emergency services.

Chris Last, Chief Operating Officer at Aid Call, explained: "The risk of falling increases greatly as we get older - an 85 year old is five times more likely to have a fall than a 65 year old. Nearly 82% of our customers are aged 80 or over, and the emergency call statistics demonstrate how worthwhile Aid Call is - being able to contact a friend, neighbour or relative quickly can save a life."

Age Concern's Aid Call provides older people with around-the-clock reassurance, so that they can live safely and independently in their own home, while offering peace of mind for both families and the older individual.

Aid Call currently provides reassurance to over 40,000 people in the UK. Its emergency response centre is operational 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year and answers an average of 1600+ calls over a 24 hour shift, which equates to half a million calls a year .

The emergency alarm system operates a two-way speech link to enable the person who has raised the alarm to talk to an operator. The trained operator is then able to take appropriate steps to ensure that a chosen key holder (a friend, neighbour or relative) is on hand to allow access. If this is not possible the emergency services will be contacted.

"With life expectancy on the rise, we aim to offer our customers extended quality of life by allowing older people the chance to maintain their independence for as long as possible," added Chris.

You can now purchase a self-install Aid Call alarm for a gift online at http://www.aidcall.co.uk/personalcare/shop/index.php.

To find out more about Aid Call or to arrange a free no-obligation demonstration, please visit http://www.aidcall.co.uk/personalcare or call 0800 121 4920.

Notes

¹ National Statistics Online

About Aid Call

Aid Call is a discreet personal alarm system owned by Age Concern that summons help, at the touch of a button. Over 40,000 people throughout the UK rely on the Aid Call 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.

All of Aid Call's profits help to fund the works of Age Concern, both in campaigning and lobbying at a national level, and providing essential services to the older community at a local level.

About Age Concern

Age Concern is the leading charity in the UK concerned with ageing and older people, and works to improve the quality of life for all older people. Nationally, it is involved in campaigning, policy guidance, research and information, and through its trading arm, Age Concern Enterprises (ACEnt), offers a range of products and services specifically designed for older people.

ACEnt incorporates: Age Concern Insurance Services, Age Concern Aid Call, Age Concern Energy Services, Age Concern Financial Solutions Ltd, Age Concern Funeral Plans Age Concern Weekly Lottery, and Charity Flowers Direct.

Age Concern & Why It Trades

At a local level, Age Concern offers a range of services for older people, such as day centres, luncheon clubs, and advice and information services.

At a national level, Age Concern campaigns with and for older people: developing policy; influencing Government; training care professionals; supporting local Age Concern bodies, financially and professionally.

To fund this work, Age Concern needs a constant flow of independent income. It seeks to achieve this through a balance of traditional fund raising and trading activities.

Age Concern's trading activities enable it to meet the needs of older people, through products specifically designed for them; quality products at fair prices such as General Insurance and Financial Services.

Age Concern