The Minister for Rural & Community Development, Michael Ring TD, today (19 October) launched the new Seniors Alert Scheme in Summerhill, Co. Meath. The Department of Rural and Community Development has allocated €2.3 million for the new scheme which comes into effect on 1st November 2017.
The Seniors Alert Scheme provides older persons (65 years +) with a free personal monitored alarm and is run by local groups around the country.
Under the scheme, over-65’s have a base unit installed in their home which is connected to a 24-hour monitoring centre using landline or mobile telecommunications. When the personal alarm is activated, it puts a call through to the monitoring centre. The call centre operator talks to the person in their home and decides who to alert, a designated contact such as a family member or in potentially serious circumstances, the emergency services.
Alarms, which are monitored 24 hours, can be worn as a pendant or around the wrist like a watch, ensuring assistance is always available no matter where the person is in their house.
Source: Pobal.ie (19 October 2017) €2.3 million new Seniors Alert Scheme will give peace of mind and security to older rural people
Related: New Seniors Alert Scheme (2017) – What we know so far…