More seniors to benefit from personal alarms under new scheme

A new Seniors Alert Scheme has been launched to allow more older persons to avail of the free personal monitored alarm.

€2.3 million has been allocated for the new scheme to give peace of mind and security to older rural people in their homes.

The main features of the new scheme include :

• those eligible no longer have to be living alone

• free monitoring of the alarm service for the first year

• increase in administrative payment to community groups involved in rolling out the scheme.

The Seniors Alert Scheme provides older persons (65 years +) with a free personal monitored alarm and is run by local groups around the country.

Minister Ring said: “The Seniors Alert Scheme provides personalised monitored alarms to older citizens in order to provide them with security and peace of mind in their own homes.

“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. Over 60,000 people have received the personalised alarm pendant from the Government under the Seniors Alert Scheme since 2010.

“The Seniors Alert Scheme provides older citizens in order to provide them with security and peace of mind in their own homes. From this year on, you no longer have to be living alone in order to qualify for the scheme.

“As Minister for Rural and Community Development, this scheme exemplifies what my Department is about. It exists with the support of local voluntary groups and if users feel in danger or require immediate assistance they can activate the device which will alert designated members of their community who can then assist them.

“There is free personal monitoring of the alarm for the first twelve months after which the person pays a small fee.”

Minister Ring called on anyone who is eligible to avail of the scheme and encouraged community groups to engage with the older people in their area to actively encourage participation in the scheme.