Alertacall - Moving on from hard-wired alarm and warden call systems

Maintaining their effectiveness today: • Given that the vast majority of people have a telephone (mobile and/or landline) the hard-wired alarm and warden call systems are providing very little benefit. In a real emergency dialling 999 will be at least as effective as pulling a pull cord or pressing a button on a pendant in most situations. • The profile and needs of older people have changed and alternatives now exist to deal with this e.g. approaches that are more proactive and may reduce social isolation. • Supporting People funding has traditionally contributed to or met the cost of these systems. However, going forward they are likely to require funding from either housing providers or their residents. This is already the case for most housing providers. • A major investment to keep hard-wired alarm and warden call systems is potentially required due to the planned telecoms digital switchover in 2025. Other options exist with little or no setup costs, and low running costs which may also be easier to fund. • Residents are less accepting of units on walls which can make properties look “institutionalised” and “unattractive”, hence therefore their removal could attract more people in to properties. Inability tomatch the best of today’s alternatives: • They’re built around a “reactive model” which generates little or no preventative data for the housing provider, whereas there are now alternative systems that generate information to improve outcomes for both the residents and the housing provider. • The door-entry systems that are often integrated with hard-wired alarm and warden call systems are often inferior in capability and more expensive to maintain and run than standalone door-entry systems from specialised manufacturers. • ‘Smart’ smoke alarms can dramatically reduce the number of false alarms. • Far superior contact systems exist that can enable unlimited messaging as well as simultaneous contact from multiple residents. These systems can deliver communications to all resident, sub groups, or even be personalised. • Door entry systems exist with greater functionality than most being used today that are connected to the original hard-wired alarms systems. • Newer systems can be run at a lower cost and can substantially reduce any capital or infrastructure investment. www.alertacall.com 5