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Get a community alarm

Supporting your independence in your own home

 

Helping you stay more independent in your own home with a community alarm.

You’ll be in touch with reliable help at all times throughout the day and night – via a pendant button, just in case you fall or become unwell.

Order a community alarm

Or request an application pack to be sent in the post.

If you need help completing your paperwork, ask us for our free of charge form filling assistance service.

How does the service work?

When you press your pendant, you’ll speak to a highly experienced call operator 24/7 who will make sure you get the help you need. We can alert a family member or friend to reassure you, or we'll call the emergency services if required. All from our Hertfordshire based Control Room.

When you join, you’ll be asked to provide the contact details of friends, family members or neighbours to act as Volunteer Responders - who you’d like us to call for reassurance or help if there's an issue.

If these contacts aren't available or you do not have someone close by, our mobile Response Service will send a highly trained professional to help you at no extra charge, it's just part of our service.

We'll always call the emergency services if there is an emergency.

 

Who can benefit from a community alarm?

Our care alarm systems make a big difference to the independence, safety and wellbeing of people of all ages and circumstances across Hertfordshire.

You can have a community alarm if you:    

  • are an older or vulnerable person
  • are at risk
  • are an adult with long term health needs
  • live alone
  • are returning home from hospital
  • are prone to falls
  • have a disability or restricted mobility
  • are an unpaid carer and would like support when you can't be at home
  • have any other reason to benefit from 24/7 peace of mind that we can bring.

 

Family and friends – we're support for you too

For reassurance and peace of mind for when you can't be a with a loved one, you might be thinking about getting them a community care alarm. There's no better peace of mind than knowing they can access any help they might need 24/7 when you’re at work, running an errand or if you live further away. 

If they need help completing their paperwork, ask us about our form filling assistance service.

Order a community alarm

Price

Our price includes:

  • Response Service (excluding standalone telecare and Herts Bernie customers)
  • Home maintenance service
  • Free Medical Alert card
  • Free Keyfinder fob
  • Key safe
  • No upfront equipment costs, installation fees, long term contracts nor means testing.

New customers simply pay a monthly service charge:

Individual price

Product typeMonthly price (excl. VAT) Monthly price (inc VAT)

Digital community alarm / telecare

£20.00

£24.00

Herts Bernie portable pendant with GPS

£18.25

£21.90

Standalone telecare

£10.85

£13.02

Discounts for carers and multiple services

 

Product typeMonthly price (excl. VAT)  Monthly price (inc VAT)

Multi-service rate – 20% discount
Combined digital community alarm / telecare & Herts Bernie

£30.60

£36.72

Carer discount – 5% 
Digital community alarm / telecare

£19.00

£22.80

Additional items

 

Product typePrice per item (only if req.)  Price (inc VAT)

Telephone extension

£6.00

£7.20

Mains power extension

£6.50

£7.80

Telephone splitter

£3.50

£4.20

ASDL filter

£4.00

£4.80

Line Prioritisation Unit (safecall)

£25.00

£30.00

Key safe C500

£26.00

£31.20

Call charges

We have no control over the rates charged by individual telecom providers. The 0300 number we use when your pendant or device is activated is a special number for charities, not for profit organisations and local government. It should be charged by the telecoms supplier at the same national rate as 01 and 02 numbers and should be included within inclusive minutes. This link to Ofcom explains further details on this. We do not use premium rate numbers.

Digital alarm units have an integrated SIM card which means the monthly cost you pay includes the calls made from the alarm unit when you press your pendant to summon our emergency Control Room assistance.

 

The digital community alarm units are ready for the Digital Switchover which is when telephone providers stop using the analogue systems by 2025. 

Digital alarm units have an integrated SIM card which means the monthly cost you pay includes the calls made from the alarm unit when you press your pendant to summon our emergency Control Room assistance.

 

Installation

When you sign up for a home alarm, one of engineers will install the equipment for you. They'll call you to arrange a convenient time once your application is processed.

A modern base unit connects to your phone line. If you don't have a landline, we can supply an alternative unit. Then you’ll be connected Herts Careline's control centre, there 24/7 whenever you need us.

We aim to have your emergency home alarm set up within 14 working days but this is often sooner, especially in certain situations.

In some emergency cases (such as being discharged from hospital), we can install your home alarm within a couple of working days.

 

How to use your alarm

You’ll get a lightweight, waterproof pendant alarm to wear around your neck or on a wrist strap.

You simply push the emergency alarm pendant button to raise an alert. This lets you speak to a friendly operator who will get you the help you need, day and night.

Key safes

We recommend you get a key safe when you sign up for our lifeline alarm system.

We can supply and install this secure metal box to the outside of your home for free, which will contain an additional front door key to your property. If you've already got one, we'll use that.

The emergency services can get the key using a confidential code, which we will issue if you require their assistance, to gain access to your property, if needed.

There are two options as regards to the type of key safe that can be fitted

  1. The Supra S5 Permanent Key safe which is completely funded by Hertfordshire County Council.
  2. The Supra C500 Key safe which is partially funded by Hertfordshire County Council. There is an additional charge to the user of £26.00 + VAT if applicable if they require this key safe.

Landlords and housing assocications are usually happy to grant permission to have a key safe fitted as long as you ask them first. In the same way, insurance companies are usually OK with this process too as long as you inform them first. You can use this handy template to ask permission, or see our guidance sheet you can pass on to them. If you need a Word version of either documents, please email carelinesupport@north-herts.gov.uk

If you need help with your key safe, see our Key safe instruction card

Please note we can only attach a key safe to brickwork or concrete (not rendering or pebbledash) 

Medical Alert Card & Keyfinder Fob

These are included at no extra cost and arrive in the post soon after your equipment is installed. The Medical Alert Card can be placed in your wallet or purse and if a medical professional sees it if you're taken unwell outside your home, they can ask us for details about you if you're unable to tell them. The Keyfinder Fob for your keyring offers a reliable way of retrieving your keys if you lose them.

Do you already have a community alarm?

Get help using your alarmCancel your alarm service

Refer a friend

If you're one of our customers and would like to refer a friend to us, you can receive a £10 M&S voucher once they sign up to our service. Simply complete the Refer a Friend form or call 0300 999 2 999 to pass on their details (with their permission) T&Cs apply.

Refer a friend

Your service agreement and service pack

Service Agreement - GDPR March 2019

Privacy Policy & Charge Schedule January 2020

Service / Welcome Pack