New criteria for seniors alert scheme

USERS NO LONGER NEED TO BE LIVING ALONE

A total of 330 Wicklow seniors received a personal alarm since 2015, with more to qualify this year after a €2.3 million allocation was confirmed last week by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Minister of State Andrew Doyle welcomed the allocation and said that even more Wicklow people will now be able to benefit from the scheme.

‘From this year on, you no longer have to be living alone in order to qualify for the scheme. This measure 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,’ he said.

He outlined that there is free personal monitoring of the alarm for the first 12 months after which the person pays a small fee.

‘ This measure contributes greatly to the safety and wellbeing of senior citizens in their homes. I strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to avail of the scheme. The community groups that are supporting its delivery are providing a valuable service and deserve great credit,’ he added.

All users have a base unit installed in their home which is connected to a national Seniors Alert Scheme helpline using landline or mobile telecommunications. When the user activates the personalised alarm it puts a call through to the national call centre. The call centre operator talks to the person in their home and decides whether to alert a local volunteer responder or, in potentially serious circumstances, the emergency services.

Another technological development was launched by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, last week to help make rural Ireland a safer, more connected place.

Advanced Mobile Location (AML) works by automatically finding a phone’s GPS co-ordinates when a 112 or 999 number is dialled.