.
KERRY community groups are being encouraged to attend an information meeting on the new Seniors Alert Scheme on Wednesday, November 15 in Dromhall Hotel, Killarney.
The new Seniors Alert Scheme provides older persons (65 years +) with a free personal monitored alarm and is run by local groups around the country.
To register your attendance at the meeting click here on the Pobal.ie website and follow the instructions. Groups that may be interested in administering the scheme in their area are encouraged to come along to the information meeting to learn more about the scheme.
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 which is open 24/7/365.The call centre operator talks to the person in their home and decides whether to alert a locally volunteer responder or, in potentially serious circumstances, the emergency services.
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.”
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.
To find out more about the scheme click here
