The short answer
For an older person without a smartphone, the usual answer is a monitored personal alarm: a pendant or wristband with a button that connects through a base unit to a 24-hour response centre. Fall detectors raise the alarm automatically, and GPS alarms work outside the home. Which? found monitored alarms typically cost £30–£50 to set up plus about £15–£30 a month, and some councils run cheaper schemes. Before buying, ask what happens in a power cut and whether it works on a digital landline, because GOV.UK warns telecare may not work in a power cut. Also note: government Emergency Alerts only reach compatible 4G and 5G phones.
Two different things called "emergency alert"
People search "emergency alert for seniors" for two reasons, so we'll cover both:
- A personal alarm (also called a care alarm, lifeline or telecare): a button they wear to call for help.
- Government Emergency Alerts: the siren-like message the government sends to mobile phones in a life-threatening emergency, such as severe flooding.
Personal alarms: the main types
The NHS describes personal alarms as something carried or worn, or fixed as a button or pull cord in the home, and telecare as sensors that detect problems such as falls, flooding or smoke and alert family, carers or a monitoring service. Which? groups them like this:
| Type | How it works | Typical cost (Which?) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic alarm (unmonitored) | Loud noise when pressed | £5–£20 once | Someone who's rarely alone |
| Monitored pendant or wristband | Button calls a 24-hour response centre through a base unit; centre calls family or 999 | £30–£50 setup, then £15–£20 a month | Living alone, most people |
| Fall detector (monitored) | Senses a fall and raises the alarm automatically | £30–£50 setup, then about £19–£27 a month | Risk of falls, or might not press a button |
| GPS alarm (monitored) | Works away from home wherever there's mobile signal; SOS button | £30–£50 setup, then £21–£30 a month | Goes out alone |
| Council scheme (often called Lifeline) | Base unit and pendant from the council, often installed free | Some councils charge around £14 a month | Lower cost; may be reduced after an assessment |
Prices are Which?'s typical ranges, not quotes. We don't recommend or rank brands, and we don't earn from any alarm provider.
How to get one through the council
The NHS says some councils provide monitoring services. Contact your council's adult social services and ask. If they offer it, they'll arrange an assessment at home. Which? says council charges may be reduced or waived after a care funding assessment.
The NHS also points to the Telecare Services Association's directory to find providers. Which? suggests checking whether a provider is QSF certified, meaning it's audited against the association's standards.
Questions to ask before you sign up
From Which?'s checklist, plus the power cut questions we think matter most:
- What happens in a power cut? How long does the base unit's battery last?
- Is it "digital-ready"? Avoid devices described only as analogue or PSTN.
- Does it need broadband, a SIM card or a battery back-up to work?
- What's the range? Will it work in the garden?
- Can they hear the response centre clearly through the speaker?
- Is the pendant waterproof for wearing in the shower?
- How long do the batteries last, how will you know they're low, and who replaces them?
- How many contacts can be registered? Who goes round if nobody answers?
- Is there a key safe, so responders can get in? The NHS says police-approved ones are available.
- What does it cost in total, including setup, monthly fee and fall detection?
Power cuts and the digital landline switch
GOV.UK says the move from analogue to digital landlines is expected to be complete for most customers by January 2027, and warns that telecare devices connected to a digital landline may not work during a power cut. Major providers signed a charter to protect telecare users in December 2023.
What to do:
- Tell the landline provider that someone in the home uses a care alarm, before the line is switched.
- Ask about a free battery back-up. Which? says Ofcom requires providers to identify people who rely on their landline and offer them a free back-up option for power cuts.
- Register for the Priority Services Register with the energy and water companies: see our Priority Services Register post.
- Agree a neighbour or relative who will go round in a power cut if the alarm might be down.
Our digital landline post goes into detail.
Government Emergency Alerts on older phones
GOV.UK says Emergency Alerts are sent to phones on 4G and 5G networks. Compatible phones include iPhones on iOS 14.5 or later and Android phones on Android 11 or later. Phones on 2G or 3G networks and wifi-only devices won't get them. Some older Android phones and phones that don't run iOS or Android may still get them.
If your parent uses an old or basic mobile:
- check with the phone maker whether it supports Emergency Alerts;
- make sure someone who does get alerts will phone them;
- keep a battery or wind-up radio at their home for local news.
Our UK emergency alerts guide covers the alert sound and what to do.
What to buy
About these links: plain links to ordinary retailer pages. We may earn from some links in future; we don't now. We haven’t tested these and we don’t rank them: they are examples that were in stock when we checked. Prices change. Check what you already own first. Full kit list
Torch or head torch, plus spare batteries
Look for: Runs on the same AA or AAA batteries as your other kit, so one spare pack covers everything. A head torch leaves both hands free.
- Alpkit Ionic 350 Lumen Head Torch · Alpkit · £15.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Intensity 155 LED Head Torch · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £19.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Alpkit Kula 550 Lumen Head Torch · Alpkit · £19.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Intensity 480 LED Hand Torch · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £29.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Dynamo Powered Wind-Up Pocket LED Torch · EVAQ8 · £3.60 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
Power bank
Look for: From a seller you know. Check the capacity (mAh) against your phone, and that you have the right cable for each phone. Keep it charged.
What we couldn't check
- Prices are Which?'s typical ranges, which we read today; they'll vary by provider and council.
- Ofcom's own landline pages blocked our reader today, so the Ofcom back-up rule is as reported by Which?. Our live digital landline post cites Ofcom directly.
- We couldn't open the Telecare Services Association website. The NHS page links to its provider directory.
- We didn't check VAT relief on alarms for disabled people; ask the provider.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best emergency alert for an older person?
It depends on the risk. For falls at home, a monitored alarm with a fall detector raises help even if they can't press a button. For someone who goes out alone, a GPS alarm works anywhere with mobile coverage. For someone who just wants reassurance, a basic monitored pendant is usually enough. We don't rank brands.
How much does a personal alarm cost?
Which? found basic unmonitored alarms cost about £5–£20 once. Monitored pendants typically cost £30–£50 to set up and £15–£20 a month; fall detectors about £19–£27 a month; GPS alarms £21–£30 a month. Some councils charge around £14 a month, and charges may be reduced after a care assessment.
Are there emergency alarms for seniors with no monthly fee?
Yes, but they're unmonitored. A basic alarm makes a loud noise when pressed, so it only helps if someone nearby hears it. Which? notes there's no response centre. Monitored alarms, which call a person, always have an ongoing fee.
Will a personal alarm work in a power cut?
Not always. GOV.UK warns that telecare devices on a digital landline may not work during a power cut. Ask the provider how long the base unit's battery lasts, and tell your landline provider someone uses telecare: Which? says Ofcom requires providers to offer a free back-up for people who rely on their landline.
Will my parent's old mobile get government Emergency Alerts?
Maybe not. GOV.UK says alerts go to phones on 4G and 5G networks; iPhones need iOS 14.5 or later and Android phones Android 11 or later. Phones on 2G or 3G and wifi-only devices won't get them. Some older or basic phones may still receive alerts, so check with the phone maker.
Sources
We opened each page on the date shown. Official advice changes: if a source says something different now, follow the source.
- NHS: Personal alarms, monitoring systems (telecare) and key safes (read 2 November 2026)
- Which?: Personal alarms at home (types, typical costs, choosing a provider) (read 2 November 2026)
- GOV.UK: UK transition from analogue to digital landlines (updated 28 February 2024) (read 2 November 2026)
- GOV.UK: How Emergency Alerts work (read 2 November 2026)
- GOV.UK: Emergency Alerts (read 2 November 2026)
Related guides
- Emergency kit for an elderly parent: a calm, practical list
- Emergency planning for older people and carers (UK)
- The digital landline switch: will your phone work in a power cut?
- UK Emergency Alerts: a calm guide
- Message in a Bottle: the medical details kept in your fridge
Free tools
We're an independent UK site, not the government. We check guides against official sources and link to them. In an emergency call 999.
More from the blog
Helping older and disabled relatives prepare: the Priority Services Register and a check-in plan
What the Priority Services Register gives older and disabled people, how to sign up, a plan for medical equipment and telecare in…
Phones & radioYour landline in a power cut: the digital switch explained
Digital landlines need mains power, so most stop in a power cut. Who gets a free battery back-up, how long it lasts, why a corded…
Phones & radioWhen the mobile network goes down: how to reach your family
What fails first when power and phones go down, why to text before you call, how a family plan with check-in times and meeting…
Power cutsPower cut: what happens to your boiler, hot water, Wi-Fi and phone
Which parts of a UK home stop working in a power cut, by heating type: combi and system boilers, hot water cylinders, heat pumps…