North Lanarkshire Council is encouraging more people to take up the community alarm service that provides support for vulnerable people at the touch of a button.

Community alarms are part of the support at home service provided by the social work department that assists older people and others to live independently in their own home.

Over 11,500 people in North Lanarkshire have a community alarm – one of the highest numbers for this type of service in Scotland. There has been an increasing number of requests for the service and the council is purchasing another 1,000 alarm units to keep up with that demand.

Alarms can be activated at the touch of a button if the person falls, is taken ill or requires assistance. They are put in touch with a trained operator at the service’s call centre who can offer advice and reassurance or arrange a visit by the home support service, their GP, a family member or the emergency services.

Older people aged 75 and over can receive the service on request, while others will be assessed for the service.

Councillor Harry McGuigan, Convener of the Social Work Committee, explains the benefits of the service:

"The community alarm service offers peace of mind to users as well as their families and carers. They know that help is at hand 24 hours a day if they need it. It means that many more people can continue to live in their homes for longer, as they have the support of the service if and when they need it.

"We have developed the service significantly and it is now available to different groups of people. For example, we are working with Strathclyde Police on an initiative to offer the service to victims of domestic violence. This can make the person feel safer if they know that they can alert the police very quickly if they face any difficulties in future, and we hope to be able to introduce this service in the near future."

New technology is also allowing the social work department to develop other alarm-based services. For example, alarms can be installed to alert staff if an older person, perhaps with dementia, gets out of bed during the night and doesn’t return after a certain time. Similarly staff can be alerted to heat from cookers or heaters left on for long periods, or other incidents in the home.

For more information about the community alarm service or to be assessed, contact your local Area Social Work Office.