In short
- A personal alarm lets you call for help if you fall or have a problem at home.
- Some alarms call family. Others call a 24-hour monitoring service.
- Many pendants are not waterproof, so people take them off to wash. Keep it within reach.
- Alarm pull cords should reach the floor, so you can use them if you fall.
- Some councils run alarm services. Costs are usually a set-up fee and then a monthly charge.
What is a personal alarm?
The NHS says personal alarms "allow you to get help if you have a problem or a fall at home". An alarm can be:
- worn, for example around your wrist or neck
- a button or pull cord in your home
The NHS describes different kinds:
- basic alarms
- alarms that alert family or friends
- monitored alarms, which alert a 24-hour monitoring service
- fall detectors, which can be built into the alarm or be a separate device
The NHS advice on falls also suggests you "wear a personal alarm, or carry a mobile phone with you".
The problem with pendants in the bathroom
Living Made Easy says pendants and fall detectors "are very often not waterproof so are taken off whilst washing". That is a problem, because the bathroom is where many falls happen. It suggests:
- placing the pendant nearby when you bathe, or
- having another way to raise the alarm, such as a voice-activated device
When you choose an alarm, ask whether it is waterproof and whether you can wear it in the shower.
Pull cords
If you have alarm pull cords, NHS inform says "make sure they reach the floor so that you can use them if you fall". Do not tie them up out of the way.
Who provides alarms?
- The NHS says "some councils provide monitoring services", usually basic systems.
- Age UK says the local authority may provide an alarm service, and that each one "has different rules about who they supply, how they run the service and how much they charge".
- Private companies also sell alarms and monitoring.
What does it cost?
The NHS says costs vary, and "there's usually an installation cost followed by a monthly charge". Ask your council first, and compare what is included before you sign up.
Ask for an assessment
A council care needs assessment can look at alarms and other technology, as well as bathroom changes. How to get an assessment.
Sources we checked
- NHS: Personal alarms, monitoring systems (telecare) and key safes (opens another website)
- Living Made Easy: Adapting your home – the bathroom (factsheet) (opens another website)
- NHS inform: Prevent falls by doing a home safety check (opens another website)
- Age UK: Factsheet 42 – Disability equipment and home adaptations (opens another website)
- NHS: Falls (opens another website)
We last checked these sources on 3 October 2026. Rules and amounts can change, so please check with the organisation before you rely on them.
Get an assessment first
An occupational therapist (OT) can visit you at home and recommend what is safe and suitable for you. Ask your council’s adult social care team — in Northern Ireland, your Health and Social Care Trust.
This guide is general information, not medical, financial or legal advice. Everyone’s needs are different. Speak to an occupational therapist, your GP or the organisations we link to before making decisions.
