What the NHS Actually Provides
When your mum's GP says "we can arrange some support at home," it is natural to assume the NHS will provide everything she needs. The reality is more nuanced. The NHS focuses primarily on clinical health monitoring — what is formally called telehealth — rather than the day-to-day safety equipment most families are looking for.
Here is what the NHS can genuinely help with:
Remote patient monitoring
If your parent has a long-term condition such as COPD, heart failure, or diabetes, their GP or hospital consultant can refer them for remote patient monitoring. This means they are given devices — typically a blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, or blood glucose meter — that send readings directly to a clinical team. The team reviews the data and gets in touch if anything looks concerning.
This is genuinely useful. It can reduce hospital admissions and means your parent does not need to travel to appointments just for a routine reading. The equipment is provided free of charge on the NHS.
NHS-funded falls prevention
Most NHS trusts run falls prevention programmes, usually through community physiotherapy teams. If your parent has had a fall or is at risk of falling, their GP can make a referral. The programme typically includes a home assessment, strength and balance exercises, and sometimes medication reviews. It is one of the most valuable NHS services for older people — and one of the least talked about.
Community nursing visits
District nurses can visit your parent at home to manage wounds, administer injections, and monitor ongoing health conditions. These visits are arranged through the GP and are entirely free. They are not technology as such, but they are an important part of the NHS support picture.
Video consultations
Since the pandemic, most GP practices offer video or telephone consultations. For your parent, this can mean fewer trips to the surgery. Some areas also offer specialist video consultations for conditions like dermatology or rheumatology, which can save long waits for hospital appointments.
The NHS provides clinical monitoring equipment and telehealth services for specific health conditions. It does not provide the pendant alarms, GPS trackers, or smart home sensors that most families are looking for. For those, you need to look at your local council or buy privately.
Council Telecare Services
When people say "the NHS provides personal alarms," they usually mean the local council. Councils in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland run telecare services that are separate from the NHS. This is the most common route to getting a pendant alarm, door sensor, or other safety device for your parent's home.
What councils typically provide
Council telecare services are centred around a monitoring centre that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When your mum presses her pendant alarm, the call goes to this centre, where an operator can speak to her through a base unit in her home, call you, or send an ambulance.
The standard equipment councils offer includes:
- Pendant alarm — worn around the neck or wrist, with a button to press in an emergency
- Base unit — a small box connected to the phone line (or mobile network) that links the pendant to the monitoring centre
- Smoke detector (linked) — triggers an alert at the monitoring centre if smoke is detected
- Bed and chair sensors — detect if your parent has not got up at the expected time
- Door sensors — alert the monitoring centre if an external door is opened at unusual hours
- Bogus caller button — a discreet button near the front door that silently alerts the monitoring centre
- Key safe — a secure box outside the property for emergency access
- Fall detector pendant — more advanced pendant that automatically detects a fall (not always available free)
How much does council telecare cost?
This is where it gets complicated. Council telecare is not always free. Most councils charge a weekly fee, typically between £3 and £5 per week for the basic pendant alarm and monitoring service. Some councils charge more for additional sensors.
However, the cost varies significantly by area. A few councils still offer the basic service free to everyone. Others offer it free to people receiving Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits, and charge everyone else. In Scotland, basic telecare is generally free for those assessed as needing it, thanks to the Scottish Government's Technology Enabled Care programme.
The means-testing usually happens through a Care Act assessment (or equivalent in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland). This is a conversation with a social worker or occupational therapist who assesses your parent's care and support needs.
Waiting times and limitations
Council telecare services are under pressure. Waiting times for an initial assessment can be several weeks, and in busy areas it can take a month or more from referral to having equipment installed. The equipment itself tends to be functional rather than modern — many councils still use analogue phone-line systems, though the shift to digital is underway ahead of the 2027 analogue switch-off.
The biggest limitation is that council telecare generally only works inside the home. If your parent wanders or needs tracking outdoors, you will almost certainly need to buy a GPS tracker privately.
How to apply for council telecare
- Contact your local council's Adult Social Services team. You can find the number on your council's website, or call the council's main switchboard and ask to be transferred. You can also search "adult social care" plus your council name online.
- Request a Care Act assessment. Anyone can request one — your parent, you as a family member, or their GP. The assessment is free and the council must carry it out by law if there appears to be a need.
- The assessment visit takes place. A social worker or occupational therapist will visit your parent at home. They will discuss daily routines, any difficulties, health conditions, and what support might help. This usually takes 1–2 hours.
- The council determines eligibility. Based on the assessment, the council decides whether your parent meets the eligibility criteria for funded support. Even if they do not qualify for free equipment, the council must still provide information and advice about alternatives.
- Equipment is installed. If eligible, a technician will visit to install the pendant alarm, base unit, and any additional sensors. They will test everything and show your parent how to use it. This typically happens within 1–3 weeks of the assessment decision.
Council telecare is the most affordable way to get a pendant alarm and basic monitoring. Start here before spending privately. Even if your parent does not qualify for free provision, the assessment process often reveals options and support you had not considered.
Private Technology Options
Private care technology fills the gaps that the NHS and councils cannot cover. The range has expanded enormously in recent years, and prices have come down. Here is what is available and what you should expect to pay.
GPS trackers
If your parent has dementia or is at risk of getting lost, a GPS tracker is one of the most important purchases you can make. Council telecare does not cover GPS tracking — it is almost always a private purchase. Modern trackers are small enough to wear on the wrist or carry in a pocket, and they let you see your parent's location on your phone in real time.
Smart home sensors
Smart home sensor kits monitor your parent's daily patterns without being intrusive. Motion sensors in each room learn your parent's routine, and the system alerts you if something seems unusual — for example, if your mum has not been to the kitchen by mid-morning, or if the bathroom light has been on for an unusually long time.
Video doorbells
A video doorbell lets your parent see who is at the door before opening it, reducing the risk of doorstep scams and bogus callers. You can also answer the door remotely from your own phone if your parent is not able to get there in time. For families who live some distance from their parent, it offers genuine peace of mind.
Tablets and phones designed for older people
Standard smartphones and tablets can be confusing for older people. Simplified devices strip away the complexity and present just the features your parent needs: big buttons for calling family, video calls, photo sharing, and basic web browsing. Some include an SOS button that calls a preset number with one press.
Medication dispensers
If your parent regularly forgets to take medication — or worse, takes it twice — an automatic medication dispenser can be genuinely life-changing. These devices are preloaded with a week or more of medication and dispense the right dose at the right time, sounding an alarm to remind your parent. Some lock between doses to prevent double-dosing, and alert you if a dose is missed.
Side-by-Side Comparison
This table gives you a clear picture of what you can get through the NHS or your council, what you will need to buy privately, and what you should expect to pay. Use it as a starting point — your local council may offer more or less than the typical provision shown here.
| Technology | NHS / Council | Private | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pendant alarm | ✓ Council telecare | ✓ Many providers | Council: £3–5/week Private: £15–25/month |
| GPS tracker | ✗ Not typically provided | ✓ Wide choice | £100–200 + £10–20/month |
| Medication dispenser | Sometimes — via OT referral | ✓ Several options | £50–300 (+ pharmacy top-up) |
| Video doorbell | ✗ Not provided | ✓ Ring, Nest, Blink | £80–200 (+ £3–10/month) |
| Smart home sensors | Basic door/bed sensors via council | ✓ Advanced kits | Council: included in telecare Private: £200–500 |
| Telehealth monitoring | ✓ NHS referral | ✓ Some private services | NHS: free Private: £30–80/month |
| Falls detection | Sometimes — council upgrade | ✓ Built into many alarms | Council: extra £1–3/week Private: included or £5/month extra |
Reading the table: Green ticks mean the technology is readily available through that route. Orange text means it is sometimes available but depends on your area and your parent's assessed needs. A red cross means you will almost certainly need to buy it yourself.
Attendance Allowance & Other Funding
Before you spend anything privately, check whether your parent qualifies for Attendance Allowance. It is one of the most under-claimed benefits in the UK, and it can pay for a great deal of care technology.
What is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance (AA) is a tax-free benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to people over State Pension age who need help with daily living because of a physical or mental disability. It comes in two rates:
- Lower rate: £72.65 per week — if you need help during the day or night
- Higher rate: £108.55 per week — if you need help during both day and night, or you are terminally ill
Crucially, Attendance Allowance is not means-tested. It does not matter how much savings or income your parent has. It also does not require them to have paid National Insurance contributions. And there are no restrictions on what the money can be spent on — it can absolutely go towards care technology, a personal alarm subscription, a GPS tracker, or anything else that helps them live independently.
How to apply
You can apply online at gov.uk or request a paper form by calling 0800 731 0122. The form is long — budget a good hour to complete it — but it is worth persisting. Describe your parent's worst days, not their best. If they have good days and bad days, focus on what the bad days look like. Many applications are turned down because the form underplays the difficulties.
A decision usually takes 6–8 weeks. If your parent is terminally ill (with a DS1500 or SR1 form from their doctor), the application is fast-tracked and the higher rate is awarded automatically.
Disabled Facilities Grant
If your parent needs physical adaptations to their home — grab rails, stairlifts, walk-in showers, or ramps — they may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) from their local council. The grant can cover up to £30,000 in England (£36,000 in Wales). It is means-tested for adults, but the council must provide it if they assess that the adaptations are necessary and appropriate.
Help for veterans
If your parent served in the Armed Forces, additional support is available. SSAFA (the Armed Forces charity) and the Royal British Legion both offer grants for care equipment and home adaptations. These can cover technology that falls outside what the NHS or council provide. Contact SSAFA on 0800 260 6767 or the Royal British Legion on 0808 802 8080.
Attendance Allowance at the higher rate provides £108.55 per week — more than enough to cover a personal alarm subscription, a GPS tracker, and still have money left over for other support. It is not means-tested and can be spent on anything. If your parent has not applied, do it now. It is one of the single most useful things you can do.
Charities That Can Help
Several well-established charities offer practical help with care technology — whether that is funding, advice, or hands-on setup support. Here are the ones we have found most useful.
Age UK
Age UK runs a national advice line (0800 678 1602) that can help you navigate the care system, check benefit entitlements, and find local services. Many local Age UK branches also run technology clubs where volunteers help older people learn to use tablets, smartphones, and video calling. Some branches can arrange a home visit to assess what technology might help. The service is free.
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross offers short-term loans of mobility and daily living equipment through their independent living services. This can include wheelchairs, commodes, and other aids. While they do not typically lend electronic care tech, they are excellent at helping with the transition home after a hospital stay — a time when the right technology can make all the difference.
SSAFA and the Royal British Legion
As mentioned above, both SSAFA and the Royal British Legion provide grants for veterans and their families. These grants can cover technology purchases, alarm subscriptions, and home adaptations. The application process is straightforward, and caseworkers will visit your parent to assess needs. Do not assume your parent needs to have served in combat — the support is available to anyone who has served in the Armed Forces, including those who completed National Service.
Local Rotary and Lions clubs
This is one people often overlook. Local Rotary clubs and Lions clubs regularly fund care equipment for individuals in their community. They will not cover ongoing subscriptions, but they can sometimes help with one-off purchases — a GPS tracker, a simplified tablet, or a key safe, for example. Contact your nearest club and explain the situation.
AbilityNet
AbilityNet is a charity that helps disabled and older people use technology. Their free helpline (0800 048 7642) provides expert advice, and they also run a network of volunteers who will visit your parent at home to help set up a computer, tablet, or smartphone. If your mum is struggling with a new device, AbilityNet is one of the best resources available.
How to Decide
With so many options, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Here is a practical step-by-step approach we recommend to families.
- Start with a council assessment. Even if you think your parent will not qualify for funded equipment, the assessment is free and often reveals support options you did not know about. Call Adult Social Services and request a Care Act assessment. It costs nothing and there is no obligation.
- Check Attendance Allowance eligibility. If your parent has not applied for AA, do it now. At the higher rate of £108.55 per week, it provides a substantial budget for care technology and ongoing subscriptions. Use the Turn2us benefits calculator to check for other unclaimed benefits too.
- Get council basics in place first. If your parent is eligible for council telecare, accept it. The pendant alarm and monitoring service is the foundation of any home safety setup. It may not be the most modern equipment, but it works reliably and covers the most critical scenario — your parent being unable to get to a phone in an emergency.
- Fill the gaps privately. Once the basics are covered, look at where private technology adds genuine value. For most families, the biggest gaps are GPS tracking (essential if your parent has dementia), a video doorbell (for doorstep safety), and a medication dispenser (if your parent manages their own medication).
- Review after three months. Revisit the setup after your parent has been using the equipment for three months. Some things you bought may turn out to be unnecessary. Other needs may have emerged. Technology is not a set-and-forget solution — your parent's needs will change over time, and the equipment should change with them.
A practical example
Here is how this might work in practice. Let us say your mum is 82, lives alone in her own home, has mild memory problems, and had a fall last year. She is independent but you worry about her safety.
- Council provides: Pendant alarm with 24/7 monitoring (£4/week), key safe for emergency access (one-off installation), smoke detector linked to monitoring centre
- You buy privately: GPS tracker for when she goes out (£150 + £15/month), video doorbell so she can see callers before opening the door (£100), simplified tablet for video calls with family (£200)
- Attendance Allowance pays for: At the lower rate of £72.65/week, this more than covers the council telecare charge and the GPS tracker subscription, with money left over
Total monthly cost after AA: effectively nothing out of pocket. That is the power of combining funded and private technology with the right benefits.
Common Questions
Not directly from the NHS, but through local council telecare. Most councils charge £3–5/week for a basic pendant alarm. Contact Adult Social Services for a needs assessment. Some areas offer equipment free to those on Pension Credit.
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with daily living. The lower rate is £72.65/week and the higher rate is £108.55/week. You do not need to have paid National Insurance. It is not means-tested and can be spent on anything, including care technology such as personal alarms, GPS trackers, and medication dispensers.
Yes. The NHS focuses on clinical telehealth — remote patient monitoring, video consultations, and managing specific health conditions. Council telecare covers daily living safety equipment: pendant alarms, door sensors, bed sensors, and 24/7 monitoring. In practice, your local council is the main provider of the telecare equipment that most families are looking for.
Absolutely. Many families use council-funded basics — a pendant alarm and linked smoke detector — alongside private additions such as a GPS tracker, smart doorbell, or simplified tablet. The equipment does not conflict. Just make sure the council equipment meets your parent's basic safety needs before spending privately on extras.
Contact your local Adult Social Services team — you can find their number on your council's website. They will arrange a Care Act assessment to determine your parent's needs. If eligible, they can provide basic telecare equipment and monitoring. Even if your parent does not qualify for funded support, the assessment often reveals useful options and local services you had not considered.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Our guide to the best personal alarms covers NHS-recommended options alongside private alternatives.
Read Our Personal Alarm Guide →