CoverMapWhy falls matter for older people
GOV.UK’s public health guidance says around a third of people aged 65 and over, and around half of people aged 80 and over, fall at least once a year. Falls are a major cause of hospital stays: the same guidance reports around 220,160 emergency hospital admissions related to falls among people aged 65 and over in England in 2017 to 2018, and says hip fractures alone account for 1.8 million hospital bed days and £1.1 billion in hospital costs every year.
The danger is often not the fall itself but lying on the floor for a long time afterwards, unable to get up or reach a phone. That is the gap a fall alarm is designed to close.
What is a fall alarm?
A fall alarm (or fall detector) is a personal alarm worn as a pendant, wristband or watch. Like any personal alarm, it has an SOS button that connects to a 24/7 monitoring centre. The difference is that it also contains motion sensors. If they detect what looks like a hard fall, the alarm calls the response team on its own. The team speaks to the wearer through the device or base unit, then contacts family, a key holder or the emergency services as needed.
How fall detection works
Taking Care explains that fall alarms typically use accelerometers and gyroscopes with an algorithm that looks for three things in sequence: a sudden drop, a significant impact, and then little or no movement. If the wearer doesn’t move much after the impact, the fall is treated as confirmed and the alarm calls the monitoring centre automatically.
Most devices give a short window to cancel a false alarm. On Taking Care’s Anywhere pendant, a pre-alarm sounds for 10 seconds and can be cancelled by holding the button; on its Digital Fall Alarm, the call can be cancelled in the first 15 seconds by shaking the pendant.
What fall alarms can miss
Providers are open that no fall detector is perfect. According to Taking Care’s own guidance, these are less likely to be detected:
- Slow slumps, or falls from a sitting position
- Falls where the person grabs furniture on the way down
- Backward falls when the pendant is worn around the neck
- Falls where a wrist alarm is covered by clothing or the arms are held to the chest
- Falls when the pendant is worn under a jumper or coat, which restricts the sensors
Sensitivity usually can’t be adjusted. Taking Care also notes that people with tremors, epilepsy or Parkinson’s may cancel alerts by accident, and that fall detection must be switched off for some devices if the wearer has a pacemaker. If any of these apply, ask the provider which device suits before buying.
Types of fall alarm
| Type | Where it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Home pendant with fall detection | Home and garden, linked to a base unit (Taking Care quotes up to about 300 metres) | People who spend most of their time at home |
| GPS fall alarm | Home and out and about, over the mobile network | People who are still active outside the home |
| Alarm watch with fall detection | Home and out and about; worn on the wrist | People who won’t wear a pendant but will wear a watch |
Which? puts typical fall detector costs at £30–£50 to set up and £19–£27 a month, with GPS tracking at £21–£30 a month.
Fall alarm prices from UK providers
| Alarm | Setup | Monthly | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taking Care – Digital Fall Alarm | £69.99 | £28.49 | Home pendant and base unit; no landline needed; lifetime warranty |
| Taking Care Anywhere | £70.00 | £31.49 | GPS pendant with fall detection, home and out and about |
| Taking Care Personal Alarm Watch | £99.99 (includes watch) | £26.49 | Watch with SOS button, fall detection and GPS; 2–3 day battery |
| Taking Care GO | £79.99 | £25.49 | Small GPS device with fall detection, mainly for use outside the home |
| Careline365 | £99 device | About £1 a day | All plans include fall detection |
| Telecare24 | £45 | From £19 | Fall detector plan; annual billing |
Prices as shown on each provider’s website in October 2026. Taking Care prices exclude VAT; many users qualify for VAT relief (see below).
Taking Care provides the personal alarms sold by Age UK. These alarms all include automatic fall detection, 24/7 monitoring and a 30-day money-back guarantee, and none of them needs a landline.
Prices from taking.care, checked October 2026, and shown excluding VAT (many users qualify for VAT relief). CoverMap may earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn’t affect the price you pay.
Is a fall alarm worth it?
A fall alarm costs a few pounds a month more than a basic pendant. It is most useful when someone:
- lives alone, or is alone for long stretches of the day
- has already had a fall, or feels unsteady on their feet
- might not be able to press a button after a fall, for example because of a head injury or fainting
- is likely to forget to press the button
If someone is rarely alone, or would reliably press a button, a standard pendant alarm may be enough. Our personal alarms guide compares both.
VAT relief on fall alarms
HMRC allows emergency alarms and their monitoring to be zero-rated for people who are disabled or have a long-term illness, who sign a short declaration. Age alone does not qualify. Taking Care’s prices are shown before VAT for this reason. Our personal alarms guide explains the rules in more detail.
Tips for getting the most from a fall alarm
- Wear it all the time, including in the bath or shower if it is waterproof, so it is there wherever a fall happens.
- Wear it outside clothing, so the sensors can move freely.
- Still press the button whenever possible, rather than relying on automatic detection.
- Test it regularly, as the provider recommends, and keep it charged if it has a rechargeable battery.
- Fit a key safe or arrange a key holder, so responders can get in.
- Tackle the cause too. GOV.UK’s falls guidance highlights the cost of hazards in the home. Ask a GP about local falls prevention support, such as strength and balance exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a fall alarm cost in the UK?
Most monitored fall alarms cost about £19–£32 a month, plus a setup fee of about £45–£100. Which? puts typical fall detectors at £19–£27 a month. GPS and watch-style fall alarms usually cost more.
Do fall alarms detect every fall?
No. They are designed for hard falls and can miss slow slumps, falls from a chair or falls where the person grabs something. The wearer should still press the button whenever they can.
Can you wear a fall alarm in the shower?
Many can. For example, Taking Care says its Digital Fall Alarm pendant is water-resistant and can be worn in the bath or shower. Check the water rating of any device before buying.
Do I need a landline for a fall alarm?
Not usually. Many newer fall alarms, including Taking Care’s fall alarms, use a built-in mobile SIM, so they don’t depend on a landline or the 2027 digital switchover.
Is there VAT on fall alarms?
Not for people who are disabled or have a long-term illness and sign a declaration. HMRC allows the alarm and monitoring to be zero-rated. Age alone does not qualify.
What is the difference between a fall alarm and a personal alarm?
A personal alarm only calls for help when the button is pressed. A fall alarm also has motion sensors that can call for help automatically if it detects a hard fall.
Sources
- GOV.UK – Falls: applying All Our Health
- Which? – Personal alarms: costs and types
- HMRC – VAT Notice 701/7: reliefs for disabled and older people
- Taking Care – How fall alarms work
- Taking Care – Digital Fall Alarm
- Taking Care – Taking Care Anywhere
- Taking Care – Personal Alarm Watch
- Taking Care – GO GPS tracker
- Careline365 – Plans
- Telecare24
- NHS – Getting a needs assessment