Review
Taking Care personal alarm review
Taking Care is the personal alarm company Age UK partners with. It's the one we recommend when a council alarm isn't available, isn't free, or is going to take too long. Here's why — and where it falls short.
First, the free option. If your parent lives alone, has had a fall, or gets Pension Credit, their council may provide an alarm free. Check in 60 seconds before you spend anything.
What it costs
| Classic home alarm | £24.49 a month (£293.88 a year) |
|---|---|
| Digital Fall Alarm (with fall detection) | £28.49 a month |
| Anywhere GPS pendant | £31.49 a month |
| Set-up fee | £69.99 one-off (equipment is rented and included) |
| Contract | None — cancel any time, pro-rata refund |
Prices checked 21 Oct 2026, excluding VAT. Most customers qualify for VAT exemption because the alarm is for a long-term condition or disability — Taking Care asks a simple question at checkout. Prices change; check before you buy.
What you get
- A small base unit that plugs into the mains (the standard version uses a mobile signal, so no landline needed).
- A waterproof pendant worn round the neck or on the wrist. Press it and a trained operator answers through the base unit's loudspeaker.
- 24-hour monitoring from a response centre certified under the TSA (TEC Services Association) Quality Standards Framework.
- Operators call your chosen contacts in order, then the emergency services if no one answers. They stay on the line until help arrives.
- Free next-working-day delivery; set-up is plugging it in and pressing the button for a test call.
What's good
- Trust. Age UK partnership, Trading Standards Approved, and a long record in the UK. For a parent who is wary of "gadgets", that name helps.
- No contract. Cancel any time with a pro-rata refund. If the council alarm turns up in six weeks, you've paid for six weeks.
- A clear range. Home alarm, fall detector, GPS pendant, GPS watch — easy to pick the right one.
What's not so good
- Price. Careline365 and LifeConnect24 include fall detection at a similar monthly price; with Taking Care it's £4 a month more. The £69.99 set-up fee is also higher than some rivals.
- You rent, you don't own. Fine for most people, but Careline365 sells its alarm outright for £99 if you'd rather.
- Fall detection isn't magic. No provider's is. It picks up sudden falls well and slow slides poorly — the button is still the main thing.
Who it suits
A family that wants something in place this week from a name their parent recognises, and may want to stop in a few months. If the lowest possible monthly price with fall detection matters more, look at LifeConnect24 or Careline365.
If you buy through this link we may earn a commission. It doesn't change the price you pay.
See Taking Care alarms and pricesHow Taking Care compares
We put all four main providers side by side — price, contract, fall detection, GPS and accreditation — on the comparison page.
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