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Sometimes called Dispersed Alarms, these are units, which plug into your phone line and enable you to call for assistance by pressing the button on the unit or the button worn round your neck.
Babergh’s community alarm service is aimed primarily for elderly people, disabled people and indeed anyone in the Babergh district who wishes to stay in their own home but who may need help to maintain their independence.
If you don’t live in the Babergh area, most local authorities run an alarm service for surrounding areas:
- Contact Care, 0800 917 4680 – South Norfolk District Council area
- Flagship, 01362 696175 – Suffolk Coastal District Council area
- Havebury Housing Association, 01284 702398 – St Edmundsbury Borough Council area
- Ipswich HEARS, 01473 433236 – Ipswich Borough Council area
- Mid Suffolk, 0845 606 6067 – Mid Suffolk District Council area
- Waveney, 01502 513222 – Waveney District Council area
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The alarm system plugs into your phone line and automatically makes a call through to ‘Assist & Assure’, when triggered either by pressing the button on the unit or the button round your neck.
Once the call has been answered, the specially trained staff will then talk to you without you having to get to the phone, as the alarm unit is fitted with a microphone, which can pick up voices from a distance.
Contact can then be made with friends, relatives, doctors or the emergency services. Even if you cannot speak or be heard, the operator will ensure someone calls to check you are okay. The alarm will work in your garden but will not work if you leave the property (i.e. to go to the shops).
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The Council encourages people to use the service on a permanent basis enabling people to stay independent for longer but it can just as easily be used for short periods such as convalescence, bereavement or fear of crime.
There are two types of units to choose from:
The Lifeline 400 unit, which will enable you to keep your current telephone or the Lifeline 3000 unit, which has a built-in telephone.
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You simply need a plug in style telephone socket with an electric socket nearby. We also need a minimum of 2 emergency contacts: for example a friend, family member or neighbour that lives nearby who can gain access to your home to help you, or let in the emergency services.
Babergh District Council and the Response Centre, called ‘Assist & Assure’, who are based in Dereham (calls to Assist & Assure are charged at local rates).
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The Lifeline 400 costs £2.61per week. A one-off installation charge of £19.74 is also made. All charges will be subject to VAT (people with a chronic condition or a disability may not have to pay VAT).
No, the rental includes all maintenance and repair costs. However, if you lose a pendant or damage the pendant or unit in any way (other than general wear and tear), then you will be charged for a replacement.
Assist & Assure staff are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, and someone will always answer your call.
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You will need to make an appointment with our Community Alarm Officer, Mrs Toni Mannion. To do this, you can complete the online request form or contact the Council Housing Customer Services Team on 01473 825757 (during office hours).
Our Community Alarm Officer will then call and demonstrate/install the alarm system. The installation process will take about 1 hour.
I have an alarm system and will be moving house soon. Can I take the alarm with me?
If you are moving to another property within the Babergh District, then you can take the alarm with you to your new address. A friend or family member may be able to plug the alarm system in for you and, if this were the case, we would recommend that you make a test call by pressing the pendant to check that everything is working okay. If there is no one that can do this, we can arrange to do this for you as long as you give us at least 2 weeks’ notice of your move date.
If you are moving away from the Babergh District area, we will have to ask for the alarm unit and pendant to be returned to the offices, as we cannot support the system from outside of the district. You could speak to the local authority, which will cover your new area, to see if they may be able to assist.
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Let us know your change of details by either completing the online request form or by contacting the office on 01473 825767 (during office hours).
If you no longer need the alarm, please complete the online request form or contact the Council Housing Customer Services Tean on 01473 825757 (during office hours).
Any faults that happen during office hours (9am – 5pm, Mondays to Thursdays, 9am – 4.30pm, Fridays), ring 01473 825767. All other times, ring 01362 696175.
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If you are able to plug in an alternative phone, check to see if there is now a dialling tone. If there is, then your original phone may be faulty and will need to be replaced. Connect the new replacement phone to the alarm.
If still not working, ring the office or complete the online form. If there isn’t a dialling tone you may have a fault with the BT line and, if this is the case, we would not be able to assist with the fault and your would need to report the fault to your telephone service provider. (If this is BT, you can ring them on 0800 800 151 and report the fault.)
Perhaps there is no power supply to the alarm – check the unit is switched on at the wall.
Do you have power in your property? - maybe the main fuse box switch has tripped. If it hasn’t tripped, then it is a power supply problem.
If you do have power and a test call has been made and you had no response then ring 01362 696175.
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Are the plugs (BT & electric) all pushed in properly?
Have you pressed and held down the cancel button (the green button on the left-handside with a ‘C’ on it)?
Is it definitely the alarm bleeping and not a low battery in a smoke alarm situated near the alarm?
If all these checks have been carried out and there is still a problem then ring 01362 696175.
If it only happens occasionally, we will visit when next in the area.
If it is constant, then report as a fault and someone will attend as soon as possible.
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Please press the red button on the base unit and report the pendant as missing.
Did the little red light on the pendant light up when you pressed it? If yes, but nothing else happened only complete silence then it could be a faulty pendant. Report as fault.
Is the alarm switched on at the electric socket (red button on the main unit should be illuminated)? If the alarm is plugged in okay, but still no red light on the unit, check that the power to the property is on. If this isn’t working then you may need to check the fuse box.
The pendants all have a battery with a ten-year life. No need to worry about this, we will visit when next in your area and will replace the pendant or battery.
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