Seniors Alert Scheme

The Seniors Alert Scheme provides funding for a free personal monitored alarm for people aged 65 and older who have limited means.

The scheme supports older people to live securely and independently in their homes. You may be living alone or living with another person.

The Seniors Alert Scheme is run by Pobal, which manages programmes for the Irish Government and the EU.

You must contact a community or voluntary group in your area who are registered with Pobal to access the scheme. They will apply to Pobal on your behalf. Pobal does not accept applications from individuals - see ‘How to apply’ below.

To apply for the Seniors Alert Scheme, you must :

• Be aged 65 or over
• Have limited means or resources.

You must also be any of the following:

• Living alone
• Living alone for significant periods of time during the day
• Living with another person aged over 65 with limited means
• Caring for someone else in your household

You must also:

• Live in the area covered by a registered group
• Be able to benefit from the equipment supplied
• Be willing to keep contact with the registered group

All the alarm equipment and installation under the scheme is free.

The alarm monitoring service is free for the first year. After the first year, you will pay the annual monitoring fee for the alarm.

The annual monitoring fee will vary by service provider and the type of alarm or pendant supplied. The cost may be approximately €70 a year. Your local group can tell you about the cost in advance.

If there is no landline available in your home and a mobile signal is used to connect to the equipment, you may have to pay a fee for mobile SIM rental.

You can get a monitored personal alarm that is worn as a pendant or around your wrist like a watch. These alarms connect to a national helpline through a base unit installed in your home.

When you press the alarm button, it immediately rings the helpline, which is open 24 hours a day all year round. A helpline operator talks to you in your home and decides whether to alert a local volunteer responder or, if necessary, the emergency services.

If you no longer need it, the alarm must be returned as the scheme equipment remains the property of the registered group.

Registered community or voluntary groups apply to Pobal on your behalf. Pobal does not accept applications from individuals.

A family member or neighbour can apply on your behalf with the local group if you can’t apply yourself.

Contact a community or voluntary group registered in your area. Find a a list of registered organisations by area on pobal.ie.

The registered community or voluntary group will:

• Assess if you are eligible for the scheme and will support you to complete the application form
• Identify the equipment you need and advise you of the current cost for monitoring and SIM card credit (if you need it)
• Send the application and supporting documentation to Pobal

You will be asked to confirm that you understand the purpose and use of the equipment and that you will pay the annual monitoring fee after the first year.

Community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations can apply to register with Pobal for the scheme. They must have a recognised structure and be able to show that they can manage the grants. They must also have a record of working with older people in the community.

A group will not be able to register if there is an existing group operating the scheme in the area.

Groups wishing to register for the scheme can register online at pobal.ie.

The Pobal website has detailed information on the Seniors Alert Scheme.

You can read more on the leaflet from Pobal about the Seniors Alert Scheme (pdf).

Contact the Seniors Alert Scheme section in Pobal with the details below or by email at onlinesupport@pobal.ie.