'Distress' over care alarm 40% price hike

The son of a 94-year-old Sheffield woman has said the city council should be "ashamed" to increase the cost of her care alarm by more than 40%.

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the cost of his mother's alarm had risen from £21 a month to more than £30 a month.

"It has caused her great distress and even made her question whether she can afford to carry on having the service" he said.

Sheffield City Council confirmed that this was the first time in nine years that the cost of the City Wide Care Alarms service had increased, and those who used the service were informed in advance.

The son, who lives in London, said his mother got the alarm after a fall three years ago when she spent three hours on the floor and was found by a neighbour.

He said the care alarm was a "lifeline" for many people.

"I live four hours away and visit regularly but can't be there at short notice," he said.

"My mother is 94 and lives alone near Beighton. She has many health problems including a heart condition, diabetes and osteoporosis and is very frail and at risk of falls"

"Sheffield City Council should be ashamed."

A spokesperson for the council said the increase was down to additional costs such as SIM cards due to the move from "analogue to a digital service".

They said the service "operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at a cost of just over £1 per day".

More than 8,000 people currently use the City Wide Care Alarms service, which is scheduled to complete its digital switchover by December this year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Meanwhile, the council's adult health and social care policy committee approved the introduction of a Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Service which would bring in more online support.

This would allow people to live independently at home, with sensors to detect if people need help without them having to call for it.

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