Detectors and alarms

• make sure you have enough smoke alarms in your home. For more information please see our Smoke Alarms page
• there are specialist alarms available for those with a hearing impairment, which include a bright flashing strobe light by the bedside and a vibrating pad under the pillow to alert people to danger at night when they do not have their hearing aids in. 

IMPORTANT: A person with dementia may not be aware of what the sound of an alarm means or they may be frightened by the noise it makes and become confused.

Consider installing a telecare system:

• this is a smoke alarm provided by a telecare provider, which is linked through a lifeline service.
• it means that when the alarm sounds due to fire or smoke, the signal goes straight through to the telecare provider, who will then alert the emergency services.
• this helps to reduce the risk for the person if they are unable to react to an alarm.
• other types of alarm can also be run through this system, such as Carbon Monoxide detectors. 
• IMPORTANT:  Ensure there are adequate Carbon Monoxide alarms throughout the home if there are gas appliances, open fires or a wood burning stove.