A victim support help-line and an emergency response phone line have been set up in the State's first specialised social alarm monitoring centre.
The national centre in Bunclody, Co Wexford, is staffed 24 hours a day.
An alert button, or pendant worn around the neck, connects the person with the centre.
The service has been set up in association with Victim Support and the telecommunications company, Cable & Wireless. Connection costs £250 which includes the telephone and £47 a year monitoring costs. The Department of Social Welfare funds up to 90 per cent of the initial cost.
