According to ACC, on average a third of people aged 65 and older will fall at least once this year. And ADT's response reports show that those falls are five times more likely to happen during winter. So if you have elderly or disabled parents or relatives that live alone, the colder months can be an anxious time for both them and you.

Peace of mind comes in the form of a NevaAlone medical alert alarm from ADT.

Worn as a pendant or bracelet, it's easy to activate even when the wearer has fallen and can't get up. Aaron Kedzlie, spokesperson for ADT, says the system allows the elderly and disabled to live independently, knowing help is close at hand should it be needed.

“Winter can be an anxious time, with the cold and wet weather making conditions particularly dangerous. However NevaAlone is a great option for those who want peace of mind and a real sense of security as they go about their everyday tasks. It also provides family members with peace of mind when they cannot be there in person.”

If you'd like to know more, visit www.nevaalone.co.nz

A FAST RESPONSE


Should your alarm go off and you've chosen to have a patrol response, our aim is to have a Mobile Patrol Officer on-site within 20 minutes within city boundaries. If you live in a rural area, the Mobile Patrol Officer will get there as quickly as possible.

Generally, two things impact on average response times: traffic (not surprising for those of us who live in cities!); and distance, especially when responding in rural areas. Please note we do not have special powers to exceed the speed limit and must obey the traffic laws. So in all cases we use best endeavours and are not able to give exact timeframes.

Once the ADT Patrol Officer is on-site, a check for forced entry and any intruders will be made. We'll confirm on the status of your property to your emergency contact as quickly as possible.

If a forced entry has occurred, the Officer will notify the authorities and also arrange any remedial work such as replacing locks or window glass, if you’re away.

Remember, our Patrol Officers are highly trained, but are not police officers. They have no powers to pursue criminals or act as a private police force. Securing your premises and contacting the appropriate authorities are the ways we back up the alert your ADT monitored alarm system provides.

Just like mobile phones, home alarms can offer so much more than their obvious use. Do you know what your alarm is capable of? Well how about these for starters:

· the keypad can also act as a door chime, so you know when someone has entered or left your property;

· you can arm/disarm your alarm remotely with a key fob, rather than having to punch in the access code every time;

· one-time only access codes can be given to tradespeople, so you don't have to be on-site to let them in;

· each member of your household can have their own personal code, so you can check what time your teenager actually came home!

If you'd like help getting any of these set up correctly, call ADT on 0800 111 238 and we'll talk you through it over the phone. Or if you'd prefer, we can arrange for a technician to visit. They may even be able to suggest ways to make your current security set-up work better for you.

These options are only applicable to DSC Alarms installed by ADT, which most of our customers have. Contact us to discuss which alarm you have if you are not sure. For more information on the DSC system capability, click here.  

If you know of a friend or relation who needs a home security system, refer them to the ADT website and they will get $200 off any system purchased before 31 May 2007.