ELDERLY women are three times more likely to injure themselves through a fall at home than elderly men, according to Age Concern.

The charity is asking pensioners of both sexes to fit their homes with a special alarm system in case they get themselves into trouble.

More than one million people hurt themselves through domestic falls every year and nearly one quarter of those injured in a fall are vulnerable pensioners aged 75 and above.

Age Concern says these figures highlight the unforeseen risk to the well-being of older people older women in particular before they even set foot outside their front doors.

Charity bosses say they recognise the fact that most elderly people want to remain living in their own homes and therefore recommend them to fit an Aid-Call alarm.

Age Concern, which runs the alarm scheme, believes the one-touch system gives pensioners the freedom to live independently in their own homes with peace of mind.

When pressed the alarm connects to a dedicated response centre which is staffed by professionally trained operators 24-hours-a-day, every day of the year.

The service, which costs £1 per week, operates a two-way speech link to enable the person who has raised the alarm to talk to an operator within seconds.

For more information on Aid-Call or to place an order please call 0800 772266