Healthcare, social welfare and housing policy agendas, while emphasizing the importance of supporting the independent living of older people at home, have generally failed to take account of the actual or potential role played by social alarms and telecare. This book draws on research and practice throughout the developed world. It documents the emergence of these important technologies and considers their potential in the contexts of healthcare, social welfare and housing. It is argued that social alarm and telecare technologies must be brought into the mainstream of service frameworks and configured in ways that are user-led if their true potential is to be harnessed.