From 1st June ARHM will no longer be using a contact telephone number and will be switching to email contact only. Please get in touch with us by using the email address enquiries@arhm.org leaving brief details of the nature of your enquiry and we will make sure you receive a response.
DIGITAL SWITCHOVER
In an ARHM email briefing issued on 22nd May, we brought you up to date with the latest developments on the DIgital Switch over as follows:
In conjunction with our colleagues at Retirement Housing Group we would appreciate your help regarding the digital switchover. We appreciate the deadline for responding is tight but would appreciate your feedback.
You may be aware that Retirement Housing Group, of which ARHM is a member, has been in dialogue with central government about the potential impact of digital switchover on security and careline systems within specialist retirement housing schemes. This week it was announced that the date for digital switchover has been postponed to January 2027 (see attached statement from Openreach) RHG welcomed this announcement but remains concerned that companies and residents may face additional costs in the future commenting as follows
“This delay is welcome news to those older people who were being asked to fund the replacement of telecare equipment which was otherwise perfectly serviceable but would no longer work with the changes these companies are making to their networks. Whilst this delay will reduce the number of people having to prematurely upgrade their personal safety equipment, there remains a question over how the costs of replacing this equipment is being met in light of the significant savings it may present for comms companies and the significant costs it may present for individual users.”
We intend to continue dialogue with governments and CPs (service providers) and would find it very helpful if you would complete the questionnaire (link below) which would enable us to demonstrate the potential scale of the problem for retirement housing providers. Please could you respond by Monday 27th May.
Digital transition survey (office.com)
We also provide the statement provided by Openreach for your information.
Download: DIGITAL SWITCHOVER STATEMENT BY OPENREACH MAY 2024.docx