THE ALARMS, INSTALLED IN 447 HOMES, WERE BATTERY OPERATED AND WERE ACTIVATED BY PULLING BELLCORDS. THE ALARMS WERE INSTALLED AS A MEANS TO GET HELP TO OLD PEOPLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY AND WERE DESIGNED TO RING IN EITHER A PUBLIC PLACE OR A NEIGHBOR'S HOME. THE SURVEY, CARRIED OUT IN MAY 1975, WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS FINDING OUT HOW THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED CLIENTS FELT ABOUT THE ALARMS, WHETHER THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE USEFUL, AND WHETHER THEY WOULD USE THEM IN AN EMERGENCY. FINDINGS INDICATED THAT A MAJORITY OF THOSE SAMPLED WERE PLEASED TO HAVE THE ALARM SYSTEM, REPORTING FEELING MORE SECURE BECAUSE OF IT. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A GENERAL RELUCTANCE TO SET OFF THE ALARM TRACEABLE TO THE CLIENT'S DIFFICULTY IN DECIDING WHAT CONSTITUTED A REAL EMERGENCY AND UNCERTAINTY OVER WHO WOULD RESPOND TO THE ALARM.