When Gwen Potter woke up in her London apartment on Remembrance Day in 2022, she sensed that something was amiss. Struggling to walk to the kitchen, she discovered her legs were unsteady, leading to a sudden blackout. Recalling the incident, Potter revealed she had suffered a stroke.
After lying on the floor briefly, Potter managed to move to her bedroom where she activated the emergency call bell. Responding promptly, a staff member from the Chelsey Park complex, which houses Potter’s apartment along with a retirement residence and long-term care facility, summoned medical assistance. Potter’s daughter, Alison, credited the quick response and call bell system for saving her mother’s life.
Living independently in Chelsey Park’s apartment building at the age of 90, Potter performs daily tasks by herself. However, in July 2025, Alison received notification that the call bell system in the residence would be disconnected, raising concerns about emergency assistance for residents.
In response to the discontinuation of the call bell system in the independent living section due to technical issues, a spokesperson from Chelsey Park mentioned that the system would remain operational in the long-term care facility. Nevertheless, Potter and her family chose the apartment specifically for the call bell feature, as advertised on the residence’s website.
Despite being informed that the call bell would be replaced by personal alert systems, Potter expressed reservations about the affordability and practicality of such systems. Financial constraints and physical limitations, especially during emergencies like her stroke, were key concerns for Potter and other residents facing the prospect of purchasing private alert systems.
To address the situation, Potter has set up a daily check-in system with a friend and expressed the need for additional support from Chelsey Park, including reinstating the call bell system, offering personal alarm systems to all residents, or providing rent relief to offset the costs of personal alarms. Alison emphasized the economic impact on seniors at Chelsey Park and urged for better care and support for the elderly residents.