Our editors send their hearty congratulations to James Batchelor, the founder of Alertacall, who has been appointed an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for ‘Services to Technology For Older People’ in King Charles III’s Birthday Honours List 2025.
This prestigious honour, akin to the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, acknowledges an individual’s outstanding achievements and significant, long-term service to the community. He was nominated by people who had observed the considerable social benefit of his work and his extensive support for charities benefiting older people.
His innovative contributions began over 20 years ago when he invented the ‘I am okay’ button, now known as OKEachDay®. It had been inspired by his grandmother Eveline, who refused to use traditional pendant alarms. The technology enables users to press a button on a touchscreen device daily to confirm their well-being. If the button is not pressed, Alertacall’s specially trained team makes contact to check in, helping to bring aid and reduce the number of undiscovered tenant deaths. (The latter is an issue in the UK where many isolated people receive their pension or benefits income and pay their utility bills, etc, through bank automation and so it goes unnoticed that they have not been seen alive.)
The system now incorporates machine learning and AI to detect trend changes that could indicate an imminent issue. Significantly, it has evolved into a range of technologies that improve regular contact with older and vulnerable people, some of whom receive access to these services free of charge.
Alertacall, the company James founded in 2004, has over 110 team members and offices in the Lake District and Cheshire. In collaboration with approximately 60 housing associations provides crucial daily contact services to tens of thousands of people living in public, Section 8, and assisted living housing across the UK. In 2023 Alertacall also received The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation, a highly esteemed British business award.
Beyond his company, James Batchelor (or James Batchelor MBE, as we should now call him!) tirelessly campaigns to alleviate loneliness and isolation among older people, mentors socially focused entrepreneurs, and supports various charities, including The Silver Line and initiatives that have planted over 25,000 trees in the British Lake District.
James’s work has been of close interest to Telehealth and Telecare Aware since our beginning in 2005 and our first post about Alertacall was in 2006: Alertacall extends safety confirmation service hours.
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