The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued guidance to clarify the agency’s emergency call system requirements for federally-subsidized rural Multifamily Housing communities.

The guidance clarifies that the Rural Housing Service does not require the use of emergency call systems, including pull cords, in any Multifamily Housing units.

The guidance explains why many properties may have the systems in place: “The installation and use of emergency call systems in MFH units, commonly in bathrooms and bedrooms, have historically provided a means for tenants to alert others if they required assistance in the case of an emergency, such as a fall, fire, or medical issue.”

The Unnumbered Letter (UL) goes on to describe scenarios in which call-for-aid systems may not be properly maintained and create a false sense of security for residents, or have become obsolete due to the use of cell phones and other life alert equipment used by residents.

While Rural Development does not require emergency call systems, the agency provides recommended best practices for the systems, including to properly maintain the systems, provide clear instructions and expectations for their use, and removing the systems once no longer operational.

By contrast, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires emergency notification systems for properties designated to serve older adults. The HUD has been criticized as ineffective in improving safety for older adults at risk of falls and other medical emergencies; the systems have also come under scrutiny for their potential impact on property liability insurance costs and availability in the affordable housing market.

Despite the limitations of certain types of systems, LeadingAge supports resident services, including emergency notification systems, that support older adults aging in community. Per HUD’s 2014 memo, the systems do not need to be a pull cord format, which are limited by their placement on bathroom and bedroom walls. In fact, many LeadingAge members have shifted away from pull cords and instead provide resident-worn pendants and other call-for-aid mechanisms that are monitored off-site by a third party.