A social care alarm system includes a client terminal unit configured to be installed in a dwelling of a client, and a remote monitoring center coupled by a set of data carriers over one or more communications networks. The client terminal unit communicates with the monitoring center in a master-slave communication session using a selected data carrier, which includes raising an alarm event and supporting a voice call. The client terminal unit is also able to send session less short status messages at predetermined intervals to the monitoring center using the selected data carrier without forming the master-slave communication session, in order to monitor viability of the selected data carrier with reduced bandwidth consumption.