Notes

Elderly Person Alarm
Personal alarms are one of the best ways for older adults to stay safe at home. They provide a quick and easy way to get help in the event of a fall.

Effective alarm use is associated with positive outcomes for older fallers and their families. However, strategies to address barriers to use would need to take into account the fallers’ precontemplation and contemplation stages of behaviour change.
Fall Detection

A good personal alarm for elderly will include a fall detection feature which can detect the impact of a fall even if the wearer doesn’t press the SOS button. This is a useful feature for people who are more likely to suffer from falls such as those with dementia or epilepsy.

These sensors are calibrated to account for specific patterns in drops and falls to avoid triggering falsely due to small movements or other environmental factors. The sensors work by measuring various metrics including speed, impact, and angle of the fall to determine whether or not a fall has occurred. The device will then connect the wearer to a trained operator who will ask for details of the fall and request help if necessary.

The majority of modern personal alarms that come with a fall detector feature will also have a backup battery in case the base unit loses power for any reason. They are also often designed as a single device that acts as the fall sensor, push button, and base unit all in one to make them easy and convenient to use.

In studies that included interviews with older people who used personal alarms, it was found that effective users described a combination of other preventative modalities for living safely at home which included other prevention strategies such as using a walking aid, home modifications, exercise and attending group falls prevention sessions. It was also noted that the cost of the alarm is a significant barrier for some seniors who would not use an alarm despite being at a precontemplation stage in behavior change.
SOS Button


Many elderly people have friends and family that worry about them living at home alone, or with a disability that means they can’t easily call for help. Having a panic alarm to press can give them peace of mind and reassurance that they won’t have to wait for someone to come to them in an emergency situation.

When the elderly person’s SOS button is pressed on the alarm device (usually attached to a watch or lanyard) it signals the 24/7 response team. They will then speak to the user over the base unit to establish whether they need immediate help or just some reassurance. They will call their emergency contacts (usually a combination of family members, caregivers, and friends) in the order they are programmed, and in some cases even 911 if the need arises.

Some senior alarms also offer a “Call For Assistance” feature that eliminates the need for an operator to call emergency services. Instead, it will automatically alert the user’s designated emergency contacts and ask them to contact the person to help. This can save valuable time in a crisis and reduce the risk of false alarms or overreaction by friends or family. The user can set-up up to five contacts (family, friends, caregivers) and/or 911 as their ‘Call For Assistance’ numbers. If they aren’t available to answer, the device will simply continue calling them in turn until help is received.
Contact Numbers

Elderly alarms can be a great way to help your loved one feel safer in their home. It can give them peace of mind that help will be there if they fall or have an accident. It will also provide reassurance for you knowing they are safe.

Trips and falls are common causes of injury for older people living alone. They can cause moderate to severe injuries and can be life-threatening if someone is not there to call for help straight away.

care alert Many elderly alarms are designed to work with your home landline but there are also state-of-the-art mobile 4G personal medical alarms that do not require a landline. These devices have a built in fall detection and GPS location. They are inserted with a prepaid SIM card from a mobile provider, just like a smartphone and can be used at home or on outings to the shops etc.

If you’re looking for an elderly alarm that can be worn in different ways, look for a device that can be worn as either a pendant or a watch. Some devices can also be clipped onto a belt or bag so it’s easy to take with you on outings. Some are even waterproof so they can be worn in the shower. If you’re looking for an elder alarm that offers all this and more, check out Taking Care who are the UK’s first Which? Trusted Trader approved personal alarm service.
Battery Life

Many elderly people live alone, and it can be a worry for friends and family to know that they won’t be able to get in touch if they feel unwell or fall over. With a personal alarm, they can press the button to contact someone if this happens. This will give them peace of mind and help to reduce their stress levels.

Most alarms for older people work with a landline, but there are also options that don’t require one and use SIM card technology instead. These are especially helpful if your loved ones like to get out and about in the garden or go shopping for groceries. They can even be used on holidays abroad. There’s also a mobile-friendly option from TakingCare called Anywhere, which has GPS capabilities so that they can be tracked if they get lost or need assistance.

Other devices that can be added to an elderly person alarm include motion sensors and smart hubs. The TakingCare Sense, for example, will track your loved ones’ daily activity and alert family members when there’s an unusual change in their routine. It will also monitor things like extreme temperature changes and send a message to the emergency response team if they need help. It can also send a reminder to take medication, go to bed or do other day-to-day tasks.

Website: https://personalmedicalalarms.com.au/