Personal Care Alarms

[Maydup]

I'm researching the options for a portable alarm for a reluctant relative! Reluctant because she isnt prone to falling over and doesn't want to feel ancient, but who does live alone with none of us immediately on hand in an emergency.

There are lots of options and I have got her as far as prefering a bracelet or watch option rather than necklace, and wanting any alarm to connect directly to the emergency services rather than to a neighbour.

Does anyone have any personal experience? Any tips or schemes to avoid?

[-SharonA-]

My dad has bracelet from Careline run by his local council and it free of charge. Check out what your council has to offer.

[diddlydo]

If the person has a reliable neighbour/someone near-ish by that's the best option. My mother (120 miles away) had an alarm button and used it for someone who could get there quickly when she fell. I have been the neighbour opposite for a very elderly lady with an alarm button and have been to her rescue several times. It is important to instil on the recipient to press the button straight away - not like my neighbour who lay on the floor for 2 hours at 5 a.m because she thought it was too early to wake me!

[Maydup]

Thanks for suggestions so far. One of the barriers for her, is the idea of having to bother a neighbour. In fact hers are mostly young and at work all day, so I think we'll have to find a solution that connects to a professional response. I will look at the local authority options, thats a useful tip. Thank you Sharon.

[Maydup]

Does anyone else have any personal experience or tips?

[Guilbert53]

My wifes elderly mother (with no alarm) fell over when she got up to go to the toilet during the night. As she lived on her own she lied there for the rest of the night. She was discovered in the morning and taken to hospital but her body had gone in to shock and started to release dangerous chemicals in to her body (don't understand the details). Sadly she died 2 days later. Give this example to your relative as why she should get an alarm.

[emmie]

my mum had an alarm wrist band which was ok, it connected directly to the company, so if she pressed the buzzer on it, it would automatically ring them, so they would call her first to ascertain whether she needed assistance. She used to forget to wear it though and once or twice put it under a pillow, when the inevitable happened, the thing went off...

[dannyk13]

I have a personal it,alarm which connects to my local authority.It comes with a speaker device so that they can check on the problem.I have had to use it three times and would never be without it.

[emmie]

i would shop around because these things can be quite costly, but as a safeguard its probably worth it.
she paid about 16 quid a month, so if the thing went off they were around with someone, as they had a key so could get in.

[pixie374]

Sorry for long link
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/products/independent-living/personal-alarm/?ito=GAG2007248047&itc=GAC230881855123&itkw=age%20concern%20personal%20alarm&itawmt=e&itawnw=search&itadvc=m&gclid=Cj0KCQiAv_HSBRCkARIsAGaSsrCeNdOFuZpJqSKFT3wGk7BD6F7Oe2ZOvSUwS6fN0VToP6Qb0mfpPjkaAiKjEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

These are very popular with ours. You give a list of numbers to ring in order, so she doesn't have to give any neighbours numbers etc if she doesn't want to. They speak to her first, so will call an ambulance if that's what she needs. Maybe if she adds yours and you have people close by her to call, you could agree with her when and if to contact them.
The biggest problem seems to be that a lot of them won't press the alarm in any situation, because they don't want to bother anybody!

[emmie]

danny
that was similar to mum's it connected direct to the company, and they could call her immediately if she rang it.

[emmie]

pixie
my mum ended up calling the police at varying points, which was very worrying.

[Maydup]

Thanks all, really helpful advice. I had seen the Age UK option and its good to know its popular with some people. I will definitely look into the local authority options as it seems to be the most affordable, rather than a commercial company. I am reassured to know that the first call made is to the person themsleves. That will reassure my relative that if she false alarms, she will not be wasting anyones time, but at the same time, if she is unable to make it to the phone, she will know that th next call is to an ambulance.

[Jackdaw33]

I have a pendant which I wear around my neck. When I fall down at home I am unable to stand up or even crawl. I live in sheltered accommodation so when I press the button it goes straight through to a call centre who will arrange an ambulance. Sometimes I need to go to hospital, others, just help to get up off the floor. It has saved my life on a few occasions.

[Maydup]

Jackdaw, is the alarm provided with the sheltered housing or have you arranged it through a company or third party service? I'm just wondering where people go to get one. So far I have been advised to try the local authority, or Age UK, or a couple of national companies.

[Jackdaw33]

It's provided by the sheltered housing but not automatically. You have to have a history of falling down before they give you one. We have alarm cords but if they are out of reach they are no good. It doesn't cost me anything.

[Maydup]

OK Good one, thanks for replying Jackdaw and stay safe.

[bednobs]

you cant get oone that goes straight through to the emergency services

[bednobs]

sorry i just read the rest and you already know that