Pendant alarms for the elderly

[ThisInJapanese]

My Dad is asking for a pendant alarm and the choice is somewhat bewildering...

We don't need real time GPS tracking, but the ability to send your location when you fall would be good. Happy to subscribe to a SIM card and would like 24/7 call assistance offered by a 3rd party and not friends and family.

Also. It has to have a very long battery life as I don't want him having to stress about charging.

Has anybody got a suggestion from personal experience?

[popeyewhite]

My mother has a wrist alarm which detects if/when she falls so she doesn't have to pres the thing. It is home based, I'm not sure whether you'll get one that will summon help to the wearer much distance from their front door.

[Steve H]

My Mum has one that works outside the home as well. Monitored system but also has an app (i-care plus) which tracks and can call the pendant etc. Other than testing it out we have had no use for it fortunately but I know she finds it reassuring to have.

[oddman]

Pendant alarms can be really useful and are sometimes bundled with falls detection and tracking features. You've also considered the issue ignored by many family members 'Who answers the call?'. However buying a system without an assessment is a bit like noticing he's a bit deaf and buying a hearing aid over the counter without a hearing test or moulding.

Pendant alarms are only one measure in a range of options and adjustments which might be recommended by an occupational therapist. I don't know whether your dad has any long term conditions which mean that he might have access to NHS OT/physio assessment or whether a one off private assessment is possible.

It's a positive sign that you're dad is thinking about his frailty and vulnerability. I wonder if this might open the door to other conversations about LPA, care in the home and his perception of the threshold for needing 24 hour care etc?

[ThisInJapanese]

oddman said:

Pendant alarms can be really useful and are sometimes bundled with falls detection and tracking features. You've also considered the issue ignored by many family members 'Who answers the call?'. However buying a system without an assessment is a bit like noticing he's a bit deaf and buying a hearing aid over the counter without a hearing test or moulding.

Pendant alarms are only one measure in a range of options and adjustments which might be recommended by an occupational therapist. I don't know whether your dad has any long term conditions which mean that he might have access to NHS OT/physio assessment or whether a one off private assessment is possible.

It's a positive sign that you're dad is thinking about his frailty and vulnerability. I wonder if this might open the door to other conversations about LPA, care in the home and his perception of the threshold for needing 24 hour care etc?

Thanks for the comments, the good thing is that my wife is an OT and we're well aware of his needs. The main issue is that he doesn't want to accept any help at all, so him asking for a pendant is actually a big step.

[Far Cough]

Is he too old to want to carry a smart phone around or does it have to be a pendant ? The obvious advantage of a smartphone is you can load all his medical data and emergency contacts to it that can be accessed by anyone who is rendering assistance.

SIM deals now can be had for very little money per month

[ThisInJapanese]

Far Cough said:

Is he too old to want to carry a smart phone around or does it have to be a pendant ? The obvious advantage of a smartphone is you can load all his medical data and emergency contacts to it that can be accessed by anyone who is rendering assistance.

SIM deals now can be had for very little money per month

He has a smart phone, but wants this for if he falls when he doesn't have his phone, he typically leaves it elsewhere when he's going around the house.

[popeyewhite]

Steve H said:

My Mum has one that works outside the home as well. Monitored system but also has an app (i-care plus) which tracks and can call the pendant etc. Other than testing it out we have had no use for it fortunately but I know she finds it reassuring to have.

Hi Steve could I ask whether your mum's alarm needs to be pressed to summon help? My mum doesn't use a mobile phone and needs 'fall detect' on the wrist (it's summoned help twice). It's great for peace of mind. Mum doesn't go far but if she falls on a rare walk up her drive it would be nice to know the company would know where to look.

[asfault]

You are fortunate in a way he is asking for this. Most older folk are so stubborn and "I don't need one of those"

[ThisInJapanese]

asfault said:

You are fortunate in a way he is asking for this. Most older folk are so stubborn and "I don't need one of those"

Yeah, it's interesting as 99.99% of everything else we've suggested he's shot down in flames.

[Wish]

We have just installed this for a relative.


Very pleased with it.

https://lifeconnect24.co.uk/pages/personal-alarms

[Steve H]

popeyewhite said:

Steve H said:

My Mum has one that works outside the home as well. Monitored system but also has an app (i-care plus) which tracks and can call the pendant etc. Other than testing it out we have had no use for it fortunately but I know she finds it reassuring to have.

Hi Steve could I ask whether your mum's alarm needs to be pressed to summon help? My mum doesn't use a mobile phone and needs 'fall detect' on the wrist (it's summoned help twice). It's great for peace of mind. Mum doesn't go far but if she falls on a rare walk up her drive it would be nice to know the company would know where to look.

Yep, it does fall detection as well. We did try the wristband version first but it was pretty bulky, the pendant one is about the same size but far less noticeable to have on. I was impressed that you can speak to someone directly over the device but I guess it’s only the same as a smartwatch but with less buttons and functions really.

[Wish]

We have just installed this for a relative.


Very pleased with it.

https://lifeconnect24.co.uk/pages/personal-alarms