Advice Regarding Disability Alarms & Costs

nicenswift

Hi,
My father is registered disabled and lives on his own.
He has problems walking and has recently had a couple of falls (nothing serious but it has worried us).
I have been told about alarms that can be used in case of a fall and was wondering if there were any services he could use as being registered disabled.
If not are there any recomendations as to a purchased option.
Many thanks in advance for your time and advice.
Kind regards

cymruchris

How tech savvy is he? Does he use an iPhone? Apple watch has a built in fall detect feature, and an emergency SOS feature. Neither need the phone to be on his person when activated. He could be in the bathroom and the phone next to his bed - and the fall activation would still detect, or the SOS could still be activated. 

cymruchris

You could also consider installing discrete cameras in his general living areas - kitchen/lounge/front door (not bedroom or bathroom) just to keep an eye to ensure he's up and about through the day time. (With his knowledge of course)

nicenswift

cymruchris said:

How tech savvy is he? Does he use an iPhone? Apple watch has a built in fall detect feature, and an emergency SOS feature. Neither need the phone to be on his person when activated. He could be in the bathroom and the phone next to his bed - and the fall activation would still detect, or the SOS could still be activated. 

Unfortunately he is not tech save at all. He still is using a Nokia 3310 as he cant get used to a smart phone.

nicenswift

cymruchris said:

You could also consider installing discrete cameras in his general living areas - kitchen/lounge/front door (not bedroom or bathroom) just to keep an eye to ensure he's up and about through the day time. (With his knowledge of course)

Thats a possibility as an extra step. Was more thinking about a pendent around his neck or wrist that he could press in the event of a fall. Thank you

cattie

Ask at your local council disability/social care dept. The sort of alarms you're talking about are available, but there is a cost. An elderly friend of my sister had one after she'd had a couple of falls at home.

Savvy_Sue

Ask his local authority what is available, but be aware there are others. I think our parents had a system from Sovereign, which worked out slightly cheaper than the local authority option. 

Pendant to call for assistance. Very friendly and helpful call centre. 

cymruchris

Does he have a broadband router - or would you put one in? This might be a useful  (But not cheap solution):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01C7K5NHA/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_GQ7UFbS0AAT6M?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I don't have experience of this - My grandmother previously had a pendant type - but only wore it when we visited - and wasn't around her neck when she needed help. It depends on how your father would take a pendant - would he wear it? Or would he say 'I'm fine I don't need that'?

Savvy_Sue

You might find that there are alternatives to a pendant, and you might also be surprised at how readily someone takes to wearing one. I was pleasantly surprised how consistently my parents did: I think they could see that being able to get help easily was a major benefit. 

Especially for Mum, after Dad died, she couldn't use the phone because she was so deaf, but she knew that if she pressed the pendant, the call centre would try to phone her. If she didn't answer, they would call her emergency contacts.