A device for the elderly to trigger a call to an emergency contact?

B0bbyEwing

Since the fall detection on the Apple Watch SE2 is flipping useless we're looking at other ways to deal with a problem with my mother who keeps going over.

Thinking of something like those things you can have round your wrist or whatever & you pull them. Problem is I'm not sure if those things are say to alert someone else in the house to come to you or whether they trigger a phone call.

While one of my siblings still lives at home, they often work away at no notice, as in they don't really know on Monday if they're coming home Monday until they get through the day. As such my mother is totally on her own for large parts of the day.

I think I'll discuss interior cameras with her. She did the same with my nan although can't remember what the reasoning there was.

But that'll only be good for us checking in from time to time. She could've fallen over hours ago for all we know though.

Just wondered if any of you are hearing what I'm trying to describe & can go - yeah we did that for someone, this is what we bought and it was great/awful.

sheenas

My mother in law has one though the council. You get a very quick response and the call an ambulance if necessary.

eddddy

If you google something like 'personal alarm service', you should find lots of options.

If your mother never leaves her house, you can get an emergency button on a pendant or wrist strap - some also have automatic fall detection.

Often they are linked to a base unit in the house which has a microphone and speaker. When the button is pressed, or a fall is detected, an operator would speak to your mother through the loudspeaker to find out the problem, and contact you and/or call an ambulance, if required.

Alternatively, if your mother is able to leave her house, you can get versions which incorporate a SIM card, GPS locator, microphone and speaker in the wrist unit. Again, they are activated by pressing an emergency button, or by detecting a fall.

elsien

Those systems often go to a family member who needs to be able to respond.

In my grandmother’s case, because this wasn’t possible, it was changed to go direct to the emergency services. She had a key safe for people to get in if needed.

If falls are a regular thing though, rather than just putting up the system to an alert after the event, have you considered getting an OT assessment to find out why it’s happening and to look at prevention measures.

Cameras are an incredibly intrusive measure and are no help at all if she falls (for example) in the bathroom

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6647790/apple-watch-and-fall-detection

Following your previous thread, is your mum actually willing to wear one of the devices designed for the elderly?

PHK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82074784#Comment_82074784

You make a very good point. The problem with all these is that they rely on the person wearing or having them on their person. If they don't want to or forget to then they are no good.

And even if it does work, it's only after the fact by which time any damage is done.

We found it was far better to find out what was causing these falls in the first place and to make sure that people are around as often as possible. It might also mean changes to living arrangements or even a move to somewhere safer.

elsien

Adding onto my previous comment, I would also add whether your mother is willing to have cameras in her own home. You can’t override her wishes if she is able to make that decision herself. And even if she isn’t able, you have to weigh up the pros and cons, so working out why she is falling is always going to be the first step.

Undervalued

(Quoted post removed by Forum Team)

Exactly!

There are a number of companies that offer a 24hr call centre service that is reached by pressing a button on a care alarm, usually worn as a wrist watch or pendent neckless. The call centre will then attempt to speak to the person through the system which acts as a loud speaking intercom. Depending on the situation, or if they cannot get a response, they will call the relatives or friends who's details they have on file. If unable to contact, or if they judge it more urgent, they will call the emergency services.

Last I heard a ball park figure for the service was c. £30 a month.

Nothing is perfect and you can always invent scenarios where this won't work but it is a whole lot better than nothing!

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6676803/a-device-for-the-elderly-to-trigger-a-call-to-an-emergency-contact

My Mum has the Careline pendant which is very easy for her to use and the service is professional - calling designated contact or emergency services or both in the event of an incident.

My Mum recently had a fall outside the home so we are now looking to get her one of the connected watch options:

https://careline.co.uk/products/personal-alarm-watch-with-fall-detection

The Careline watch claims to incorporate fall detection but I doubt that is any better than Apple / Garmin devices, but the one-button push for help makes it simple to use.

In fact, Careline offer three types of watch, there is a simple watch plus a couple based on Samsung Galaxy Watch - in my Mum's case, the more basic watch is the better solution as it just seems simpler. It should mean less confusion - Mum was a bit thrown by the pendant not doing anything because she was away from the base unit.

A connected watch can just be worn everywhere, at home or away from home, plus there is no stigma with wearing a watch.

It seems to be a solution with a lot going for it - hopefully the reality will meet the claims.

B0bbyEwing

Elsien it won't let me quote you.

Yes she's had appointments & ongoing appointments for a host of things including causes.

B0bbyEwing

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82074784#Comment_82074784

At this stage I'm just gathering info.

There's every chance the answer to your question is no as I'm finding out we're being told different things.

Whether it's to stop us worrying. Whether she's burying her head in the sand trying to convince herself, I don't know.

So far she hasn't point blank refused any help other than a discussion of wheelchair. That was shut down immediately. Everything else has been listened to.