Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Elderly parents
Original poster

personal alarms - recommendations?

31 replies

Ciutadella · 29/12/2016 09:42

A drelative is thinking of getting a personal alarm (the ones that you press a button to contact a call centre) and I'd be most grateful if people have any recommendations/words of advice! I know Age UK do one. Just wondered if anyone has any personal experience of any providers? Thank you in advance if so,

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
BattleaxeGalactica · 13/03/2017 19:25

Just seen this thread.

We managed to persuade DM to have an alarm system. We opted for Saga against Age Concern as there were no upfront costs and the payment over the year was roughly equivalent. They did manage to cock up the dd for several months culminating in a final demand for the year's instalments Hmm but it's been fine now that's been sorted.

Another tip - DM makes VAT free payments due to disability and I believe disability reduction is available via any provider.

joshua256 · 01/03/2017 10:03

My mum has a Careline 365 alarm Ciutadella. It is really good. She doesn't have the fall detector as you mentioned but the normal red button is perfect for my mum. It just plugged into her socket and didn't interfere with her broadband or her answering machine. Would defo recommend.

Original poster
Ciutadella · 07/01/2017 10:03

bumping for any slightly later getter uppers who might be interested in this slightly esoteric subject!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ciutadella · 07/01/2017 07:47

Sorry for repeat post, but I posted this on another thread by accident yesterday (it was reasonably relevant to that thread!) Anyway, has anyone had experience of Boots Home Assist telecare?

They have various packages, and you don't have to go through the council, so it sounds as though it might be quicker to install.
Not sure how long they have been going - has anyone used them?

OP posts:
tadpolefeet · 03/01/2017 11:15

Hi there,
Adding to this thread - has anyone's relatives used a FitBit (or similar) or the app 'MyKin' (mentioned on another thread here) to keep a track on movements? My mother absolutely won't have an alarm, so I'm trying to think of alternatives that she might find acceptable...
Thanks!

ImLadybird · 03/01/2017 09:48

There will be varying systems available depending on where you live. My dad has one supplied by Leeds City Council and doesn't have to pay anything for it. He has a wrist strap worn like a watch with a button to press if he's conscious which also has a fall detector for if he's unconscious. He also has a pressure sensor mat to detect if he has got out of bed at night time. This can be programmed to have a time delay for if he just needed to go to the loo.
It works really well. The monitoring staff are great with him. I live with him but we have two additional people close by for them to contact. If you need any more info, I'd be glad to help.

Original poster
Ciutadella · 01/01/2017 19:05

It's all a balancing question isn't it Heman - lots of good reasons to stay put, like familiar surroundings, emotional attachment, the absolute hassle of moving anywhere, against the advantages of sheltered accom.
I think people have to keep it under review with an open mind, but of course the longer you leave it the harder it can be to move.

OP posts:
HemanOrSheRa · 30/12/2016 21:16

Yes Ciutadella it does very much depend on having someone able and capable to respond. It is a massive problem. I work in Sheltered Housing and we respond to emergency calls. It is, unfortunately, very difficult to provide a good service to people in private houses over a large area in individual properties. Almost impossible. Has your relative thought about sheltered housing?

Bythepath · 30/12/2016 09:14

Depending on where you are it is also worth contacting your local authority as some provide them with a 13 week free trial period to see how they get on with it. Only after do they start paying for them.

Mehfruittea · 30/12/2016 09:11

Pretty sure there are some systems that will put sensors in doors and windows and thermometer. They will then set alerts for hypothermia and any 'senile wandering'! They will call someone and say "xx close the window, it's cold!" And look out for them in that way.

poisonedbypen · 30/12/2016 08:49

I was told that the local authority provide them free for all over 80s. We found out too late - get them for your loved ones, folks. Then making them wear them is the next challenge!

Original poster
Ciutadella · 30/12/2016 08:10

Thanks Heman, yes that makes sense about the door alarm.

What strikes me is that a lot of these things depend on there being relations or willing neighbours within a reasonable distance - say, 5 miles? - as the basic model is that the call centre calls them and they turn up to take over. (Though on another thread there is a school of thought that you should call an ambulance anyway if someone frail has fallen rather than trying to lift them yourself.)

In some instances that won't be the case - there are no geographically close relations, and nobody else you could impose on to ask to be a 'contact' (and most people are at work anyway!). Still, these things sound really useful and I would guess make it possible for a lot of people to stay living at home!

OP posts:
HemanOrSheRa · 29/12/2016 22:04

A door monitor can be used if say, someone who wanders and goes out at odd times. It would trigger the alarm in the same way as the pendant but come up as the door alarm at the call centre. A movement pad can be used in a variety of ways. For example put under a chair pad to detect movement (or rather, not) over a certain period. There are also temperature monitors that will detect falls in temperature within the home which could indicate a problem.

Original poster
Ciutadella · 29/12/2016 21:58

This is all so useful - what would a door monitor or movement pad do in addition? Does it notice if someone has not gone through a door in a set period and check whether the person is ok? (probably nothing like that at all!)

OP posts:
HemanOrSheRa · 29/12/2016 21:54

Yes, it would work alongside the normal pendant. So it would activate a call in the same way. But would come up as a falls monitor at the call centre end. They would then speak to the service user in the same way.

There are lots of telecare options, door monitors, movement pads, medicine dispensers.

They are relatively easy to install but can involve a lot of crawling around on hands and knees and faffing about with wires!

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 29/12/2016 21:48

My great auntie had one - she lived independently and was in her 90s, so had a pendant type but had to wear it all the time, even in bed. Hers was a Careline one I think.

Original poster
Ciutadella · 29/12/2016 21:48

Ah yes I see the problem Heman with wearing it in bed! Problem is, I imagine it might be easy to forget to take it off before going to bed! But maybe they call you to check what is going on if they do detect a fall?

Sounds as though it is probably worth paying for installation rather than doing self-install - the extra cost doesn't seem to be too great.

OP posts:
HemanOrSheRa · 29/12/2016 21:46

Oh and try googling the local authority + careline. That may give you more info about the provisionin your relatives area

chocomochi · 29/12/2016 21:46

Chozzleops - I'd be interested in which system it is. My parents speak limited English and will be more useful to call me than a call centre.

HemanOrSheRa · 29/12/2016 21:43

You need a phone line and a power point nearby Ciutadella. It's a small phone sized box, that works very much like a hands free phone, with a button on it that you can press. The pendant is programmed into that box. The phone is plugged into the box so they can be used independently. The only 'problem' which is easy solved is that the box needs to attached to the main phoneline not an extension.

A falls monitor is another little pendant type gadget. It has a sensor in it that activates the alarm if it is moved into a certain position. So not to be worn in bed!

ChozzleopsTheThird · 29/12/2016 21:40

My grandmother has one, and instead of it calling a call centre it sends an alarm to 5 mobile phones; mine, my mothers, my aunts, and two cousins. So we can get there sharpish as one of us Is within a mile at all times.

Original poster
Ciutadella · 29/12/2016 21:36

Thanks redglitter, yes it's definitely worth looking into the options.

Are there many companies who will actually send someone out though rather than contacting your 'contacts' or the emergency services? I imagine that would be quite a lot more expensive (though could be worth it!)

OP posts:
Original poster
Ciutadella · 29/12/2016 21:34

Thanks heman, careline 365 seem to have a similar service but with an optional add on 'fall detector' which looks useful - I suppose a fall could knock you out so that you couldn't even press the button to summon help? I wonder how it works - and how reliable it is in terms of detecting falls?

Does anyone know, do these services need you to have a broadband connection or do they use the existing telephone line - or how does it work?

OP posts:
Redglitter · 29/12/2016 21:34

Definitely do your home work. There's a number of companies around who when they get an alarm call from a client call 999 for the police to go and check on them.

My friends in laws were paying monthly for a service with one of these companies and believed the company would send someone out. They were horrified when they realised what they were paying

HemanOrSheRa · 29/12/2016 21:27

It might be worth having a look to see if careline operate in your area. Or you could ring Adult Care at your local social services to see what Telecare options they have. They may be able to offer 'add on' services like lifting if someone has fallen, falls/movement monitors, that sort of thing.

Swipe left for the next trending thread