Personal alarm experiences and recommendations?

[Hecho]

We need to get one for my mum (not even sure if she'll wear it yet). Our Social Prescriber sent links for the Age UK one, and for the one recommended by our local authority, which is Argenti. Any experiences of these? Can you help me choose which one, or another one?! I'm not sure what factors are relevant, but she lives alone and is in her late 80s. Memory is pretty bad but is living independently with some help. Thanks : )

[Skyeisaballerina1]

My mum has a takingcare alarm system which having had since hospital discharge she would feel vulnerable without so we keep.
However we have set up a variety of Alexa devices ( bedroom, lounge and kitchen ) meaning she is never not within hearing distance of one and the lounge and bedroom ones are video. I set the privacy so both me and my husband can drop in on them, we have found this very very useful and she doesn't feel we are spying on cctv as the Alexa alerts her if we are checking in and we agreed when ever we checked in we would talk to her.
It has actually become quite a social thing but equally gives us piece of mind and we can remind her to take pills, have lunch, that we are fetching her to go out. She can also tell it to call us and actually I think in an emergency would be more likely to get Alexa to call than push the taking care button........

[Carpediem15]

Got one for my MIL which was to be worn round her neck - wore it the day they brought it and it lived on the shelf for ever afterwards. No way would she wear it no matter what we explained to her, she didn't have dementia but was prone to falls. At night she just left it where it was and in the end we gave up mentioning it as she would just roll her eyes at us and she was paying for it not us.

[Hecho]

Thanks Skye, that's an interesting solution. I'll have a look into it.
Carpediem, that's what I'm a bit wary of! It must be so frustrating.

[Ohmylovejune]

My Dad didn't get on with the call pendants. He rarely wore it and when he tested it they took ages to answer.

He now has a Doro 780s iup and a £7.50 month call.plan. He can call 3 numbers using it as a mobile so we've put in me, my brother and my husband. No menus just three buttons on the front.

Or if he needs assistance he can press the back assistance button and it send the three of us a message and his location and then it calls us in turn until.one of us picks up. This function goes straight to loudspeaker his end.

It all works in testing but we wait to see if he actually uses it - although we hope he never does need to.

[Ohmylovejune]

I should add it took and age to set up but he won't be able to change it easily or get lost in menus, which is good.

[Hecho]

Thanks June, I've never hear of that system. It sounds nice and simple, I'll have a look at it.

[Ohmylovejune]

Set up took ages as you only have a limited number of buttons to press.

I've turned off my answerphone too as if my phone answers the cascade stops.

But it's worth it to give Dad a "panic button" so to speak.

He was taking his old mobile with him but using it as a clock really. He never answered it and never used it to call. We put £10 credit on it and I reckon its still got over £9 left 2 years later!

He does still need to use his landline to take calls from.friends as the phone is limited to 3 people but hopefully it will suit him. He's just called me on it, so that's a good start!

[CMOTDibbler]

My parents had one from AgeUk, and although dad didn't want one at first, once he'd used it once he was a big fan. The call operators were brilliant and they'd keep trying till they got someone or would call an ambulance direct.

[greenbeansnspinach]

I got mum Careline. She didn’t like wearing either the wrist or neck pendant. She took it off at night and hung it round the bedstead, or when washing and left it in the bathroom. Every time I carefully explained the reason for it, how it worked and how reassuring it was for her and me, she promised to keep it on. Eventually she was wearing it so little that I took the whole thing away.
tThe company was lovely though and whenever I tested it they answered promptly, and when mum pressed it by mistake they got straight in touch with me. If there had been no cognitive issues it wouid have been perfect.

[greentreez23]

My mum had a Care line one. She never needed to use it, but always wore it

[Hecho]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your replies. I'll have a chat with my brother and decide which route might work best. This is a whole new world!