Personal alarms

[flygirl767]

Hi there I think the time has come to get my 86 year old DM a personal alarm set up to a 24 hour emergency call centre. Can anyone recommend one? I'm currently looking at AgeUK and Lifeline 24. Many thanks

Also check your Local Authority which may run a scheme.

I went through Age Uk. They had a local rep who came out and installed everything and also put me in touch with a local charity who installed a keysafe. It was no hassle at all.

Definitely contact your Local authority adult services department and they will tell you local lifeline providers and whether they have a contract with one. The larger ones have more options of telecare equipment.

Great than you I will do. She lives in a town reknowned for it's elderly population so I would imagine they would have this set up.

We got Telecare24 for my mum. Mainly because she wanted to wear the alarm on her wrist rather than round her neck and they offered that option.

Hers also has a fall alert, which is invaluable as she's not steady on her feet.

Age UK is great. They did everything for a small annual subscription. However my ancient mother refuses to wear any of the alarms - bracelet, necklace, etc., because "she doesn't need it". (She totally does. Emergency services have asked, more than once, 'why didn't you wear your alarm'?)

Sicario Have you explored the alternatives of remote technology, eg movement sensors, lack of movement sensors, for example an alarm if she hasn't moved through her hall during the daytime?

My father refused to have an alarm because they work via the phone system and he had a bee in his bonnet that his phone system was technically illegal (along with every other hone in the country) because of an un-repealed but obsolete law, and he would be put in prison if anyone saw his phone. So I got him to email me every day, and chased him up if I didn't get an email. Worked because he didn't want to give me any trouble, wouldn't work with a parent who would leap on it as an excuse to email and phone every hour of day and night.

There is a system - I think it’s Hive - where sensors record movement. They get to k ow the habits of the person in the house and if, for example, they don’t get up at their usual time in the morning, it sends a notification to your phone. My mother has pull cords in her cottage and wears a button round her neck. My brother in law has heart disease and lives on his own and we have begged and pleaded with him to get an alarm he can wear on his watch. He simply says he will use his mobile to call for help. But if, like my mum, you fall after a shower in the bathroom. You don’t have your mobile to hand. My Apple Watch knows if I have had a fall (I did a few months ago) and will send an alert.