Personal Alarms for mobile parent - experiences, please

[PuzzledObserver]

Mother is 90 but basically fit and well, though obviously slowing down. All siblings live a minimum 2 hour drive away, so in the last year or so she subscribed to one of those personal pendant alarm things which works via the phone line.

She’s now seen a version which is a watch working via mobile networks, which would have two advantages: the switch to digital voice won’t interrupt her service, and, it will still work when she’s out walking the dog - which she does daily. In principle I think it’s a good idea, but my siblings and I want to make sure that if she switches then the new service is reliable.

So far I’ve found two products with similar features, but some differences. The first is from yourstride.com and the other GoWatch Plus from helpalert24.co.uk.

Has anyone used either of these, or similar from another provider? Are you happy with the service? Would you recommend or use again?

Thanks

My parents have watches, not sure of make. Don't wear them as too fiddly to take on and off and end up pressing the help buttons by mistake.
Tried 3 straps, magnetic one came off in bed, another one too fiddly, elasticated one too loose slid round wrist and went off when rested arm.
All very unsatisfactory.
Dad wears his for his morning walk but that's it.

I looked and wasn’t keen on any. Ended up getting my Dad an Apple Watch which alerts if he has a fall. Plus with that and iPhone I can track him.

My DMs council supplied pendant still works after the phone line upgrade. They installed new kit that makes it compatible.

My mother's pendant alarm works via a combination of mobile networks and she can still use it when out and about. It also incldes a GPS tracker and fall alarm
Elderly GPS Tracker with Automatic Fall Detection | TakingCare

@P00hsticks that's interesting. Falls prevention team suggested mum carries a mobile a couple of years ago as her falls are things like tripping up kerbs etc when she's out. That doesn't work because she thinks they are broken and throws them away when they need recharging 🤦. How long does the battery last on this?

Apple Watches have a falls trigger alert built into them which have worked with older people that have fallen suddenly.

My mum has an Apple watch too.

I think it can last about a month, although my mother's tends to get charged every two or three weeks when relatives visit - the company provide a smaller pendant for use in the house while the main one is charging. It's charged by simply placing it on a charging pad

I'm not sure but from memory the pendant will tell her - either by speaking through the pendant or by flashing orange - if it needs recharging. There is a button on the back of the pendant that she can press to raise the alarm and she can speak to the call centre operatives through the pendant.

The fall detector has been triggered a couple of times but in both cases it was when mum or her carer dropped it onto the floor as she was getting dressed - they can't guarantee that it will always detect a fall if the person slumps down or falls slowly.

Thanks @P00hsticks that sounds a possibility as I could charge when I visit. Assuming she'd wear it of course, always a problem!

@TeenToTwenties any chance you could find out which brand? Don’t worry if that would be a lot of hassle.

@P00hsticks thanks…. More expensive than the others I’ve been looking at, but worth adding to the options.

To those suggesting Apple Watch…. Presumably she would need to have the iPhone with her for it to work to call for help? She has one…. but it’s not unknown for her to leave it at home.

@PuzzledObserver SureSafe

The trouble is DPs have a large house so in theory need something that they can communicate through rather than just a central console.

Plus DF (95) goes out for walks, and climbs on chairs in his workshop (!) Plus DF doesn't want a hanging thing as it will be dangerous with his lathe etc.

@TeenToTwenties thank you. My mum doesn’t need this for home use, it’s to extend coverage when she’s out walking the dog.

@ZoeyBartlett and @MyAgileHedgehog - do your parents’ Apple Watches connect via an iPhone, or did you get cellular models?

If the latter, what plan are you using for it? I’ve find one from EE, which is an add-on if they are your main network, but also one from BetterRoaming which is independent and costs £8.99/month or £79/year.

@PuzzledObserver via iPhone

Have they needed to use it for real?

Via an iPhone

My Dad uses Acticheck and has done for a while, seems to be good, though it took him a little while to get in the habit of checking in in the morning.