Can anyone recommend a personal alarm for the elderly?

[Starstencils]

I need something for my mum when she’s home alone. Do any offer a wrist version rather than a neck one as she’s at risk of falling on her front and not being able to press the buzzer!

Yes, wrist worn alarms are available. I suggest you contact your local authority adult social care team in the first instance as they should know what is available in your mum’s area.
And this guide is helpful

www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/housing-options/adapting-home/telecare/

My parents have SureSafe watches. I'm not sure I'd recommend them though.

We got them as you can talk through the watch as in their house there is nowhere to put a base station that they could here from bedrooms, bathrooms and living room. They also have GPS tracker (so could see if Dad has fallen on his walks) and fall sensors.

We got watches not pendants as pendants would be a safety risk for Dad when in his workshop.

Problems we have had:

1. Watch straps. The supplied ones were far too fiddly. Then we tried magnetic ones that came undone. Ended up with elasticated velcro ones.
2. Fall sensitivity too sensitive on one setting, loads of false alarms, but we aren't convinced it is sensitive enough on lesser setting
3. Battery only lasts about 5 days between charges so need a system for that
4. They can't hear what the person at the end of the call is saying anyway if they do set it off. I've taught them to either say 'I'm OK' or 'I need help'.

I am about to swap my mums wrist alarm for a pendant one, the wrist one is constantly getting accidently knocked and set off. Especially not great when you get called and have to go out to check on her at 4am and she is fast asleep in bed!!

https://taking.care/pages/personal-alarm-ppc-brand-google?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23449218859&gbraid=0AAAAADKd1Vm23SfnZ9y623oVLEiUdL-W3&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIifHYuIvQkwMVbpZQBh1ACQWYEAAYASAAEgIDhvD_BwE

My dad has one from careline through the local authority. They offer either pendant or wrist ones - he uses the wrist version. I dont think he's ever knocked it accidentally. Maybe pressed it by accident when taking it on or off, but not more than twice in the 4 years hes had it. It costs £22 a month i think. Doesnt need charging. The speaker thing is in the hall and pretty loud.
His isnt a fall sensor, he'd have to press it on purpose. (And not sure hed actually know to do so - memory appalling) but i'd still rather he have it than not.

My 93 year old mum has the Taking Care pendant Alarm and we’re really happy she has it. Yes, it sets off occasionally when she’s getting undressed, but they Contact and speak to her and she Just tells them what’s happened. Ias h3 still goes out &about on her own we opted for the package wich has GPS on it so if anything happens when she’s out, we (and the monitoring company) know where she is if she falls. we think it’s a really positive thing for her to have. We also encouraged her 92 year old neighbour to get one and she feels much more confident knowing she has backup if she has a fall.highly recommend.

DM has a couple of Alexa’s and knows how to ask Alexa to call Knickerless if she falls over and can’t get up.

I have a thread on Alexas and their potential use recently. We have bought an Alexa but I'm having amazon account problems so haven't been able to play with it yet. But I had indeed thought that it could be used to call me in an emergency and also for me to call them when their phone is off the hook which happens all too frequently.

If she goes out alone AirTags bought me peace of mind. And helped me track that key possessions had made it back home too (keys, handbag, walking frame!)

https://deltawellbeing.org.uk/. Just got the Actuve package for my parent.

DM's watch is currently in the washing machine . The flurry of SOS messages has stopped which maybe means it is bust.

It survived!!

The Age UK system and team are really great.