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Elderly parents
Original poster

Recommendations for a simple fall-detecting watch for an elderly parent please

27 replies

DownmarketSellingSunset · 01/07/2026 13:03

I need to find a fall-detecting watch for my dad, who lives in a bungalow adjacent to our house and has advanced MS but maintains some much fought-for independence. He really struggles with learning to use new things so the simpler the better. Easy to put on and take off would be good too. He suggested this solution as he's fallen a lot recently and we all worry that he won't be able to reach his phone and will be there for hours. However, he is struggling to do the research on a suitable model. He has an android phone, so an iphone is out, I think? Has anyone used one in the past for elderly parents and can recommend (or advise against!) a specific watch?

OP posts:
notanothernamechange24 · Today 00:29

MeetMeOnTheCorner · Yesterday 23:20

No ambulance for dm until she was found on the floor where she had been overnight and was found by a neighbour.

One big issue that everyone is overlooking is that the very old get confused. They can also get infections that mean their cognitive ability slows up markedly. So, when you or I would press that button, they don’t. They simply forget and go into survival mode. You don’t get the phone call and there is no ambulance called. When dm was ok, she understood perfectly about the button. When she needed to activate it (twice), she didn’t. So both times it really did not help. Other people might stay “with it” and it works, but there’s no guarantee your elderly relative will do what’s needed. Confusion can actually be very very harmful.

Then I’m sorry but they may well have not been safe to be home alone. These buttons are a safety tool not a guarantee that they will help in all scenarios. They are certainly not a replacement for people actively checking in on someone.

LoafofSellotape · Today 16:19

MeetMeOnTheCorner · Yesterday 23:20

No ambulance for dm until she was found on the floor where she had been overnight and was found by a neighbour.

One big issue that everyone is overlooking is that the very old get confused. They can also get infections that mean their cognitive ability slows up markedly. So, when you or I would press that button, they don’t. They simply forget and go into survival mode. You don’t get the phone call and there is no ambulance called. When dm was ok, she understood perfectly about the button. When she needed to activate it (twice), she didn’t. So both times it really did not help. Other people might stay “with it” and it works, but there’s no guarantee your elderly relative will do what’s needed. Confusion can actually be very very harmful.

This is worth considering. My DM didn't use her one twice in emergencies,now we are looking at her going into a home.

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