What is a personal alarm?

A personal alarm is a very specific alarm system designed to help those at risk of falls or medical emergencies. They should be worn as often as possible and make it possible for wearers to receive medical or familial support at the press of a button..

Personal alarms can usually be split into two categories: dual systems and standalone devices.

A dual system comes with a pendant alarm and base unit. The pendant features a small radio transmitter that can send and receive signals from the base unit, and the base unit contains a powerful multi-network SIM that can communicate with an ARC (Alarm Receiving Centre). When a user presses the panic button on their device, it sends an SOS signal to the base unit, which then redirects the alert to a response centre.

Standalone devices work in a similar way. The only difference is the pendant contains everything the user needs to send for help and speak to a monitoring team directly.

People use personal alarms for lots of different reasons. Because of this, no personal alarm can be said to suit everybody’s needs. Finding the best personal alarm for your loved one is therefore less about finding the best on the market, and more about finding one that suits their particular needs.

To find a personal alarm that offers your elderly relative the best support, consider their budget, health and personal tastes. This will help you decide if you should get a pendant or key ring, or go with an alarm that offers additional features like fall detection and geolocation.

Although personal alarms are becoming more popular among the elderly, not all older people or people with disabilities need them. You should only use a personal alarm system if it helps you stay safe or makes you feel more confident living independently.

The most common reason for someone joining a telecare service is a change in health or a long-term health condition.