Biddy alarms?
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Discussion

AstonZagato

Original Poster:

14,167 posts

239 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
My mother had an episode over Christmas where she fell and was not able to get up. Luckily, she was due to come over to mine and, when she didn't appear or pick up the phone, I rushed round to find out what had happened.

I spoke with her GP today and he strongly suggested a personal alarm. A quick google brought up Age UK's version:
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/products/mobility-and-inde...

Anyone had experience of one?

Any good products?

I noticed there is a central box with a mike. If she falls in the garden or upstairs, are they any use?

How do they work with recalcitrant old ladies who do what they damn well want? (she says she would wear it but I would guess it would last a week...)

Any other advice?

I was also thinking of installing some webcams that I can access remotely. Any recommendations there?

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

284 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
AstonZagato said:
I was also thinking of installing some webcams that I can access remotely. Any recommendations there?
If I were your mum and you did that, I'd tell you to do one...

After scaring the crap out of you several times...smile

AstonZagato

Original Poster:

14,167 posts

239 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
mybrainhurts said:
AstonZagato said:
I was also thinking of installing some webcams that I can access remotely. Any recommendations there?
If I were your mum and you did that, I'd tell you to do one...

After scaring the crap out of you several times...smile
It would be with her consent and full knowledge. It would be for when I couldn't raise her on the phone (and when she has given up wearing the alarm). Not sure I'd want to see her sitting in her pants watching TV with the volume on too loud though (the normal reason she doesn't pick up the phone). Also, inevitably, she would fall somewhere out of sight of the cameras.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

284 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
Admit it, you just want to know what she's up to with George from next door, don't you...?...hehe

Axionknight

8,505 posts

164 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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Oh lawd, no one wants to know that.

davhill

5,263 posts

213 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
I had one for my mother (she was in her 80s). Getting her to wear the portable button was a nightmare. Telling her it texted me on the hour to verify it was being worn did the trick. Just a white lie and a couple of mock texts convinced her.

ecsrobin

18,646 posts

194 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
We had similar issued at work for lone working. The problem is its quite possible to collapse and not be able to activate it, or as has been said if she's not wearing it, it's no use.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

32,000 posts

264 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
ecsrobin said:
We had similar issued at work for lone working. The problem is its quite possible to collapse and not be able to activate it, or as has been said if she's not wearing it, it's no use.
We sell a lone worker solution linked to PIRs. If a PIR isn't activated in N minutes then your worker is either down or really very lazy.

AstonZagato

Original Poster:

14,167 posts

239 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
I suspect she might also find the attraction of having an "on-call" response rather too attractive. I could see her pressing the button if she couldn't get the telly to work or if her cat were missing.

Nickbrapp

5,277 posts

159 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
Tunstall are the market leaders for this, same as care homes use. Pretty simple, box plugs into the phone line. You can have buttons around the house or pull cords and a pendant around the neck, push the button it dials out via the phone line and though to a call centre who check all is ok and either call the emergency services and a a relitive



mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

284 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
ecsrobin said:
We had similar issued at work for lone working. The problem is its quite possible to collapse and not be able to activate it, or as has been said if she's not wearing it, it's no use.
We sell a lone worker solution linked to PIRs. If a PIR isn't activated in N minutes then your worker is either down or really very lazy.
How long does he have on the bog before you send in the cavalry?

Planet Claire

3,418 posts

238 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
If you check your the local authority website that is local to your mum, under their Adult Social Care section should be links for telecare/personal alarms, and who in your/your mum's area are supplying them. There's an amazing array of products out there now, such as 'tracker' devices, which will send an alert if the wearer goes outside of certain boundaries, which is useful for people with dementia.

FurtiveFreddy

8,577 posts

266 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
I bought my mum one of these http://www.telecare24.co.uk/buy_now.htm

She predictably is never wearing the pendant when I visit her, but I keep reminding her about it so you never know it might be in reach the one time she needs it.
I'd rather she has it than not.

There's more useful information about telecare here:
http://www.tsa-voice.org.uk/consumer-services/tele...

The next step after (or instead of) a pendant alarm is the type of system with sensors in rooms, door switches etc. which monitors for unusual patterns of movement and alerts you. That sort of system is less invasive and more likely to work when you need it to.

I also installed one of these to keep an eye on her front door and hallway so if she has any unwelcome door-knockers they will be recorded.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JOAL4GG?keyw...

The Foscam IP cams aren't perfect, so do your research before buying a camera on the spur of the moment. You need to decide if you want remote functionality as well as local recording and also how you're going to access the live and recorded video before you start looking.

AstonZagato

Original Poster:

14,167 posts

239 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
Thanks. Some useful info.

I guess the cat might bugger the inactivity sensor though.

surveyor

18,689 posts

213 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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I think my grandfather created a fair amount of chaos with his.... Falling asleep and hitting the button was a particular favourite of his..

Jimmy Recard

17,549 posts

208 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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mybrainhurts said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
ecsrobin said:
We had similar issued at work for lone working. The problem is its quite possible to collapse and not be able to activate it, or as has been said if she's not wearing it, it's no use.
We sell a lone worker solution linked to PIRs. If a PIR isn't activated in N minutes then your worker is either down or really very lazy.
How long does he have on the bog before you send in the cavalry?
The usual use for these systems in my experience is to stop people on night shifts simply going to sleep all shift

HairyMaclary

3,775 posts

224 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
Planet Claire said:
If you check your the local authority website that is local to your mum, under their Adult Social Care section should be links for telecare/personal alarms, and who in your/your mum's area are supplying them. There's an amazing array of products out there now, such as 'tracker' devices, which will send an alert if the wearer goes outside of certain boundaries, which is useful for people with dementia.
Yup. The wifes grandmother has something called lifeline. A box connected to the phone that calls the local cctv operators apparently. Voice comes out the box like a conference call. They send someone out to the old dorris and alert the mother in law if there is a problem. Think its about £80 a year.

Not had to use it in anger all the time shes had it.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

32,000 posts

264 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
mybrainhurts said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
ecsrobin said:
We had similar issued at work for lone working. The problem is its quite possible to collapse and not be able to activate it, or as has been said if she's not wearing it, it's no use.
We sell a lone worker solution linked to PIRs. If a PIR isn't activated in N minutes then your worker is either down or really very lazy.
How long does he have on the bog before you send in the cavalry?
The back up is rim cam biggrin

R1 Indy

4,507 posts

212 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
My Gran has one of these, which when activated sends an emergency SOS to her 4 daughters.

On several occasions she has set it off while in the garden (where she can't hear the phone) to find all 4 of her daughters rushing to the scene..........

one day it will be for real, and nobody will turn up...

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

284 months

Wednesday 30th December 2015
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
mybrainhurts said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
ecsrobin said:
We had similar issued at work for lone working. The problem is its quite possible to collapse and not be able to activate it, or as has been said if she's not wearing it, it's no use.
We sell a lone worker solution linked to PIRs. If a PIR isn't activated in N minutes then your worker is either down or really very lazy.
How long does he have on the bog before you send in the cavalry?
The back up is rim cam biggrin
Arse..!