Often people don’t think of getting a personal alarm bracelet for those who are in a couple unless there is a specific need, such as for a fall detection bracelet for someone who has a history of falls.
Apart from having a fall bracelet, there are good reasons for considering having a personal alarm for elderly couples.
Essentially and personal alarm for the elderly could be considered a de-isolation device for situations when using the phone would be difficult.
Maintaining individual independence
In any long-term relationship, there will be good periods and bad periods. There may be times when one partner needs to be taken care of recovering from an illness or injury, or just becoming more frail. Often both partners become as housebound as the one who is recovering as the carer is afraid to leave them ‘in case’ they are needed when they are out. Any errands are a dash without time to catch up with friends or attend fitness classes as they are worried about their partner from the time the front door clicks shut until they can return to check on their loved one. The vast majority of the time nothing untoward happens, and yet the worry persists.
Having an easy way of calling for help – be that a pendant alarm a fall alert bracelet or something a little more sophisticated – can give both partners the confidence they need to be a bit more independent and keep up with those things that give our lives value.
Looking out for the person who does the looking out
There can come a time when, if you are only protecting one partner, you should switch to the least vulnerable one.
With some systems, you can have two wristbands but if you only have one and one of the couple is losing the facility to identify when help is needed and to call for it then the alarm should be used by the one who is still able to call for help. This sounds counterintuitive but if the more vulnerable person has physical or cognitive issues that would stop them from being able to call for help if their partner suffered an emergency then neither of them would get help. Giving the more able partner the personal alarm bracelet means that help could be called in an emergency to take care of both partners.
So, as you can see, there are good reasons for considering having a personal alarm for elderly couples.
Though we are focussing on how a personal alarm should work for a couple, if one of you is caring for the other it is worth making sure you know about financial support that might be available (see NHS – Benefits for carers) and also help and advice that is available through the Carers UK (click here).
The different types of Personal alarm bracelet or pendant alarms that are available.
Even if you think you only want a fall detection bracelet or just a pendant alarm which doesn’t detect falls, there are a few things to think about.
Worn time – does your personal alarm offer uninterrupted protection?
Having an alarm on your bedside table or in the second drawer down in the kitchen is no good in an emergency. And yet traditional wearables are expected to be worn between 10% and 20% of the time. There are three main reasons for this:
- Impracticality. You are advised to remove pendants before going to bed and single button wristbands are prone to false alerts as people move around at night.
- Recharging. Some more advanced devices need recharging, leaving not only the time needed for the recharging but also an option to forget to put it back on, whether deliberate or accidental.
- Stigmatising clinical styling. Let’s face it, nobody wants to be wearing a personal alarm, it is none of our life’s ambitions but sometimes it is the sensible option. Too many devices focus on function only and offer the wearer a device which looks clinical. You shouldn’t get anything you would not be willing to wear, and be seen wearing yourself.
Practicality – all that glitters…
It is easy to get caught up in additional functions, but the chances are if you want a watch you already have one, and you’ve chosen it to fit your styling or it may have sentimental value – or both.
Hi-tech devices can compromise on ease of use if you need it to call for help. For instance, some devices say that you need to locate the small red button on the side and press it down for three seconds to call for help. This might be easy enough when you are holding it in one hand, have the instructions in front of you and are not in pain. However, will it be so practical if you have just slipped outside and are in pain and the wristband/bracelet is covered by a chunky jumper?
Alarm triggers – in what circumstances does your personal alarm call for help?
Focussing on how the wearable alarm could call for help is advisable. Usually there are two main functions to look out for.
SOS-call for help – a simple way for the user to call for help.
Fall monitoring – The device monitors for severe fall, when the wearer might not be able to call for help
With the Assure from Acticheck, there is an additional trigger.
I’m OK checks – at times of your choosing the wristband vibrates and the wearer presses a button on the wristband to confirm they don’t need help. People who live alone often have these at 8.30 morning and night, a bit like checking the curtains are being opened in the morning and closed at night. People living together might choose to have one in the middle of the day when one person is out to give a touchpoint during the day that can pick up on problems.
Talking about Acticheck Life-saving wristband
We developed our life-saving wristband to solve all these issues which is why we believe it is the best personal alarm bracelet available.
The wristband itself has a one-year battery-life, is waterproof, has buttons on either side that you squeeze to call for help and has won international design recognition. Our wristbands are worn over 80% of the time with the vast majority of wearers wearing it 100% of the time.
It incorporates SOS – call for help, fall monitoring and our unique ‘I’m OK checks’ to give the best all-round protection
And is also really easy to use, all the wearer needs to know is to press both buttons if you want help and if it vibrates you confirm you are OK by pressing a single button (either one).
This site tells you a lot more, so please do look around our homepage gives a great overview and how it works takes you through the process of raising an alert or being the person responding to it. Alternatively, feel free to email us at info@acticheck.com or phone our team during office hours 0345 25 75 080
