Panic Button / Emergency Call system

Mahey · 22-03-2011 5:34pm #1

My father is currently living alone and is getting to stage where he may need help in a hurry (for a number of reasons, fall, health, threat...) and I am looking into some way of giving him an emergency call button that will ring me or one of the neighbours. He is mid-70's and the quintessential "techno-phobe", using the cordless phone is a stretch. Does anybody have any experience of any system that is available because I am coming up blank with this? There are systems available but all tend to be monitored and/or liked to an alarm (which he has but won't use - refer back to "Techno-phobe" comment).... Oh yeah, mobile phone coverage is non-existent in the house so probably needs to be landline linked.

All comments / help greatly appreciated.

Mahey.

foxinsox · 22-03-2011 10:06pm

I know my granny used to have some sort of panic button that she (was supposed) used to wear around her neck.

It was about the size of a chunky mobile phone. If she pressed it it would automatically contact a call centre who would then call my mother as first contact.

I think if they couldn't get in touch with any of the list of contacts (maybe 3 people) they would call emergency services.

Sorry I can't really remember the details but I do remember it being useful once or twice if she fell.

Maybe try www.ageaction.ie if you can't find the info on their website I'd give them a call and they should be able to help you out.

looksee · 22-03-2011 10:49pm

Any useful system has to go through a call centre to be sure of getting someone. If it only came to you, what happens when you are on the other side of town or in some way not available. Same with neighbours. Really it would be too much responsibility to put on a neighbour.

My mother had the same attitude till she fell and was stuck for a while. Now she wears the button. She also has aphasia (she cannot speak clearly) though there is nothing wrong with her understanding, and on the couple of occasions she has pressed the button help has been summoned no problem.

I suppose there is an element of losing independence that makes wearing a button unpopular, but if he is reluctant to sound an alarm, maybe you could persuade him to wear the button to please you, even if he has no intention of using it. If he did fall he would be glad enough to press it.

The suggestion that he might have to lose his independence if he is not prepared to co-operate might be worth trying, though controvertial I know.
It isn't easy, and it is worrying, but you can't force another person to do something they don't want to and you may have to resign yourself to that fact.

Mahey · 23-03-2011 11:24am

Thanks for the feedback folks and to quickly update, I think he is ok with the idea of having the button but it's more to try and see if anybody out there has real-life experience of one. Simplicity and reliability are the driving factors.

I take the point on the call centre, my reluctance on this is down to personal experience with my own Alarm Company and their monitoring service....

Neyite · 24-03-2011 3:28pm

We got a great system for my mother - I looked into eircom, but the price was eyewatering, plus there is a maintenance fee yearly.

the system I got for her texts me and another sibling when its triggered, and I call her /nearby neighbour /gardai if appropriate.

we got 5 internal sensors, an outdoor sensor floodlight, bedroom panic button, powercut emergency lighting in the kitchen and hallway and the alarm keypad, for nearly over 1000 less than Eircoms quote which included less features.

I dont know where in the country you are, but if you want the number of the guy that installed my mothers, he is based in the West, but may be willing to travel, you can pm me.

Full Disclosure:
He is actually a friend of my brothers, but I had shopped around beforehand because I didnt know he was in that field- he was originally an electrician then went into specialising in security installation.

My mother tends to go for the most awkward gadgetry despite being a technophobe - her toaster looks like something out of star trek, and invariably she is unable to work aforementioned gadgets. He did a good job steering her away from expensive and fussy features that she would not really need nor be able to work.

slavetothegrind · 24-03-2011 6:03pm

Ask the user "altor" over in rec/homeand garden/security systems, he should be able to give you good advice.
i am a happy customer of his, called him based on his contributions to that board.

Mahey · 28-03-2011 7:36am

Thanks Neyite, I'm based in Laois so The West could be pushing it, even with the new roads.

Likewise Slavetothegrind - I'll take a look at Altor and see what he has to say.

Thanks again folks....

byhookorbycrook · 28-03-2011 5:55pm

My mother has a thing she wears around her neck, it rings my brother and then other local people if the first person doesn't answer. Think it was done by Muintir na Tire?

martin451 · 28-03-2011 7:26pm

foxinsox wrote: »

I know my granny used to have some sort of panic button that she (was supposed) used to wear around her neck.

It was about the size of a chunky mobile phone. If she pressed it it would automatically contact a call centre who would then call my mother as first contact.

I think if they couldn't get in touch with any of the list of contacts (maybe 3 people) they would call emergency services.

Sorry I can't really remember the details but I do remember it being useful once or twice if she fell.

Maybe try www.ageaction.ie if you can't find the info on their website I'd give them a call and they should be able to help you out.

my mother had this too...
it was great and i kept paying smalll fee for a year or 2 after she died as a contribution as it was charity . Public health nurse can also advise ...

denisedoyle · 10-04-2011 8:24am

Hi, I work in the home care business and a lot of my clients have an alarm system from a place called 'Task' they are situated in north Dublin. A box is hooked up to the phoneline and a pendant is worn around the neck with a panic button on it ,if the button is pressed somebody from their centre will speak through the box directly to the client and if needed or if they get no reply they will ring one of 3 contact numbers which you give them . This is great security for the elderly and easy to use most of them are technophobes anyway, not sure about the cost i know theres a small yearly fee but if your father is recieving somekind of home help as far as I know the set up will be free.
Hope this helps!

cookiedough 1 · 21-03-2013 1:12pm

I am looking for some kind of GPS thing for my father in law who has begun to wander off on his own then a search party gets up but would be great to have something to point us in the right direction ...I know for a fact he would not wear the pendant ...bit contrary like that so it would have to be something subtle that perhaps he wouldn't be aware he has on him or stitched to clothing ...not even sure if such a thing exists, if it does some information would be appreciated. Thank you.

lodger222 · 21-03-2013 1:19pm

YALE produce a medical alert pendant unit.. only about 60 yoyos no monthly payments

Rings a series of numbers

Uses land line

hop2it · 16-04-2013 8:51pm

You should have a look (google) at turnstall ireland their based in bunclody co. wexford

Robdub · 03-06-2013 11:35pm

Just saying FYI there's ones out there with a tilt sensor / accelerometer built into them so if whoever tripped up and fell it sets off the panic button automatically. Might be worth having a look at one aswel

Panic Button / Emergency Call system

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