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Elderly Panic Button

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  • 15-11-2020 8:49am
    #1
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭


    I'm looking for a water resistant wrist based panic button which when pushed automatically results in two or more family members being dialled. The communication mechanism could be a sim card in the wrist band itself or a base unit landline phone which automatically dials the numbers when the button is pressed. If the latter, the phone should also have normal easy to use calling facilities too though I'd think this is always the case.

    I'd imagine you should be able to buy something like this easily online but I'm having difficultly finding precisely what I'm looking for when searching.

    Would anyone have a link to the type of product I am looking for ?

    I'm open to extra functionality but the main thing is that when the button is pressed, the configured mobile numbers are dialled with either a voice message or caller identification which clearly shows the button has been pushed.


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    #2
    Tech Overhaul
    Registered Users Posts: 437 ✭✭Tech Overhaul


    https://www.vodafonefaf.ie/collections/new-in/products/vodafone-v-sos-gps-watch-tracker

    I got this for a family member and so far it has worked well. It has a Panic button and fall detection. Panic button has been used a few times already. . It doesn't call you, it alerts up to 5 users through an app.

    It's currently on sale. The sim is 3 euro a month.


    harringtonp wrote: »
    I'm looking for a water resistant wrist based panic button which when pushed automatically results in two or more family members being dialled. The communication mechanism could be a sim card in the wrist band itself or a base unit landline phone which automatically dials the numbers when the button is pressed. If the latter, the phone should also have normal easy to use calling facilities too though I'd think this is always the case.

    I'd imagine you should be able to buy something like this easily online but I'm having difficultly finding precisely what I'm looking for when searching.

    Would anyone have a link to the type of product I am looking for ?

    I'm open to extra functionality but the main thing is that when the button is pressed, the configured mobile numbers are dialled with either a voice message or caller identification which clearly shows the button has been pushed.


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    #3
    coathanger
    Registered Users Posts: 267 ✭✭coathanger


    I got one for me elderly neighbor through Muintir na Tire, they were very helpful & also advised on other security / health issues such a carbon monoxide alarm. They are also monitored by Tunstall Emergency response.


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    #4
    KevRossi
    Registered Users Posts: 4,381 ✭✭✭KevRossi


    Get one for around the neck. If there is a risk of falling they have less chance of falling on it. Also less chance of accidentally settling it off.


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    #5
    SouthWesterly
    Registered Users Posts: 6,456 ✭✭✭SouthWesterly


    My neighbour had one on her wrist. She had a stroke and fell on that arm and couldn't reach it. Was found next morning.

    There are companies that provide monitoring set ups.
    Well worth it. They're happy to just chat with the person.


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    #6
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭harringtonp


    Tech Overhaul wrote: »
    https://www.vodafonefaf.ie/collections/new-in/products/vodafone-v-sos-gps-watch-tracker

    I got this for a family member and so far it has worked well. It has a Panic button and fall detection. Panic button has been used a few times already. . It doesn't call you, it alerts up to 5 users through an app.

    It's currently on sale. The sim is 3 euro a month.

    That's great and exactly the type of thing I was looking for. I've gone through the FAQ but have a question. See attached image. If the band itself has the sim card I cannot understand why the charger needs to be plugged in all the time ? Is the charger more than just a charger ?

    I presuming the sim card comes with it and instructions for set up ? I gather monthly payment is direct debit. Is his set up after purchasing the watch or on ordering ?


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    #7
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭harringtonp


    SouthWesterly wrote: »
    My neighbour had one on her wrist. She had a stroke and fell on that arm and couldn't reach it. Was found next morning.

    There are companies that provide monitoring set ups.
    Well worth it. They're happy to just chat with the person.

    May eventually go down this track but for now want something more basic.


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    #8
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭harringtonp


    KevRossi wrote: »
    Get one for around the neck. If there is a risk of falling they have less chance of falling on it. Also less chance of accidentally settling it off.

    Would you have a specific example by any chance ?


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    #9
    KevRossi
    Registered Users Posts: 4,381 ✭✭✭KevRossi


    harringtonp wrote: »
    Would you have a specific example by any chance ?

    We used this company when my Dad had Parkinsons: https://www.helplinksouth.com/seniors-alert-scheme/

    Excellent service, very reliable system, very good price too. He had a pendant around his neck, totally waterproof. If he set it off it's linked to a speaker near the phone and they could chat with him whilst someone was on the way. The speaker could be heard all over the house and could pick up my Dad talking 3 rooms away, or outside the back door, so overall excellent technology in it.

    Works like this:

    Alarm goes off.
    The company has a list of 5 people, they start to ring them from the top.
    They will simultaneously keep chatting to the person (my Dad) whilst the people on the list either get there, or try to get help there ASAP.

    The system my Dad had was excellent for what we wanted, I see in the OP you need something slightly different, but they also have other products, so maybe give them a ring and explain your circumstances.

    A specialist physio for the eldely, our GP and the local community nurse all advised to wear a neck pendant as it involves less movement of the arms and there is far less risk of it being caught under him if he had a wrist one.


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    #10
    rlady
    Registered Users Posts: 21 ✭rlady


    I have used the vodafone product before, it is a very good product I recommend.


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    #11
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭harringtonp


    KevRossi wrote: »
    We used this company when my Dad had Parkinsons: https://www.helplinksouth.com/seniors-alert-scheme/

    Excellent service, very reliable system, very good price too. He had a pendant around his neck, totally waterproof. If he set it off it's linked to a speaker near the phone and they could chat with him whilst someone was on the way. The speaker could be heard all over the house and could pick up my Dad talking 3 rooms away, or outside the back door, so overall excellent technology in it.

    Works like this:

    Alarm goes off.
    The company has a list of 5 people, they start to ring them from the top.
    They will simultaneously keep chatting to the person (my Dad) whilst the people on the list either get there, or try to get help there ASAP.

    The system my Dad had was excellent for what we wanted, I see in the OP you need something slightly different, but they also have other products, so maybe give them a ring and explain your circumstances.

    A specialist physio for the eldely, our GP and the local community nurse all advised to wear a neck pendant as it involves less movement of the arms and there is far less risk of it being caught under him if he had a wrist one.

    Thanks for that. Read the link and it is quite a sophisticated scheme. It is something we may avail of down the line but for now I'm tending towards the simpler Vodafone solution.


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    #12
    Tech Overhaul
    Registered Users Posts: 437 ✭✭Tech Overhaul


    harringtonp wrote: »
    That's great and exactly the type of thing I was looking for. I've gone through the FAQ but have a question. See attached image. If the band itself has the sim card I cannot understand why the charger needs to be plugged in all the time ? Is the charger more than just a charger ?

    I presuming the sim card comes with it and instructions for set up ? I gather monthly payment is direct debit. Is his set up after purchasing the watch or on ordering ?

    Not 100% sure, my wife set it up for her Dad. She said she made the mistake of ordering a sim separately but the V-sim was already built into the device so she didn't need it.
    I presumed it was built into the band, not the charger as she has gotten an alert or two when he was away from the house.

    One thing to note, she missed one of the first ever alerts. The app didn't send any alerts but her Dad managed to call her.
    She rang vodafone customer care and they talked her through the fix. Her phone is a Huawei P30 and the power saving function had disabled background apps running...
    Not sure what setting they changed but ever since then the app has alerted fine.


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    #13
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭harringtonp


    Tech Overhaul wrote: »
    Not 100% sure, my wife set it up for her Dad. She said she made the mistake of ordering a sim separately but the V-sim was already built into the device so she didn't need it.
    I presumed it was built into the band, not the charger as she has gotten an alert or two when he was away from the house.

    One thing to note, she missed one of the first ever alerts. The app didn't send any alerts but her Dad managed to call her.
    She rang vodafone customer care and they talked her through the fix. Her phone is a Huawei P30 and the power saving function had disabled background apps running...
    Not sure what setting they changed but ever since then the app has alerted fine.

    The Huawei problem was actually in their FAQ, it may have been put there after your wife rang.

    The blurb also mentions the location of the person being sent through the app. GPS is primarily used for this but won't work indoors. I think you enter your home address so it could be a case that there is some near field communication going on between the band and charger (which is why it would need to be plugged in) and once the band detects this, your location is passed as home. Have ordered it so may understand more when it arrives.

    Would plan on regular "tests" with it in the early stages. Just realised too my phone is no good. I'm running an old version of Android and the 2 necessary vodafone apps don't seem to be in the store. Upgrade needed.


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    #14
    HorseSea
    Registered Users Posts: 469 ✭✭HorseSea


    This was exactly what I was looking for an ordered one after seeing that it can be used with other mobile networks (quote for their support page). It arrived today and I was unable to set it up and contacted support - that item is no longer available in Ireland and the website address you linked is not the standard Vodafone site, it's a site for vodafone family and friends. Vodafone reckoned they had just been slow taking the band off it.

    Long story short if I get a mobile sim to set it up, it may work or may not, it's not supported in Ireland unfortunately.



    Tech Overhaul wrote: »
    Not 100% sure, my wife set it up for her Dad. She said she made the mistake of ordering a sim separately but the V-sim was already built into the device so she didn't need it.
    I presumed it was built into the band, not the charger as she has gotten an alert or two when he was away from the house.

    One thing to note, she missed one of the first ever alerts. The app didn't send any alerts but her Dad managed to call her.
    She rang vodafone customer care and they talked her through the fix. Her phone is a Huawei P30 and the power saving function had disabled background apps running...
    Not sure what setting they changed but ever since then the app has alerted fine.


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    #15
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    That is exactly what I am looking for too, shame it's vodafone though.


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    #16
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭harringtonp


    HorseSea wrote: »
    This was exactly what I was looking for an ordered one after seeing that it can be used with other mobile networks (quote for their support page). It arrived today and I was unable to set it up and contacted support - that item is no longer available in Ireland and the website address you linked is not the standard Vodafone site, it's a site for vodafone family and friends. Vodafone reckoned they had just been slow taking the band off it.

    Long story short if I get a mobile sim to set it up, it may work or may not, it's not supported in Ireland unfortunately.

    My order is stuck in a D12 parcel hub for 2 days which is interesting. But you're saying it won't work if it arrives. What part of the configuration failed for you ?


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    #17
    HorseSea
    Registered Users Posts: 469 ✭✭HorseSea


    It may work, Vodafone support could not confirm. What didn't work for me was that I am not a vodafone customer therefore can not set it up, would need to get a sim from them to set it up, which I will probably do, but wanted to avoid all that messing about as I would have to remember to keep topping it up etc. Support just said that they stopped selling them in Ireland as they don't support them, he didn't know whether they stopped selling them due to any particular issue.


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    #18
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭harringtonp


    This arrived and got it set up. Did a test run but not convinced, the alarm only sounds once and is short. The flash is quite good for environments that support it but there doesn't seem to be a way to switch it off until the emergency is complete. There also seems to be delays with notifications coming through too.

    Will need to do another test or 2 to give it a chance and confirm behaviour but my gut feeling is that phones need to be rung. For it to work I reckon users really need to be on top of their phones


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    #19
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,111 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    We got one of these for our mother. Free for the first year. 66 a year afterwards.
    https://www.fingalcommunityalert.com/
    I'm sure there are similar schemes around the country.


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    #20
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭harringtonp


    HorseSea wrote: »
    This was exactly what I was looking for an ordered one after seeing that it can be used with other mobile networks (quote for their support page). It arrived today and I was unable to set it up and contacted support - that item is no longer available in Ireland and the website address you linked is not the standard Vodafone site, it's a site for vodafone family and friends. Vodafone reckoned they had just been slow taking the band off it.

    Long story short if I get a mobile sim to set it up, it may work or may not, it's not supported in Ireland unfortunately.

    Which Vodafone Support did you contact, have you a link ?

    Got it up and running with 5 family members having the app installed. Notifications mostly don't seem to come in at all (they do the odd time) though you can actually go into the app you can see an emergency is in progress. Apart from having everything turned on in the app itself, I have gone into apps and notifications and ensured it has full permissions and notifications are enabled. I have checked siblings phones too that these are enabled. Have no idea what is up with the notification process. I have not been able to determine anything different from when the notifications actually did come through. But as it is I would have to say it basically doesn't work.


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    #21
    HorseSea
    Registered Users Posts: 469 ✭✭HorseSea


    Just went for regular Vodafone support, from their main website.

    Update on this. It installed ok and "worked", when I say it worked, it turned red when pressed for 3 seconds, then orange then green. However the alerts were very variable, some arrived quickly others not at all.

    This item is at best a back up and can not be 100% relied on at all.

    Latest is that yesterday small red light came on indicating charge required. I placed on charger and no lights to indicate it was charging appeared, however it did get very warm, so I assume it was charging. However it has no worked since, nothing happens when the button is depressed for 3 seconds or longer. Latest alert says low battery from yesterday morning. Have tried charging again, still nothing.

    So I have emailed the Vodafonefaf.ie site for support / refund.

    I am still looking for a wrist based solution that sends a text message or automated phone call. Fall detection a bonus. Anyone have a solution I would be interested to hear.


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    #22
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭harringtonp


    My mother has hers only a few days and discovered a small crack on the screen this morning. It doesn't affect functionality but she has no idea how it happened. She wears it in bed but that is an intended use as it should be on when she gets up to the toilet.

    The red, yellow, green and no colours worked as expected on the display as you work your way through the emergency. If you open the app just after the watch goes yellow you see an emergency in progress so the app has been alerted. The problem is that absolutely no notifications come in most of the time which renders it useless


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    #23
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭harringtonp


    Just to follow up on this, after correspondence with Vodafone I sent it back registered and they promptly issued a refund.

    My advice to anyone with one is to check the notifications still work. As phones move on and new versions of Android/IOS come out, the state of play changes considerably.

    In the meantime I purchased

    https://www.littlewoodsireland.ie/doro-doro-1370-grey/1600353282.prd

    which is a well thought out phone specifically designed for older people. It has a button on the back and when held for 3 seconds a beeping sound goes off and a beacon flashes on the display. It then sends a preconfigured text message to 5 numbers. After sending it, it dials the first number in the list. If there is no answer after a certain number of rings it goes on to the second and so on. Its a fine system which actually works as described when tested.

    Obviously you can't wear a phone and there is no fall detection but its a pity the Vodafone SOS band didn't work like this when triggered.


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    #24
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,651 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    We've used the Task system with a few relatives. It's been decent.

    https://www.taskltd.com/socially-monitored-alarm-telecare-base-unit.html

    We've tried the elderly phones etc. But there's always something that causes difficulty. We had a GPS tracker for one relative, can't remember the details.


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