The best panic buttons & alarms for the elderly

Why are panic buttons essential for the safety of older people? 

A panic button in an older loved one’s home could be the reason they survive a fall or accident, so if you are worried about their safety at home, this is a great investment. An estimated one third of people aged 65 and older, and around half of those aged 80 and over, will fall at least once a year. Falls often occur due to factors like:

• Poor balance
• Muscle weakness
• Medical conditions like arthritis or dementia 
• Slower reflexes that make it more challenging to recover from imbalance 
• Vision problems 
• Medications causing dizziness
• Environmental hazards in the home, such as rugs or wet bathroom floors
• Foot problems

You may find our guide on falls in older people helpful.Panic buttons make it easy for an older person to get immediate help if they fall at home, or if they encounter another emergency. Reducing time spent on the floor is crucial, since this can have detrimental effects on health in the short and long term; a 2022 studyfound that lying on the floor for over one hour is associated with dehydration, renal failure, hypothermia, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, pain, mobility decline and more, and 1 in 8 older people who fall report lying on the floor for more than one hour.By having a simple button around their neck, on a watch, or installed somewhere in the home, they can more easily contact someone in the event of a fall, accident, or emergency, and have timely medical assistance deployed if needed. Panic buttons may be most useful for those who have experienced a past fall, reduced mobility that could cause a future fall, have a concerning medical condition that may result in emergencies (such as heart issues or diabetes), and anyone who just prefers knowing they can contact help quickly if needed. They are designed for convenience, safety and peace of mind for older people and their families, enabling them to live independently and confidently.What types of panic buttons exist for the safety of older people?There are several types of panic buttons that suit different lifestyles, needs and preferences, and choosing the right one is important to ensure safety, comfort and dignity for an older loved one.

Wearable Alarms 

Wearable alarms may be considered the safest option for many older adults, particularly if falls are the main concern. These are often waterproof to withstand hand-washing or bathing, and most often come in the form of wristbands or pendants to be worn discreetly around the person’s neck. The idea is to create a wearable alarm that stays on their person at all times so it can be easily reached and pressed at a moment’s notice, which will dial out to a contact centre that speaks to the person directly using a 2-way speaker. When this happens, the call centre can decide whether to contact a nominated family member or escalate the situation to emergency services. As many falls occur in the bathroom, having a waterproof, wearable option can help older adults to feel safer and more confident while bathing and carrying out personal care, as well as other strenuous tasks. This also reduces the need for supervision, which can limit an older person’s independence over time. While it may seem that a mobile phone is an equally helpful option, oftentimes an older person may forget to have this in their pocket, or will struggle to remember numbers or dial buttons in an emergency, which can create a delay when help is needed. A one-touch panic button on a mobile phone could help, but a wearable alarm means they are more likely to have this close by. Keep in mind, a wearable device is only effective if it is worn every day, so older people may need encouragement to make this part of their routine, or to keep it on permanently. If you are interested in this technology, you may find organisations like YourStride, Compare Fall Alarms and the Age Co Personal Alarm Service helpful.

GPS Trackers

There are also wearable GPS tracker alarms that create a safety net for older adults with dementia who may be prone to wandering or disorientation. In these cases, caregivers, family members or emergency services may be able to quickly locate them, which could avoid injuries, illness, and potentially harmful situations. Early studies on their effectiveness suggest they could help delay admission to residential care settings, provide a greater sense of safety for older people and their carers, provide better connection when help is required, and reduce the need for police involvement if an older person with dementia wanders. If you are interested in this technology, you may find organisations like Mindme Pendant Locate (dementia tracker), Taking Care Anywhere and SureSafeGo helpful. 

Fall Detection Alarms

Fall detection alarms are also helpful, as these can automatically detect if an older person has fallen, which can be life-saving for those unable to communicate or press a button, or in instances where they become unconscious before they are able to call for help. A 2021 review of studies suggested these have an average sensitivity of 93.1% or more, and an average specificity of 86.4% or more when detecting falls. The best place for accurate detection was determined to be the abdomen, feet or legs, so wearable devices are often placed in these areas. Some mobile phones also support apps that offer fall detection, and this can be helpful for older adults who are more concerned with having an accident or medical emergency outside of the home. If you are interested in this service, you may find organisations like TSA, FallSafe and Telecare24 Fall Alarm helpful. 

Wall-Mounted Devices 

Wall-mounted devices are panic buttons or pull-cords attached to the wall or ceiling in an older person’s home, and are usually located in high-risk areas such as bathrooms or near stairways. For those with a chronic illness who struggle at night, a wall-mounted alarm might be helpful next to their bed. These enable older people to easily call for help in an emergency, such as during an urgent medical issue. While wearable devices offer more safety in the event of a fall, a wall-mounted alarm can still be helpful in many situations where the person can still move a short distance to reach the device. For those who are prone to forgetting to wear a wearable alarm during the day or night, or who refuse to, this could offer a stationary alternative within the home. Like wearable devices, when pressed or pulled, these alarms reach out to a contact centre with an operator who will decide the best next step, whether that be contacting the person’s family, a professional caregiver, or paramedics. If you are interested in this service, you may find organisations like Tunstall or Careline365 helpful. Ring Cameras may also be a good option for families who would prefer to check in on their older loved one at home, as these can offer 2-way voice calls when needed. 

Smart Home Integrations  

Nowadays, there are so many artificial intelligence and voice-activated products offering similar assurances to families that their loved one can always call if need be, even in the case of an emergency. With voice-command products like the Amazon Alexa or Google Home able to be activated with a trigger word, an older person who has fallen can simply call out to the device and ask it to contact someone. It is important to remember that these smart home devicescannot directly dial 999 (in the UK) or emergency services, but they can be set up ahead of time with specific emergency contacts or urgent response services that can assess the situation and call 999 on the person’s behalf if needed. These devices may also be helpful if connected to other home functions such as lighting or heating systems, so if an older person falls and cannot get back up independently, they can turn on lights to see and turn up the temperature in their home to avoid cold-related issues while they wait for help.If you are interested in these integrations, you may find the Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or specific services like Nomo Smart Care helpful.

What key features should a panic button have? 

Choosing a panic button or alarm system for yourself or an older loved one can feel overwhelming when you don’t know where to begin, so it helps to speak to different providers, speak to family members or caregivers about what your non-negotiables might be and what your budget is, and perhaps make a pros and cons list together to determine exactly what you need. There are a few key features to look for: 

• Ease of use and simplicity, such as one-touch technology
• Reviews that share experiences with a specific service and its reliability
• Fall detection technology
• 24/7 support
• Fast response times from monitoring centres
• Dementia-friendly features such as GPS tracking
• Long-lasting battery life or fast-charging options 
• Comfortable wear 
• Waterproofing
• Compatibility with existing phone lines, mobile networks or smart home devices
• Affordability within your budget 

How much do panic buttons cost and are there funding options?

The cost of a panic button or personal alarm can be one of the main reasons older people avoid getting one, not only due to the initial implementation costs, but also the ongoing service cost. It is important to think of these alarms as investments in your health, and in your mental health, as having a way to contact loved ones or emergency services easily can give you more confidence, peace of mind and independence, which can improve your quality of life. Depending on the features of each alarm (for example, whether or not it has fall detection technology or GPS tracking), the purchase price in the UK could be in the range of £35 to £70 for basic units, and the monthly monitoring costs could range from £12 to £36, according to Which?Before you sign up to install a panic button, you should check what might be available to you through your local council — sometimes local authorities will offer affordable alarm services without the installation fees, and free Telecare services that can monitor conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or asthma from afar. It is also important to keep in mind that older people with a physical or mental impairment, those with particular health conditions or those with a terminal illness may qualify for reduced installation fees on personal alarms, or may be eligible for VAT relief in the UK. According to Age UK, 94% of Age Co Personal Alarm Service customers do not need to pay VAT. Always speak to your local council about options to see if this could cover what you are looking for, and check out charities and housing associations that sometimes offer vulnerable older people free or discounted personal alarms.

How can home care help keep older people safe at home?

While a panic button or personal alarm can be helpful in emergencies, if your loved one needs more hands-on support with all aspects of daily life, home caregivers could complement the service of a personal alarm or panic button, or they can provide live-in care that negates the need to install one in the first place. Panic buttons sometimes fall short when it comes to things like:

• Battery life
• Maintenance
• Range of service from the home
• Detection of more subtle health conditions
• Providing immediate care after a fall, such as covering the person with a blanket or giving them a pillow for their head (if safe to do so)

Home care can be an effective alternative that offers companionship, medication management, removes stressful tasks from their plate, and monitors health conditions if necessary. For emergency support, caregivers can help prevent accidents from happening in the first place by removing clutter from walkways, providing mobility support to encourage safe movement at home, and taking on potentially risky tasks like housekeeping. With support from providers like Home Instead, families can gain peace of mind that not only will their loved one get the best care in an emergency situation, they will also get the best care and companionship in everyday life. Our experienced, supportive Care Professionals can provide the help needed to manage independently at home, where your older loved one feels safe and comfortable. We’re an award-winning home care provider and part of a worldwide organisation devoted to providing the highest-quality relationship-led care for older people in their own homes. Arranging care for yourself or your loved one shouldn’t be stressful, so whatever questions you would like answered, feel free to reach out to the Home Instead team to discuss your needs.