Emergency Call, Fall and GPS Tracker Systems

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Types of system

There are several types of system available, each with variations:

'Personal alarm' / 'pendant alarm' systems

The person wears a pendant button around their neck or on their wrist, and when this is pressed it sends a signal to a base unit connected to the telephone line, which alerts a monitoring service (see below).

'Telecare' / 'tele care' systems

Telecare expands on the personal alarm system by adding a wearable fall monitor (or sometimes other forms of monitor). The monitor triggers an alarm without the person having to press a button.

Audio systems

The Alexa Echo system could potentially be used by a sufficiently able person to call someone by calling out a voice command even if they can't reach the phone. This may require a number of Echo Dot devices (with wi-fi signal) to give coverage around the house.

'GPS tracker watch' systems

GPS trackers are designed for someone who may wander away from the home. The watch (or similar unit) uses a mobile/cell phone signal to report a GPS location and can usually be set up to trigger an alert if they go beyond a certain area.

There are many different GPS trackers available on the market, primarily intended for children. Note that they require a mobile/cell phone SIM (with a recommended data allowance of 500MB - 1GB per month), and they obviously require a good signal on the network chosen. The battery will probably need recharging daily, so this must be managed for someone with dementia. Many of these watches have the facility to receive (or make) voice calls, although similarly this requires the appropriate button to be pressed.

It's worth having a label such as "If lost call [your forename] [your phone number]" on things they'll have with them, such as keys, purse/wallet and coat. We'd suggest you avoid putting on your surname if it's the same as theirs, in case keys can then be linked to the house. You could also add the information that they have dementia, or if that might offend them then 'a poor memory', to make sure people understand.

Camera systems

With these systems, video cameras in the home are accessible via the internet, to allow periodic checking. They may also have two-way audio capabilities.

Camera systems may be part of a telecare system, or some other more general 'smart home' system. They require a broadband internet connection. You should balance the mutual benefits of being able to check your loved one is ok against their loss of privacy. It's very important to make sure that any system you use has good cyber security with strong password protection and encrypted signals, and to use these features.

Monitoring services

For the alarm and telecare systems, the monitoring service is usually able to talk to the person via the base station if they're within earshot of it, and can also phone nominated relatives or neighbours to go check and help. Some monitoring services are able to send a member of staff out to check, although there's obviously an additional fee for this and if a trusted neighbour is available they'll be able to check more quickly. A key safe is required to enable staff to get in.

Phone connection

Whilst some of these monitoring systems use the mobile/cell phone network, landline-based systems may be more reliable. Note, however, that a landline-based system requires the base station to be plugged into the telephone 'master socket' rather than an extension socket, otherwise if the phone line is in use or is off the hook then the base unit wouldn't be able to call out. A phone or extension socket(s) can be connected to the system's base unit, but other extensions in the house shouldn't be used unless the system supplier indicates this is allowed. Telephone extension reels are available (for use either side of the base station), but make sure you don't leave a trip hazard - if necessary re-route them round the edge of the room, perhaps using strong 'duct' tape every foot or so to fasten them to the skirting board (we'd suggest white or grey tape, as black may look like a hole to be investigated).

Base station

Consider where to place the base station according to where it's most likely the person will be if the monitoring service needs to talk to them following an alarm, and also according to the position of the telephone master socket and an electrical power socket. The base station should have a built-in battery backup in case of power failure.

Help choosing a system

A guide to the personal alarms available on the UK market is available on the Which? website, under 'personal alarms', and for telecare systems on the Which? website, under 'telecare'.

In the UK, Age UK has linked up with an external company to offer personal alarms, fall alarms and GPS tracker systems - see the Age UK website, under 'personal alarms'.