Personal alarms eg careline.

Mazgg

I have often thought it would be a good idea if there was a number that I could check in with every morning to say I was ok. I don't speak to the same person every day so it could be several days before the alarm was raised if I couldn't press an alarm . My brother in law had been dead for several days before he was discovered

My mum lives on an assisted living complex and she has a panel in her hallway. She presses a particular button every morning and if she doesn’t . The manager checks on her . Unfortunately when she fell , the manager was off sick .

I have found that I do not need to pay for these. My ALexa is set so that from anywhere in my flat I can call out to that to either call my daughter, and/ot call for an ambulance.

I do send that daughter a text every morning just saying 'OK'. If this is not received by 9.00 am she will try to telephone me (I have occasionally forgotten) - if no reply to telephone then she will come round. As she lives and work about ten minutes away, this can be pretty immediate.

My little Alexa costs me nothing to operate. Have had it in my flat since I moved in over six years ago. No need to pay for any sort of alarm system which only then telephones a set contact list.

If you are ok enough to call out, an Alexa or similar may work - at least in your home.
Another good idea.

If you want cover outside (say, in your garden), you might want something else...

My MiL fell and lay all night next to her alarm. I'd didn't occur to her to press it! Shoe couldn't say why not.

Can I recommend a different system which I have, called Howz.
It's about £200 initial cost and then £9 a month.
They provide a smart plug, usually put on the kettle but you can choose anything, a door sensor which would go on the front door if someone has dementia but mine is on the fridge, and a room sensor (I have 2, one up and one down).
You provide a list, as long or short as you like, of people to contact if none of the sensors are triggered over a time period you choose.
I've had it for some years and it definitely came to my rescue when I got out of bed one morning and my hip prosthesis dislocated, leaving me lying on the floor unable to move. I had the system set up for alerting my daughter if I wasn't up and about by 0800 (this happened at 0700). She was on holiday in Italy at the time but it worked just as well, she immediately phoned various friends and neighbours whose numbers I had given her, and they got in via the key safe and called an ambulance.
It doesn't solve the problem of needing immediate assistance but its big advantage is that it requires nothing from the person concerned, and can be set up to exactly the needs of that individual.

I think after reading and listening it seems that many of these systems rely on family and neighbours to act after the initial contact has been made.
I feel this is often not ideal.
No one maybe instantly available to act or visit and sometimes the elder person may not want to “ bother “ neighbours.
I realise I am probably asking too much and no ideal system exists but I wonder how often the carers from the care system actually come out to deal with the immediate situation.

With my mums care line . A message goes to a central place , they call her on her landline / mobile if she had one . If no answer they call me or my siblings . If no answer from us , they call an ambulance.
The staff at the careline don’t come out to visit . I don’t know how it would work if you had no family or friends.

I do think that elderly and vulnerable people should invest in a keysafe outside their front door. Ensure the safe number is known by everyone who may be coming to provide any assistance.

Usedtobeblonde

Since I started this thread I have had numerous Facebook pages advertising call systems.
I did not look for information on systems anywhere, I only posted on GN.
One may have been a coincidence, the number I have received is certainly not.
We should be aware.
I only post on GN under a user name, as we all do, how is that linked to my Facebook?
I am actually quite concerned.
Any ideas?

No need to be concerned, UTBB it is not sinister, though annoying.

I think what has happened is that GN must have signed up to an ad placing scheme, which works by ad firms giving the scheme (not GN) a list of trigger words for the goods that their selling customers (who pay them a fee) want to market.

If any of those trigger words appeared on a page, an advertising email would be sent to whoever mentioned it, and GN would get a very tiny amount of money - pennies usually.

It is usually only a one-off email, which you can delete and ignore. If they keep sending more, look for an "unsubscribe" button somewhere at the bottom of the message to block them.

Your browser or your internet provider probably has a way to stop getting any marketing emails at all. Have a look at your privacy and security options.

The other possibility is that a different social media site (on Facebook?) that you use, or a website with a comments page, is doing the same thing.

UTBB I informed the care system I had no relatives, the only ones being in Southern Ireland and friends are close to my age and I did not want to "bother" a couple two doors away as both work.

I was told no problem I may have to wait longer for an ambulance. I haven't worked out that one, I would just be on my own. I have had a keysafe fpr many years, I just have to remember to remove the key from the inside lock.

^ I may have to wait longer for an ambulance^ - I suppose they are comparing this to having a neighbour pop over.

Once an ambulance is called the wait will be the same - whether they called it or your neighbour did.

Exactly. People are amazed I live on my own, but amazingly my parents are dead, I am divorced and have no siblings. I can't be the only one in country!