5 Reasons Seniors Say “No” to Personal Alarms & Why They Shouldn’t

Getting a personal alarm is a hugely beneficial safety step for many seniors. But many older people hesitate to take that step – for numerous reasons.

If you and your elderly parents have started to discuss the idea of using a personal alarm, here are 5 common objections to getting a personal alarm that you might hear – and why they’re actually not good reasons to skip getting an alarm after all.

1. I’m not old!

It’s absolutely normal for people to feel hesitant about stepping into a new era of life. Children can have a hard time adjusting to high school, new parents may wish they could still party like young adults, and seniors can dislike being thought of as ‘old.’

But the fact is that personal alarms are just a safety device that anyone can use if they’re alone and might need help. Young lone workers or people with seizures might use personal alarms in their forties, thirties or twenties.

So, getting a personal alarm doesn’t mean that a person is old or that they aren’t leading a full and exciting life. In fact, it’s a way to ensure a person’s wellbeing stays just as good in the future.

Not getting help fast in an emergency can turn a small incident into a huge disaster with lingering effects – like reduced mobility and independence. But a personal alarm offers a way for a senior to get that assistance right away and get back on their feet as soon as possible. So, if a person who’s 60, 65 or 70 is enjoying their retirement and feels strong and independent, a personal alarm is exactly what they need to help ensure they stay feeling great for as long as possible.

2. I won’t know how to use it

Some older people can hesitate to get an alarm because they’re tired of dealing with complicated tech devices. They may fear that they’ll get an alarm and then it will sit in a box because they won’t even know how to set it up. And some elderly people may just not want the hassle of trying to learn how to use a new device.

That’s not a problem with SureSafe’s alarms. Let’s take the SureSafeGo wristband, for example. The device itself is beautifully intuitive to use. There’s a one-touch SOS button, ‘cancel call’ and power buttons and a time and battery display. So, you’ll see there’s almost nothing to learn and no complex interface to deal with. To get help, you just press the SOS button – and if you call by accident, press the ‘cancel’ button.

Setup is easy, too – to see how simple it is, you can look at the user manuals for all of our devices before you buy. If you do need any guidance, SureSafe’s team is just a call away at 0808 189 1671.

3. It will make me stand out

Older people might be happy to wear the personal alarm device but worried that others will notice and question what it is.

But with the rise of wearable technology like smart watches, FitBits, step trackers and sleep trackers, not to mention commonly seen medical devices like insulin pumps, it’s not unusual at all to wear a bit of tech on your body.

A SureSafeGo alarm in the form of a wristband resembles a smart watch, so it will hardly draw attention. There’s also an option to wear a pendant under clothing or a device on a belt clip.

Besides, there’s no shame in wearing a personal alarm. This device is a reminder to an older person that someone cares about their safety very much. Imagine a parent being asked about their wristband – they might say, “My kids really care about me and want to make sure I’m okay, so they got me this alarm.” What’s bad about that?

4. I can just use my phone

It’s a common misconception that mobile phones or other devices can be used in case of emergency.

Why can’t seniors rely on mobile phones? One reason is simply that a major site of fall injuries in the house is in the bathroom. Bathroom flooring can be slippery, and getting in and out of the bathtub can be tricky for anyone.

But you can’t bring your mobile phone into the bath or shower with you. So, a fall in the bathroom may well happen when an older person’s mobile phone is out of reach – up on a counter or even in another room.

Personal alarms, however, can be showerproof – SureSafe’s are. So, an older person can have their alarm with them in the moment when they most need it.

Indeed, phones are often left on tables, countertops and out of reach when a person falls. A phone that might seem like it’s close by could turn out to be impossibly far away to an elderly person who has fractured their hip and simply can’t get up to get their mobile.

Another reason why a phone isn’t enough is that a person suffering a medical emergency may not be well enough to dial it – even if it happens to be in their pocket. Someone who’s suffering a stroke, a seizure, a heart attack, dizziness, or injury after a fall might simply be unable to think through all the steps of using the phone interface.

That’s exactly why older people need personal alarms with one-touch SOS buttons and automatic fall detection. An older person who’s seriously ill or rapidly losing consciousness may be able to press and briefly hold a button even when they’re totally unable to use a phone. And automatic fall detection offers a backup layer of protection. With this function, the phone will send out an alert all by itself if it believes it has sensed a fall – no input is needed from the wearer at all.

5. I won’t need an alarm, I’ll be fine

At SureSafe, we often hear that our customers have purchased personal alarms for their older parents after their parents have experienced one fall or emergency where they needed help and couldn’t get it.

In these situations, it’s a very smart move to put protection in place for the future. But it would be even better if no-one had to experience that first crisis on their own, either.

According to the UK government’s health advice on falls, 30% of people aged 65+ fall once or more each year. And a shocking 50% of people aged 80+ will fall at least once a year.

Moreover, lying on the floor because one is unable to get up after a fall can be extremely traumatic. Among other issues, it can lead to hospital stays and reduced future mobility due to fear of falling. So, it’s more than worth taking a minor precaution to prevent this awful outcome, even if we feel it’s unlikely – just as we wear seatbelts in a car in case of a crash.

There are lots of dangers to seniors in addition to falls, too. Emergencies like heart attacks, strokes and seizures can happen suddenly and without warning. A little personal alarm can make a world of difference when these disasters strike.

Peace of mind for older people and their loved ones with SureSafe

There’s one more point we haven’t mentioned yet.

Adult children of older parents often give personal alarms to their parents as gifts. But by accepting the alarm, the parent is giving a gift, too – the gift of peace of mind. For family members who worry about their older relatives, a personal alarm takes a weight of worry off their shoulders. And that’s invaluable.

That’s just one reason why we’re committed to providing reliable, easy-to-use and affordable elderly personal alarms. Our alarms offer one-touch SOS buttons, automatic fall detection, and plenty of other features like GPS tracking that are designed to help older people get assistance in emergencies.

Wondering about getting a personal alarm for your older parent or loved one? Not sure what an alarm can do or which one would be right for you? Give our experts a ring on 0808 189 1671. You can also talk to us through our live chat or request a call back.