Comparing Fall Detection Features in Personal Alarms

A personal alarm is an essential piece of kit for almost any older person. If an elderly person is living independently, it provides peace of mind that they won’t be alone if a crisis occurs. And if a senior lives with loved ones or has a carer, it offers a second layer of protection in case of emergencies when other people aren’t close by.

That’s because a personal alarm’s central function is to call for help when it’s needed. Personal alarms can do this in multiple ways. One important function is a one-touch SOS button that raises the alarm when it’s pressed. Another equally important function is fall detection.

Fall detection matters because falls pose a serious risk to seniors. In fact, about one in three over-65s will experience a fall one or more times in a year. And the risks grow greater if help doesn’t come fast. That creates a situation called a ‘long lie,’ which can have grave and long-lasting health effects.

An alarm with automatic fall detection is designed to combat exactly this sort of risk. But if you know you want to protect yourself or an older loved one from some of the dangers of falls, which alarm should you choose?

In this post, we’ll discuss how to choose the right personal alarm for you based on the fall detection features you’ll need.

What is fall detection?

First, let’s talk about what automatic fall detection is.

An alarm with this functionality uses different types of sensors to collect data like air pressure and speed. An algorithm in the device assesses all of this data and determines whether a fall has occurred. If the alarm believes its wearer has fallen, it contacts either a designated phone number or a trained operative at a response centre.

As you would expect, no alarm can be absolutely perfect at detecting falls. An alarm that is too sensitive would end up sending false alarms all the time because of benign movements like sitting down, which would prevent a real crisis from being properly noticed. But elderly care is all about decreasing risks, and that’s what a fall detection alarm does.

So, now that you know what a fall detection alarm is, what features might you want? Below, we’ve listed several to consider.

Automatic alerts

Automatic alerts are the core functionality of an alarm with fall detection. When the alarm’s algorithm says that a fall is detected, the alarm independently calls for help. This is crucial because it offers protection in cases where a senior has lost consciousness, suffered an epileptic seizure, or is unable for some other reason to call for help themself. In short – this feature is essential.

GPS tracking

In the past, many personal alarms only worked inside the home because they relied on the home’s telephone line. Some alarms today still operate on this model, and they may be useful for some seniors, such as those who are bed-bound and mostly need to be monitored for falls out of bed.

But most seniors will need fall protection outside their homes too. And if they enjoy healthy walks through fields or parks or they like to walk their dog through woodland, they might end up needing help where no-one is around.

In these situations, a mobile alarm with GPS tracking is a must. The mobile alarm will work just as well outdoors as indoors, so it will still be able to raise an alert. And GPS tracking will inform rescuers exactly where the older person is. Otherwise, family members could find themselves in the distressing situation of knowing that their relative needs help but not knowing where to go.

One-touch SOS button

We’ve already mentioned that fall detection can never detect 100% of falls. That’s why it’s smart to get a fall detection alarm that also has a simple one-touch button on it. If an elderly person has fallen, they can press the button to call for help. And since all they have to do is press and hold that single button, it’s a far easier and quicker way to get assistance than trying to use a phone. Plus, a one-touch button on a wrist alarm or pendant is always within reach, unlike a mobile phone.

For these reasons, we’d say that a one-touch button is an important feature for any fall detection alarm. It provides a ‘belt and braces’ approach to falls and other incidents.

24/7 monitoring from a response centre

Here’s an option that is critically important for some, while others might not need it.

As we’ve mentioned, personal alarms can either call a phone number you provide, belonging to a loved one or carer, or an expert response centre. Neither of these options is purely better than the other. Choosing which one is right for you depends on personal circumstances. For example, if an older person is living right next door to a son or daughter, it’s probably far easier to have their alarm call that person’s phone.

Another point to consider is timing. Falls can occur at any time of day, so it’s important to think about when loved ones will be available to assist. Some people might not be able to answer their phones during some of their work hours, which could be a real problem. In contrast, experts at a response centre are ready and available to answer calls for help 24/7. That might provide the reliability an older person needs.

Multiple phone number storage

Let’s say you’ve chosen to have your alarm call a loved one rather than a response centre. What happens if that person’s phone breaks on the same day the call for help goes out? What happens if the person is cooking dinner and just doesn’t hear their phone ring?

This is why some alarms allow you to save up to five contacts in the alarm. If the first one doesn’t answer, the alarm calls the next number on the list, and the next one, and so on. Ideally, you’ll want an alarm that isn’t fooled by voicemail, either – it should still understand that its call still hasn’t been answered.

So, if you’re opting for a family-monitored alarm, this feature is a must-have.

Adjustable sensitivity levels

Let’s go back to thinking about the concept of sensitivity in personal alarms with fall detection. As we’ve said, sensitivity is kind of a ‘Goldilocks’ situation. If the alarm is too sensitive, you’ll be getting false alarms all the time. If it’s not sensitive enough, falls won’t be noticed.

But the level of sensitivity required can vary by person. A golfer or tennis player might end up triggering a false alarm through fast, hard movements, whereas someone less mobile might not. Or one senior might have a tendency to sit down hard and quickly, while another might move more slowly. What’s needed is the ability to adjust sensitivity to each individual’s needs and unique ways of moving. Some alarms can do just that, and it’s probably a feature you want.

How SureSafe alarms protect seniors after falls

As you can tell, the subject of automatic fall detection is a complicated one. This crucial technology involves lots of factors to be taken into account when you’re looking to buy a personal alarm.

Fortunately, at SureSafe we’re a UK leader in the field of personal alarms for elderly people, so we’re pros in handling all these details – as our great Trustpilot rating and customer reviews show. Our SureSafeGO alarm can provide all the functions we’ve talked about here and more. You can choose to have your alarm call family members or a 24/7 response centre, whichever works best for you.

If you’ve found this list of fall detection features thought-provoking, but you want a little more guidance about choosing an alarm, our expert team is here to help. Just call us on 0808 189 1671, get in touch through live chat or request a call back.