Personal alarms

[Banjo]

What to know before buying a personal alarm
Our expert guide explains how these gadgets work and what you need to be cautious of.

Personal alarms are primarily advertised as products that can provide life-saving emergency communication for the elderly when they have an accident. But these devices, which are also known as life or safety alarms, can also help protect children, solo workers, those living independently with a disability and even people recuperating after surgery or illness.

When these small devices are triggered they are designed to send an emergency alert to pre-set mobile phone numbers or a 24-hour monitoring service. Many personal alarms also perform other functions such as location tracking, automated location updates and some even let you install additional entertainment apps.

But despite the advertising, some test results and feedback from our members show that personal alarms may not be as safe as they claim. We tested personal alarms for several years and were disappointed with the results, consistently finding these products to be unreliable and difficult to use.

So concerned were we by the inconsistent performance of a product bought explicitly for safety that we have decided to no longer publish these reviews.

Read on...

www.choice.com.au/electronics-and-technology/gadgets/tech-gadgets/buying-guides/personal-alarms

[bear]

It looks like a bit of a dog's breakfast.  Though if it's something you really feel you need to help keep you safe & sound, the government may be able to help. Cheers 🐻

How to get a personal alarm for free

The Commonwealth Home Support program provides government support for individuals that need access to services and financial assistance, required for independent living as they age. Some personal alarms are available for free, or at a reduced rate, through this program.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can also provide funding and veterans can also receive support through their own government program. Community services and even manufacturers may offer financial support and solutions as well, though this varies and tends to exist on a case-by-case basis. Health insurance providers may also offer support or reimbursements of some kind so it's worth asking, but this isn't standard practice."

Do you need a personal alarm subscription?
Most personal alarms are designed to alert a pre-selected contact. But some can connect to a 24-hour call centre if you're prepared to pay a fee – typically between $20 and $40 per month. There's always a chance you could miss a phone alert due to the time of day (e.g. sleep hours), poor reception, or something as simple as forgetting your phone is on silent. Subscription services can solve this problem and others."  Aaah haa..... just one more monthly subscription.

Do 3G personal alarms still work?
Though 3G only personal alarms will continue to work for now, their days are numbered. Vodafone will turn off its 3G network in mid-December, followed by Telstra in June 2024 and Optus not long after in September.

We can't guarantee that they'll keep working once the 3G networks have been turned off. Even though mobile data is mainly used to improve GPS accuracy, the shutdown will likely affect the device's ability to make calls and texts as well. After all, 2G phones stopped working altogether when that network ceased operation and 3G devices may follow suit. This means you will need to replace your personal alarm if it can only connect to 3G.
Fortunately, it appears that 3G models are no longer being sold by the suppliers last time we checked. That said, there may still be some kicking around online, especially on the second-hand market. If you come across a deal that seems too good to be true, make 

How to get a personal alarm for free
"The Commonwealth Home Support program provides government support for individuals that need access to services and financial assistance, required for independent living as they age. Some personal alarms are available for free, or at a reduced rate, through this program.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can also provide funding and veterans can also receive support through their own government program. Community services and even manufacturers may offer financial support and solutions as well, though this varies and tends to exist on a case-by-case basis. Health insurance providers may also offer support or reimbursements of some kind so it's worth asking, but this isn't standard practice."

Fortunately, it appears that 3G models are no longer being sold by the suppliers last time we checked. That said, there may still be some kicking around online, especially on the second-hand market. If you come across a deal that seems too good to be true, make sure it can connect to 4G before buying."

Full story:- www.choice.com.au/electronics-and-technology/gadgets/tech-gadgets/buying-guides/personal-alarms

[Banjo]

My mother had one when she lived her last few years alone (her decision) in a retirement village.
It was a pendant she wore around her neck.
I think she used it successfully a couple of times when taken ill unexpectedly.

[Denis-NFA]

Bio-chipping will become compulsory.

For your own safety!

[Denis-NFA]

Nov 25, 2023 19:53:09 GMT 7 Banjo said:

My mother had one when she lived her last few years alone (her decision) in a retirement village.
It was a pendant she wore around her neck.
I think she used it successfully a couple of times when taken ill unexpectedly.

I think in a situation like your mother's, or at least relatively closely surrounded by aware neighbours, those are a good idea Banjo.

I checked Lazada Philippines and they have an all beaut 4g Lte Gps Mini Mobile Personal Emergency Response System Senior Sos Alarm Elderly Panic Button Children Kids Locator for a bit over $100.

And I don't know if that is the type of device Choice is talking about but they all depend on someone or something being able to activate a response at the other end... "thank you for your call... your call is important to us".

What's an ambulance wait time these days?

If your really on your own a small dog or a cat that knows to press a buzzer to be fed which would activate air raid sirens if you haven't responded within a period of time would certainly alert 'someone'.