Panic alarms for the elderly for peace of mind in emergencies

One of these devices will help in a medical or criminal situation.

panic alarms for the elderly

by Rosie Floyd |
Updated on

As much as we try to cling to our independence as we get older, there may be times when we need to get some extra help to live safely, which is why panic alarms for the elderly are so useful. There are lots of different types of panic alarms to serve different purposes, but essentially they are electronic devices that can be easily activated to bring help during an emergency.

Available in different forms, panic alarms for the elderly can be activated with a single push button, multi-push buttons, a squeeze button, step buttons or code buttons when you need help. Whether you're feeling unwell, or there's an intruder in your home, many personal alarms can be used as a fall detection device or during a medical or criminal crisis to get you the help you need. Depending on the type of alarm you have, these can be set up to alert close family and friends or other caregivers and even emergency services that you may be in trouble.

Best panic alarms for the elderly at a glance:

Best overall: Careline Complete Personal Alarm Plan – view on Careline
Best panic alarm watch: CPR Guardian III – view on Amazon UK
Best all-round: Netzhome Wi-Fi Panic Button – view on eBay

There are two main types of alarm, a siren panic alarm and a silent panic alarm. Siren alarms sound a loud noise when activated, acting as a deterrent for intruders as they alert people nearby that something is wrong, whereas silent panic alarms call for help without drawing unwanted attention to the situation. Whatever type you choose, both alarms can be wearable, portable and permanent, depending on what works best for you.

If you feel like it might be time to get a panic alarm for peace of mind or you're worried about a relative needing more help, we've searched the web to find all the best panic alarms for the elderly to save you time on researching. We've also answered some questions that you may have when it comes to choosing the right personal alarm for an older person in the FAQs section.

Best panic alarms for the elderly

Best overall

Careline Complete Personal Alarm PlanCareline
Price: £24.99+ per month

www.careline.co.uk

With 24/7 monitoring from the in-house Careline Care Team, the Careline Complete Personal Alarm Plan will make sure you're looked after when an emergency happens. It comes equipped with an advanced sensor that can detect when you have fallen and send an automatic alert to the Careline365 Care Team, even if you are unconscious or cannot otherwise activate your alarm. As it's a digital service, there's no need to worry about failing phone lines or slow internet and with up to a 100m alert range, you're covered throughout your home and in your garden. The panic alarm pendant is lightweight and waterproof and it can be worn around your neck or on your wrist to make it as comfortable as possible.

Customer review: "I have been looking for a personal alarm on behalf of my elderly mother-in-law. This company name kept popping up and I can only say I could not have wished for better service. They certainly have chosen the right name for their company because they genuinely do care. Because I was doing it on behalf of my mother-in-law I had lots of questions and kept calling them, and I spoke to several different operators and each and everyone of them were so helpful and caring. I’m totally impressed with this company would not hesitate to recommend Thank you careline365"

Pros

  • Connected to a care team who will get you the help you need
  • Automatic fall detection (which can be activated manually too)
  • Lightweight and waterproof

Cons

  • Monthly cost

Best panic alarm watch

With its advanced fall alert and GPS tracker, this CPR Guardian III Personal Alarm Watch ensures safety and security for the elderly. Loved ones can track your location through the smartphone app whether you're at home or on the move so they can get real-time updates from anywhere. It has a fall alarm built-in so friends or family can be alerted in case of any mishaps and with two-way calling, they can reach out to you instantly to see what help you need. It also has an emergency assist button that alerts SOS services if needed. Not only that, but it works as a standard smartwatch too so you can track steps, monitor your heart rate and log your temperature to keep an eye on your overall health.

Customer review: "After researching the many different types of monitoring aid's and apps my choice could not have been better. It is a stylish normal looking watch with the many many features. The app is also so good and as the administrator you control all features and access to tracking etc. The monthly payment of £15.00 to include unlimited calls and 24/7 monitoring is one of the most competitive. CPR Monitoring are also helpful and I would recommend the whole package. The fact that the one off payment to purchase the unit and app means no annoying monthly rentals and includes the pre loaded SIM card. The £15.00 covers all call costs and the phone features built-in to the unit are easy and very good quality."

Pros

  • Notifies loved ones and emergency services
  • GPS tracking for loved ones' peace of mind
  • Works as a standard smartwatch too

Cons

  • Requires a SIM card, which does come built-in but needs to be activated by subscribing to a service plan

Best all-round

Netzhome Wi-Fi Panic ButtoneBay

The Netzhome Wifi Panic Button alarm works particularly well for people looking for a peace of mind when it comes to medical and personal emergencies, as multiple family and friends can be contacted at the touch of a button. In fact, you can have up to 100 devices registered at once. It connects wirelessly to your phone through Wi-Fi to send alerts directly to a smartphone or tablet. When pushed, this alarm sends an automatic notification to those set up on the app. The app also records the last 30 activations with a time and date, which can be handy if you need to recall events to medical or other emergency services at a later date.

Pros

  • Can have 100 devices to inform at once
  • Connects and works via Wi-Fi
  • Low battery and loss of signal alerts

Cons

  • Might not be best for emergencies as it doesn't contact the police or set off a loud alarm

Best for home security

Yale Sync Panic ButtonYale

If you've already installed the Yale Sync Smart Home Alarm, the Yale Sync Panic Button is an easy-to-pair add-on to give you total peace of mind. It's fully controllable from the Yale app on your smartphone, allowing you and your family members to monitor and receive alerts when the alarm is triggered. Primarily used as a home security panic alarm, it'll act as a deterrent for intruders. The handy geolocation feature reminds you to set the alarm when you’re about to leave home, to ensure ultimate safety. The panic button itself can be fixed to a wall wherever you see fit or function as a mobile panic alarm from anywhere in your home.

Pros

  • Wireless
  • 200m range
  • Can be fixed or function as a mobile alarm

Cons

  • Needs to be used as part of the Yale Snyc & Intruder Alarm Range

Best portable alarm

Powerbee Personal Alarms For WomenAmazon
Price: £8.99

The PowBee Personal Alarm is ideal for personal safety on the go. It is designed to help you to ask for assistance or disorientate an attacker when you are in trouble. The 150-decibel alarm sound is loud enough to attract nearby attention and deter any attacker or put off burglars. With a keychain attachment, this is easily reachable and discreet for use in public. While predominantly used when out and about, these alarms can also be useful to keep at home in case of emergencies to alert other people in your house that you need assistance.

Customer review: "I purchased these for an elderly family member. Tested one the garden and they're brilliant. Very easy to use and really packs a loud sound."

Pros

  • Fairly loud
  • Discreet
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Designed to alert people nearby so not ideal if you live alone or after something to alert family members who don't live with you

Best smart panic alarm

SINGCALL Tuya Wifi Smart SOS Emergency Button AlarmAmazon
Price: $24.99

A popular choice on Amazon with over 1,000 reviews, the SINGCALL Tuya Wifi Smart SOS Emergency Button Alarm can alert up to 20 users at once if you're in trouble and in need of assistance. Once the panic button has been pressed, it will send an alert to those signed up to the smartphone app so even if they're on the other side of the country, they'll get an alert to say the button has been pushed. It works over Wi-Fi and the panic button can either be fixed to the wall or worn on a lanyard.

Customer review: "My elderly Dad is in an annex and presses this button if he needs help. Goes to my phone and my wife’s, even when we are out and about. Never failed yet."

Pros

  • Notifies up to 20 users
  • Long-distance transmission so it can reach all corners of your home
  • Button can be worn or fixed

Cons

  • Some reviewers have reported problems with connectivity

Best panic alarm for use in one household

ChunHee Wireless Caregiver PagerAmazon
Price: £21.99

If you've got an older person living with you, the ChunHee Wireless Caregiver Pager can be used to alert family members around the home. Think of it as an indoor doorbell, you can put the receiver in a different room in the house up to 150m away from where the panic alarm is and it will sound a loud alert so there's no need to shout or call for help. It has up to 55 different alert tones to choose from and as it is waterproof, you can take the transmitter button in the bathroom or outside on a rainy day without worrying it'll stop working when wet. You can also purchase multiple receivers so you have full home coverage.

Customer review: "This is a great little gadget and does the job it's made for, there are lots of tunes to pick from, we chose a fairly loud bell one used during sleep to wake me up to assist my mum when she needed it, I would buy again :)"

Pros

  • Up to 150m range
  • Waterproof
  • Music and light alerts

Cons

  • Can't be used to alert people outside the home

FAQs

What is the best personal alarm for elderly?

The best panic alarm for the elderly will entirely depend on your personal situation and what level of support you’re after. If you’re looking to be connected to professional help, we’d recommend the Careline Complete Personal Alarm Plan as it offers 24/7 monitoring around the house with an advanced fall detection sensor so you can get help even if you are unconscious or cannot activate your alarm yourself.

The CPR Guardian III is also a great option as it can be used both in and out of the house, offering real-time location tracking for loved ones, two-way calling so they can reach out to you whenever they’re alerted that you need help and an emergency assist button that can be used in a crisis. It also doubles as a home health gadget with its built-in heart rate monitor, temperature tracker and pedometer.

Can I get a panic alarm for free?

Information from Age UK states that some people may be able to get a personal alarm for free via their local council. They suggest that you contact your local adult social services department and ask for a free care needs assessment.

They'll consider, among other things, your health, and what you can and can't do, or struggle to do as well as your current living arrangements and support network. The assessor will also talk to other professionals who care for you, like your GP or nurse, if you’re happy for the council to do so. This is to make sure everyone is on the same page with the support you need.

After the assessment, a care plan should be agreed upon with you and it will detail what needs you have and what could help to meet those needs. They may recommend a telecare system but there will then be a means test to find out if/how much you need to contribute towards your care and support.

What is telecare?

Age UK summarises telecare as something that detects when there's a problem and sends alerts to a call centre which then organises help for you. For example, the alert might get sent if you left the gas on by accident, or a personal alarm would allow you to call for help if you had a fall.

A panic alarm for the elderly falls into that category and depending on the setup of your chosen alarm, many can be used to inform family, friends, carers and other care professionals that you need help.

Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.

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