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A Guide to Selecting a
Personal Alarm Call System
A personal alarm call system is a safety device that allows a
person to call for assistance when they are unable to access a
telephone.
How do they work?
A personal alarm call system is a safety device
that allows the user to call for assistance in an
emergency when they are unable to access a
telephone.
It works by the person pressing a button on a
pendant worn around their neck or wrist. Once
the button is activated it sends a signal to a
unit that is connected the home telephone line.
A call is automatically sent to a designated
contacted; this can either by through a
monitored service (live call) or a nonmonitored service (autodialled with recorded
message).
Some Personal Alarm Call systems will also
have the feature of working in the
community, but rely on mobile phone network
to access a telephone service. These systems
are allowed for GPS (global positioning
service) tracking for locating of people in the
community.
The details of where the person is located will
be sent via and email or SMS with coordinates
of their location, this requires the person
monitoring them to have access to either a
computer or a mobile phone that will allow
them to convert the coordinates to a location.
Guide to Selecting a Personal Alarm
What is the difference?
Monitored Service (ongoing fee)
When the alarm is active the system is
monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The
monitoring station can identify the caller from
the personal alarm unit it’s being registered
too.
The monitoring service will then activate the
emergency plan that has been pre-arranged
by the family/ user at the time of set up. This
can include calling a list of support people or
contacting emergency services.
The systems:
 Can be purchased outright or rented
 Have ongoing monitoring fees
 Cost for set up
 24 hour monitoring service
Non-Monitored Service
When the alarm is activated the system is
dependent on the user having reliable contact
person/s that can respond when the user
presses the pendant.
The unit begins dialling the first stored
telephone number, from a list of phone
numbers of support/ contact people which
have been programmed into this unit in order
of preference or availability (can be fixed line
or mobile numbers). The contact person
needs to acknowledge the caller (alarm
system) is requiring help by pressing a
designated button on their phone.
Once this occurs, a pre-recorded message
informs the contact person of the emergency.
Each system has a different length or
recording time; once the message is played it
can not be recalled. It will NOT leave a
message on voice mail.
These systems are not designed to call 000
unless the manufacturer has specified this.
Mobile Personal Alarm Call System
(Ongoing cost using a mobile network)
There is also a range of devices that can work
in a similar way to a personal alarm system in
the community.
These include:
• Wrist watches with mobile phone based
emergency call and GPS tracking systems.
• Simple mobile phones with SOS function
(usually a separate button on the phone).
• A personal tracking device that acts as a
dual purpose, limited function mobile phone
(calls out or in only)
• They do not operate using the home
landline.
• The caller/user presses a button on the
pendant / phone, this will call or send an
SMS message or email to designated
contacts in the pendant/phone that will be
given a location of the user.
• Most of these units have a two way talk
back so they user can speak to their
contact/support person via the pendant.
• They operate using the mobile phone
network which is an ongoing cost of using
the service.
• Some suppliers will assist with the set up of
the system for an additional cost.
Guide to Selecting a Personal Alarm
The Independent Living Centre provides a free and impartial
information and advisory service to help you choose the right
product for you
Factors to Consider:
• What is the availability of support persons?
• Will someone always be able to access
your call?
• How far away is your support person – how
quick can they get to you for help?
• How will they get into your home? –
Keysafes coded keyboxes can be accessed
by the contact/support person to allow
access to the home.
• How many users in the household?
• Will it work during power outages? – does
the system have battery backup? VOIP and
hands free phones may not operate during
power outages.
• Mobile phone coverage/ network in your
area?
• Costs – this includes, cost of the initial
product, cost of installation, and ongoing
costs such as monitoring services or mobile
phone services, costs of calls made.
Replacement batteries and parts
• Technical support – who will set it up?
• After sales support
• User ability – the user needs to be physically
able and willing to activate the transmitter
alarm, also consider their ability to follow
instructions and process should the alarm
be activated.
• Funding options / rebates may be available.
Some not all of the personal alarm call
systems have these features:
• Water resistance – most transmitters
(excluding mobile phones/ watches) are
splash proof, some have various water
resistance abilities.
• Multiple Transmitters – some systems can
accommodate a number of transmitters for
the same unit.
• Range of Activation – most have a range
that the transmitter will reach the unit
(telephone) of 30-80metres. This is different
for systems using the mobile phone
network.
• Some systems have fall detection sensors
which registers if the person has fallen over.
• Some systems also link in with smoke, gas,
inactivity, or movement sensors (specialist)
• Receiver unit – the unit is attached to a
standard telephone line. Some of the units
can replace and existing telephone (with
accessible features such as amplified sound
and bigger buttons). Some receiver units
also have the option for two –way talk back.
Guide to Selecting a Personal Alarm
General Considerations:
• Some non- monitored personal call systems
can program 000, however there is no
guarantee the response will even occur.
Please check with the supplier to clarify if
this has been an approved and tested
function with emergency services.
• In your message for a non-monitored
system, state this is emergency call
activation, include your name, address,
phone number. Repeat the message a
couple of times so the contact/support
person can obtain the information clearly.
• NBN (National Broadband Network) which is
changing the fixed telephone system may
affect the type of system you select. The
battery back up time on the NBN is short
and may affect the ability for the system to
operate. Check with the supplier of the
service to see if its system is compatible
with NBN.
• Make sure your equipment is set up
correctly and test this in the early stages to
make sure its functioning. Batteries in the
unit and the pendant will have a finite time of
use before they need to be replaced. Check
this with the supplier.
The Independent Living Centre of WA has a
range of personal call alarm systems on
display. If you wish to speak with an
Occupational Therapist or book an
appointment to come and see, please call.