Simply tell them why you’ve pushed the button and what the situation is. Once an operator has answered, they’ll know who you are, where you live and your medical history, so you don’t have to explain any of this. Ninety eight per cent of Age UK’s calls are answered within 60 seconds, so you shouldn’t need to wait too long. Once you’ve pushed the button, you’ll be connected to the response unit. Either of these options will connect you to the 24-hour emergency response centre. If you have an emergency while you’re at home alone, you can either push the button on your wearable pendant or you can push the large red button on the main unit. Your telephone then plugs into the base unit so that your phone still works alongside the alarm’s unit. This is how the pendant is able to contact the emergency response unit should a problem occur. You’ll also get a base unit that should be plugged into the telephone wall socket. When you order a panic button, you don’t just receive the button that you wear. If you experience a fall, an alarm could alert someone to an incident straight away, enabling you to get the help you need as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Age UK data shows that falls are the most common cause of injury-related death in people aged 75 and over. You shouldn’t feel like you’re wasting anyone’s time - it’s important that you use your alarm when you need to so that someone can check that you’re okay. Your panic button can be used whenever you feel unwell or if you have an accident at home. It’s important to keep it on when you’re washing, as slips and falls are more likely to occur when you’re getting in or out of the bath or shower. However you choose to wear it, you should make sure that it’s on your person 24/7.Īge UK’s personal alarms are water resistant and can be submerged for up to 30 minutes, meaning they’re safe to wear in the bath or shower. They won’t get in the way, so you can carry on with everyday tasks and forget that you’re even wearing one. You may be worried about a panic button being bulky or uncomfortable to wear, however they are designed to be discreet. This means that it can be hidden under sleeves or shirts if you would prefer to keep the device out of sight. Panic alarms usually come in the form of a pendant that can be worn around your neck or a bracelet that can be worn around your wrist.

In this article, we outline the forms a panic button comes in and how it works.

If you’re elderly or have a long-term illness, you could benefit from one. A panic button, otherwise referred to as a personal alarm, SOS alarm or safety alarm, is specifically designed for vulnerable or unwell people who live alone.

No panic button