Does anyone use a pendant alarm?: - Ataxia UK
Does anyone use a pendant alarm?
Hello HarryB
I use a call pendant (Call 24) and I wouldn't be wihout it. I have been admitted to hospital twice lately as an emergency and they did everything.
Take care
Regaeds
Fifa
Hello HarryB
Sorry about the spelling. sometimes my fingers have a will of their own!!
Take care
regards
Fifa
Hi Fifa
Do not worry about your spelling at all. Thank you for your feedback-it is very useful. As in my reply to Alan below, I have been advised to get one by the fire service. I don't really like the thought of using one but there is no doubt that it would improve my safety and give me (and my mum!!) greater peace of mind!
Harriet (HarryB)
The bungalow where I live had a monitored pendant type of alarm when moved in I used to think it was a good thing until l lent on it this set it off by accident and I almost killed myself rushing to cancel it. The same goes for the panic button on my phone the one that sends texts to the numbers you put into it, lets just say that as I messed up the numbers strangers got a text when i lent on it washing up. So my thoughts are that it is unlikely that you would be conscious to press it and if you are why not use your mobile phone, a movement sensing thing would in my view be more useful
"johnpa" is right I hink
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So my thoughts are that it is unlikely that you would be conscious to press it and if you are why not use your mobile phone, a movement sensing thing would in my view be more useful
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Regards
Jurgen
Harryb I have just had a thought someone may already make one, but how about an app for a smartphone they already have a motion sensor ect so a phone in your pocket will know if you are moving and could be set to ring after 5 mins of no motion [watching tv dozeing ect] so you could move to avoid false activation and it would be available and with you in an emergency, something worth ataxia uk looking into perhaps
Hi John
I can see where you are coming from but I am not sure it would work. I don't think a smartphone would be able to pick on fine movement or moving your body in the same spot or even moving from room to room in your house. I think your movements would have to be more widespread, e.g. moving towns or moving to the region covered by the next mobile phone mast in order for the handset to be able to detect the movement. Having said that technology is not my strong point and I could be wrong!
That is not something that Ataxia UK would look into. It would be more relevant to a generic disability charity, particularly one that supports developing new occupational therapy aids, if one exists.
Harriet
Hi,
I have a pendant and a Belt Clip. At Christmas hopefully I'll get an emergency mobile phone with text big enough for me to read.
If my wife goes out I put on the pendant. I've never used the belt clip.
The pendant is unobtrusive and I just forget about it.
I have read all the other replies, I have no problems.
I'll probably have more to say in an emergency.
Alan Beckley
Thanks Alan.
I hadn't really thought about getting one before. I had a fireman round on Monday to look at Fire Safety in my flat and building (I live in an old converted house) and it was them who suggested it. I have someone coming round to speak to me about it this week and give me the opportunity to try one out. I live on my own and a constant worry is if I fall and really hurt myself or hit my head nobody would know. I know my Mum is desperate for me to get one!!! You can't put a price on safety or peace of mind.
Harriet
Hi Harriet as you say you can never be to safe but as you say in your message "my constant worry is if I fall and really hurt myself or hit my head nobody would know." who would press the button? [ a vote for a movement sensor me thinks ] I still think that a movement app for a mobile would work I will have to look into it but as for it not being sensitive enough moving the phone when playing games requires fine sensing so it should
Hi John
I agree with you it wouldn't be very helpful if I hit my head to the point of being unconscious and although this is a possibility I am more likely to fall over and hurt another part of my body preventing me from getting up. I am useless at carrying my mobile phone everywhere I go in my flat and I wouldn't be able to attach anything to it to hang it around my neck. I often do not wear clothes with pockets so would have nowhere to put it.
You are absolutely correct about the sensitivity issue for a smartphone picking up motion. I hadn't thought of that. Good Luck with looking into it!
Harriet
My Neurophysiotherapist mentioned it. At the moment I take my mobile phone with me on my road scooter.I have to take my glasses to see it.I have to remember so many things if I wanted to go out.Keys, glasses,phone,dog and lead etc . It takes ages to get ready and by then I am exhausted and just collapse on the scooter for a good rest.I can just about right myself when I fall but I am on my own most of the day and some one on here made a good point about being knocked out.Then we could not use anything.It hasn't happened to yet but it could do as i am always trying to balance in the garden or greenhouse and takeunnecessary risks thinkking I used to be able to do the same thing in the old days.I know it would give my husband peace of mind.Perhaps I am silly wanting to be independant but it can sometijmes be hard adjusting.
I am looking into the smartphone thing but in the meantime I have just seen this so beckly may want to put it on her xmas list I easylinkuk.co.uk/page78.htm in case it doesn't form a link it is a called a dorio mp334i lt is a lot cheaper elsewhere it is only £91 on amazon I have a different dorio phone and although I don't endorse them it seems robust it survives the constant drops anyway [ famous last words ]
Dear silkwood I have just read your message I do exactly the same thing doing things in the way I used to and other things that I used to do but shouldn't now and it makes me wounder how many others out there are like us? [sorry to Harriet for hijacking her pendent thing] but have a look at the link it has big buttons so it may help you
I have a pendant and if it is pressed accidentally there is no need to panic,
the lovely lady at the other end of mine told me to wait til it was answered and explain it was an accident, or just tell them I was testing my batteries as it should be tested every 8/10 weeks .
It gives me peace of mind and also my husband knows while he is out on the road driving I will have care if I fall 
If you are knocked out, you're knocked out. Noone is going to help unless you are with someone at the time. So I can't see the point in cosidering that scenario.
If you're knocked out, and then wake up, it's going to be quicker, easier, and take less energy to use a pendant to call for help than using anything else. I can't think of any scenario where it wouldn't be beneficial to have a pendant.
If I lived alone, I would definately get one, if only for peace of mind.
harriet I didn't mean to put anyone off I am just putting my views forward I appreciate in certain circumstances they could be a good thing and it could make people feel safer but I still think something that senses movement [or the lack of it] would be better
Hi John
I didn't think that at all. It is a good example that everyone think differently about things and what doesn't work for one person works well for someone else. Life would be boring if we all thought the same!
Harriet
i have a wrist alarm. My problem is pressing it by mistake!
If I'm alone, i always use my wheelchair belt, so,for me, it has limited usefulness. For ambulant ataxians, i think that it would be a good idea,for the peace of mind as much as anything.
Hi Harry, I have a life line pendant which i can wear on my wrist or neck. They gave Clo one too as I cant get upstairs when she's ill.
They also supplied me with a falls alarm too. This attaches to a belt so if you fall it automatically calls the life line centre as it is set off by the change of position. You can even throw it to set it off if your not able to press the button on the alarm for any reason.
The centre has all your medical details and can call family members or medical aid as required. I've had to use mine several times. They even call on Chloe's birthday to say hi to her so she gets used to the voices too!
The last time I needed their assistance I ended up in ICU. The life line operator figured out It was probably relating to my asthma as I couldn't talk to them at all so they got an ambulance first and then called my mum to come and stay with Clo . SO I for one think it is always a good idea. The staff are fantastic.
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