Personal emergency alarms: what impact do they have on older people's lives?

To determine if, how often and in what types of situations older people use personal alarms and to explore the impact of personal alarm technology on older people's lives.

This study was retrospective and involved a mail-out survey to 2610 users of the Silver Chain Care Link Personal Alarm Service.

Clients wear their alarm consistently around their home and in the garden; however, use is low in the shower/bath and in bed at night. Clients reported positive impacts in terms of: gaining faster assistance in an emergency, extending the time they are able to remain living at home, increasing their sense of security, reducing anxiety about falling and increasing confidence in performing everyday activities.

Personal alarms have many positive impacts on the lives of older people.