As our loved ones get older, they become more likely to develop health complications. Some of these conditions can leave them vulnerable and in need of additional support. This month, I though it would be worth looking at medical conditions that could benefit from a fall detector alarm.

By purchasing a personal alarm, people with health complications can continue to live independent lives. A fall detector provides additional peace of mind, as they will activate automatically if they detect their wearer has fallen. The alarm provider’s response team will always assume an emergency if the alarm user is unable to answer.

Diabetes

As a medical condition, diabetes involves an inefficiency in the body’s ability to process glucose. It may be that the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin, or that the body struggles to use it. This can result in irregular blood sugar levels that lead to illness and fainting.

If you or a loved one have diabetes, the condition can strike suddenly and with little warning. A spike in blood sugar could result in dizziness or a fall. In some cases, you may lose consciousness.

Personal alarms offer extra reassurance. When you start to feel unwell, you can activate your alarm and your provider can arrange help for you. If you opt for a fall detector plan, you will not even need to press the button yourself. This is especially helpful if you fall unconscious before you can press your button.

Dementia

People with dementia suffer from a deterioration of brain function. This is a medical condition that impacts memory, movement, and language. In some cases, it can also alter personality and cause people to lose interest in their hobbies.

One way in which personal alarms can help someone with dementia is by providing aid should they have a fall. A fall detector package, especially, will allow the provider to send help even if your loved one doesn’t press the button. This can be a lifesaver, as a person with dementia might not remember they are wearing an alarm during an emergency.

Further aid can be provided by purchasing a GPS alarm. It is not uncommon for people with dementia to lose their way when out and about on their own. This can be due to confusion or because they believe they are on their way to work – despite being retired for years! A GPS alarm allows the provider to relay their exact location to emergency contacts.

Read More: Best Personal Alarms for Dementia Patients

Heart Disease

One of the leading causes of death in the UK is heart disease. It is also a medical condition that can have serious effects on your overall health. You may suffer from regular chest pain and breathlessness, and on bad days this could also trigger severe nausea or dizziness.

Perhaps the most well-known symptom of heart disease is a heart attack. These can strike suddenly and are often life-threatening. If there is no help available, the chances of survival become frighteningly low.

Fortunately, by opting for a personal alarm, users can call for help if symptoms strike. Like with other serious medical conditions, a fall detector could be a wise investment. If a heart attack occurs and you are unable to press the alarm, a fall detector will activate automatically. Even if you don’t reply, your provider will alert the emergency services.

Epilepsy

People with epilepsy are at high risk of falls because of seizures. These can be triggered by various factors, but most commonly by flashing lights or stress. Epileptic seizures can come on suddenly and may result in serious injury. These injuries will often be as a result of the initial fall.

When a person with epilepsy has a seizure, they will not be able to request help. In older people, especially, this medical condition comes with an increased risk of injury as their bodies may be frailer. Support after a seizure can often be more important than support during one, too. The sufferer may be confused or may have injured themselves without realising.

A fall detector alarm will allow help to be arranged as soon as you or your loved one has a fall. This means help can be available to support them during the seizure of afterwards. If seizures are likely to occur outside of the home, they may benefit from a GPS alarm instead.

Stroke

A stroke is a medical condition that strikes suddenly and can have devastating consequences. The sooner a person having a stroke receives help, the less damage is likely to be done to their body. Unfortunately, the chances of having a stroke increase with age.

Strokes are caused either by blood clots blocking the brain’s blood supply, or by the bursting of a blood vessel. Both can cause very sudden symptoms. The most noticeable of these are a drooping of one side of the face, weakness in one or both arms, and slurring of speech. They may also become dizzy and lose their balance.

During a stroke, it is possible that the person will fall. Fall detector alarms mean that help can be arranged fast. This could be in the form of emergency contacts or an ambulance. Immediate support increases the chances of the affected individual surviving their stroke largely unharmed.

Choosing a Fall Detector Alarm

Other medical conditions may also increase the likelihood of falls and benefit from a fall detector. Therefore, it is important that you can choose the right service. The sooner help is available, the safer you or your loved one will be.

In the past, I looked at the Top 5 Fall Detector Alarms. Using this as guidance, be sure to look at all the providers on this site and compare what they can offer. If you are unsure what to look out for, read my post about How to Choose a Personal Alarm.

You can find additional posts about comparing personal alarms in the News section.

According to the NHS, 1 in 3 over 65s, and half of all over 80s, will have at least one fall a year. Falls can cause a range of injuries and can be lifechanging. Personal alarms help to provide support if a fall occurs. In this article, we will look at the leading causes of falls in the UK.

Muscle Weakness

As we get older, our muscles naturally begin to weaken. This results in a lack of strength and endurance and can also affect our balance. Simple tasks such as walking to the shops become more challenging. These activities put extra strain on muscles resulting in you becoming tired faster.

As well as age, muscles can be weakened by a lack of exercise. Alternatively, they may deteriorate due to health conditions such as arthritis.

Weaker muscles mean we are less steady on our feet, resulting in falls. Due to muscle weakness being normal as we age, it is amongst the leading causes of falls.

Dizziness

Falls can often occur because of dizziness. One moment we might be steady on our feet, the next the room starts spinning and we end up on the floor. Dizziness is one of the leading causes of falls simply because it can affect anyone.

Whilst some older people may have health conditions that make them more vulnerable to dizziness, sometimes we feel dizzy simply because we are dehydrated or hungry. Blood sugar levels can also contribute.

If you find you or your loved ones are getting dizzy regularly, it is worth being checked by a doctor. Personal alarms can offer additional peace of mind.

Blackouts or Fainting

Blackouts and fainting are leading causes of falls, as they partially shut down your body. People will have incidents where they suddenly find themselves on the ground without knowing how they got there. Usually, if you have had one incident you are likely to have more.

Sudden losses of consciousness can be scary, as they can often strike out of nowhere. Even if you have a personal alarm, you may not have a chance to call for help. Therefore, it is worth choosing a provider that sells a fall detector option.

There are a few conditions that can cause regular blackouts, such as atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rate) and diabetes. If you experience fainting episodes, speak to your GP, and consider personal alarms as a safety measure.

Poor Vision or Hearing

Impaired senses can affect how we move around. We might not notice obstructions, or suffer from reduced spatial awareness. Our balance can also be affected. These extra challenges make vision and hearing problems leading causes of falls.

Age can lead to changes in eyesight, affecting how our eyes adjust to changes in lighting. Depth perception can also worsen over time. When we cannot see as clearly, our likelihood of tripping over or losing our balance increases.

Whilst poor eyesight is often a natural part of ageing, it can be worsened by certain health conditions. Diabetes can result in macular edema, which can cause blindness. Similarly, strokes can have a major impact on your vision.

Medication

Though they are necessary for our continued wellbeing, some types of medication can result in side effects that increase the likelihood of falls. They may result in mild symptoms such as drowsiness or cause more severe problems such as high blood pressure.

Taking medication is one of the leading causes of falls simply because no two people will respond to medication in the same way. People who take anti-depressants, blood pressure tablets, sleeping pills, or anticonvulsants are at the highest risk of symptoms that could lead to a fall.

If you are worried that your medication is making you more likely to fall, consult your GP.

Slips, Trips and Falls

Often, falls are caused by environmental factors. It doesn’t matter how good our eyesight is, how steady we are on our feet, or if we have never fainted. Sometimes all it takes is for us to put a foot down wrong or fail to notice a hazard.

Slips, trips and falls are one of the most common causes on accidents in the UK. As such, they are also one of the leading causes of falls. We might not notice that the floor is wet, or there may be a cable along a walkway. Sometimes stepping off a kerb wrong is enough to result in a fall.

Because an accidental fall can happen at any time, it is important to have a system in place to look out for your wellbeing. A personal alarm can help.

How to Choose a Personal Alarm

It is clear that falls are a recurring hazard for older people in the UK. As such, it is in your best interests to purchase a personal alarm. They allow you to call for help if you have a fall. Help can be sent to you so that you do not get stuck on the floor for hours.

However, there are so many options out there that it can be hard to choose the right personal alarm for you. That’s where Careline Compare comes in. We have compiled a list of the nation’s top providers. To find the best service for you, check out the compare page. If you need some extra help choosing a personal alarm, read our guide on How to Choose a Personal Alarm.