Personal safety equipment

Carrying a personal alarm is useful if you experience falls.

If you’re worried about a fall, it may be useful to carry a personal alarm. Personal alarms can also help give family members peace of mind if they are concerned about someone when they're alone.

Types of alarm

  • Monitors and intercoms. You can use these to alert another person in your house if you need them. Some monitors are triggered when you pass them, for example if you get out of bed in the middle of the night.
  • Wireless doorbells. These are available from hardware shops, these create a low-cost portable call system for your house and garden. This may help if your voice isn't strong enough to call for help from someone nearby.
  • Phone apps. Some specialist apps can act as an alarm trigger.
  • Community alarm systems. If you fall, you can press the button on a small wearable device to alert an emergency response centre. They will send a trusted person such as a family member, or the emergency services to help you. Speak to your local social services, social work department or health and social care trust for details of local schemes. There is usually a cost for this service. You may be able to download an app to your smartphone that works in a similar way.

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Thank you

Thank you to the following experts who contributed to or reviewed this information:

  • Rebecca Boddington, Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

  • Lauren Drake, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist, MY Therapy service, Mid Yorkshire Teaching Trust

  • Rachael Stringer, Occupational Therapist, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Thanks also to everyone living with or supporting someone with Parkinson's who provided feedback or helped produce this information.

Last updated

This content will next be reviewed within 3 years of that date. If you'd like to find out more about how we put our information together, including references and the sources of evidence we use, please contact us at [email protected]