Who is ever ready for a medical alarm?

In my career as a Social Worker, over some 20+ years, I have had many discussions with clients/patients and their family regarding topics they don’t want to hear about. One of those is about applying for a medical alarm. I don’t think that I have often had the conversation and found that the person I was talking to was ready for that discussion. Whether the discussion is with the person or with the carer, more often than not people often act surprised and comment that it is too soon.

I have heard every excuse there is, I’m sure. I am often told ‘I have a cordless phone/cellphone that I carry with me’ or ‘I put my cellphone on the tray of my walker’ to which I responded ‘If it is on your walker or even if it is beside you, in a fall the phone could be thrown from the walker and you may be unable to reach it to summon help’. Even if a person has an existing medical alarm, often people are reluctant to wear one and many a person has told me – when asked where the alarm pendant/wristband is I am told that it is on the nightstand next to their bed. Very handy indeed if you fall within arms reach of the nightstand, but not at all helpful if you even fall in another part of the bedroom let alone anywhere else in the house.

So, I have encouraged and explained and gently nudged many a person to agree to a medical alarm. Now, I have to be my own Social Worker. What I would say to a woman with compromised mobility – even if short term – is that I would recommend a personal medical alarm. I would especially encourage if that person were to spend a lot of time on their own. In addition, if covered by Work and Income (WINZ) it would be at no cost.

So, Social Worker me has had a chat to normal person me (not that I consider myself normal) and normal me has agreed to get a medical alarm. This will be good for times when Ade is at work and just in case I have a fall or something and no-one is available to help me. I have all the objections in my head, but the Social Worker me has won the argument. Plus, WINZ is paying me a benefit, so I will qualify for them to pay for it.

Just another thing that makes me feel like an old woman.

First the walker.

Now a medical alarm.

But I am assured the walker is temporary.