Decide how help is requested
A phone on the kitchen counter is not enough if the fall risk is in the bathroom or bedroom. Help needs to be reachable from likely risk points.
Options may include a wearable button, phone routine, smart alert, neighbour protocol, or professional emergency response service.
Make access practical
If an approved contact or responder cannot enter, response is delayed. Consider keys, trusted contacts, building access, door communication, and any alarm codes.
Access planning should be secure and agreed with the person at home, not improvised after a crisis.
Create a short home information sheet
Keep essential information easy to find: medication list, allergies, doctor contact, approved contacts, preferred hospital, mobility notes, and where important documents are kept.
This is especially useful when more than one approved contact or helper may respond.
Planning checklist
- Who is contacted first in an emergency?
- Can help be requested from bathroom, bedroom, and living areas?
- How does a trusted responder enter the home?
- Where are medication and medical notes kept?
- What should neighbours, helpers, or approved contacts do first?
Common questions
Is an emergency button needed?
It depends on mobility, fall history, living situation, and response time. Emergency buttons are most useful when the person will wear or use them consistently.
What should be included in an emergency plan?
Include contact order, home access, medication information, known risks, preferred responders, and how alerts are handled overnight or when usual contacts are away.