Exploring patterns of personal alarm system use and impacts on outcomes

• Published in: Australasian journal on ageing Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 252 - 260
• Main Authors: Andrew, Nadine E., Wang, Yun, Teo, Ken, Callisaya, Michele L., Moran, Christopher, Snowdon, David A., Ellmers, Sonya, Beare, Richard, Richardson, Dean, Srikanth, Velandai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia 01.09.2021
• Subjects: Accidental Falls; Aged, 80 and over; aging; Ambulances; Australia; Cohort Studies; emergencies; falls; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; personal emergency response systems; Australia; emergencies; falls; aging; personal emergency response systems
• ISSN: 1440-6381; 1741-6612
• DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12941

Objectives To describe the patterns of personal emergency response systems (PERS) use in a statewide cohort of older Australians. Methods PERS data from clients enrolled in the Personal Alarm Victoria program between January 2014 and June 2017 were analysed. Alarm activation reasons were extracted, and a medical record audit was performed for a sub‐cohort of patients admitted to a local hospital following an alarm event. Descriptive statistics were used. Results There were 42,180 clients enrolled during the study (mean age 80 years, 80% female, 93% living alone). An ambulance attended 44% of the fall‐related events and 81% of events coded as unwell. Activation reasons were distributed equally between a fall and feeling unwell, and a repeating pattern of activation reasons was observed. In our sub‐cohort (n = 92), the majority of admissions (86%) followed an alarm activation coded as unwell. Conclusion We demonstrated recurring patterns associated with the reasons for alarm use.