Why Every Older Australian Living Alone Should Have a Personal Alarm

The reality of living alone as you get older

More than one in four Australians aged 65 and over live alone, according to ABS 2022 survey data - and for women in that age group, the figure rises to more than one in three. For many of them, living alone is a deliberate choice - a sign of independence, of a life that is still very much their own. Living alone at 70, 80, or beyond is not unusual, and for most people it works well most of the time.

But living alone changes what happens in an emergency. Not whether emergencies happen - falls, health episodes, and unexpected moments of incapacity affect older Australians whether they live with family or not. What changes is who is there when one does.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalisation for Australians aged 65 and over, accounting for tens of thousands of emergency admissions every year. The majority of those falls happen at home - in familiar rooms, on familiar floors, in the middle of an ordinary day. They are not dramatic events. They are quiet ones. A misjudged step, a moment of dizziness, a foot catching on a rug.

When someone lives with a partner or family member, an emergency is usually discovered quickly. When someone lives alone, it may not be discovered for hours - or longer. That gap between the moment of the fall and the arrival of help is where outcomes are determined.

A personal alarm is designed to close that gap. It is one of the most practical changes an older person living alone can make - not because it prevents emergencies, but because it ensures they are responded to quickly.

What actually happens in an emergency when no one is there

It is worth being specific about the scenarios a personal alarm addresses, because the need is often abstract until it is not.

A fall on the bathroom floor. The phone is in the bedroom. Getting up is not possible - the hip may be broken, or the pain may be too severe to put weight on the leg. Calling out may not be heard by anyone. The floor is hard and cold, and help is not coming unless someone thinks to check.

A health episode in the kitchen - sudden dizziness, chest discomfort, a moment where concentration and coordination disappear. The phone is on the bench above where the person has slid to the floor, or is locked and requires a pin that the mind cannot retrieve under the pressure of the moment.

A fall outdoors, in the garden or on the front path. The phone is inside. There are no neighbours immediately visible. It is a weekday morning and the street is quiet.

In each of these situations, the same thing is true: the problem is not the emergency itself. The problem is the time before help arrives. Lying on a hard floor for an extended period - even a few hours - carries serious risks for older adults: hypothermia, pressure injuries, dehydration, and a significant worsening of whatever initial injury occurred. Speed of response matters enormously.

A personal alarm addresses all of these scenarios directly. It is worn on the person, not left in another room. It does not require unlocking, navigating a menu, or remembering a number under pressure. One press alerts the people who need to know.

What is a personal alarm - and what it is not

The term "emergency button" or "panic button" covers a very wide range of products, and it is worth understanding the difference between them before deciding what is appropriate for an older person living alone.

At the cheaper end of the market - the kind of device you might find on Amazon or at a big-box retailer for $20 to $60 - you will find basic caregiver pagers and fixed call buttons. These are simple devices that alert a nearby receiver when pressed. They are designed to be installed in a home, connected to a wi-fi network or a fixed base station, and used within a limited range. They do not have GPS. They do not detect falls. They do not work outside the home, and they do not connect to a monitoring service. If you press the button and no one is within range of the receiver, nothing happens.

For someone who is frequently at home and always has a carer or family member nearby, this type of device may be appropriate. For an older person living alone - who may be in the garden, out for a walk, or at home without anyone immediately available - a basic home button provides limited real protection.

A proper personal alarm operates on the mobile network, not wi-fi. It works anywhere in Australia that has 4G coverage - indoors and outdoors. It carries its own SIM card, tracks the wearer's GPS location, and communicates directly with emergency contacts and monitoring services regardless of where the person is when they press it.

The distinction matters because it determines whether the device is actually useful in the scenarios that matter most.

The features that make a real difference

When looking at personal alarm options for an older parent or relative, there are specific capabilities worth looking for. Not every device marketed as a "personal alarm" includes all of these - and the ones that do not can leave meaningful gaps in coverage.

A large, easy-to-press SOS button. The button needs to be operable under stress, with limited hand strength, and without requiring fine motor coordination. A single, clearly identified button is significantly more reliable than a small device that requires pressing multiple controls in the right sequence.

Automatic fall detection. This is the feature that addresses the scenario where pressing the button is not possible - because the person is unconscious, disoriented, or too injured to activate the device manually. Fall detection uses motion sensors to identify the signature of a hard fall and triggers the alert automatically. It is not perfect - no fall detection technology is - but it provides an important backup to manual activation.

GPS location sharing. When an alert is triggered, the device shares the wearer's GPS location with their emergency contacts. This is particularly valuable for outdoor emergencies - falls in the garden, health episodes during a walk - where the address of the person's home would not indicate where they actually are.

Two-way voice communication. The device should allow the person in distress to speak directly with their contacts or with a monitoring operator, through a built-in microphone and loudspeaker. This allows them to confirm what has happened, describe their condition, and be reassured that help is on the way - without needing to find or operate a separate phone.

24/7 professional monitoring. Family members and nominated contacts cannot always answer their phones. A monitoring service provides a guaranteed response - trained operators who receive the alert, attempt to make contact, and coordinate appropriate assistance if the wearer cannot respond or if nominated contacts are unavailable. For people living alone, this is the safety net that makes the system reliable around the clock.

4G mobile coverage. The device should run on the 4G mobile network - not wi-fi, and not a fixed base station - so it works anywhere in Australia, indoors and outdoors, without depending on the home internet connection.

Common reasons people put it off - and why they change their mind

Most people who eventually get a personal alarm for an older parent report the same thing: they wished they had done it sooner. The reasons for delaying are understandable, but they are worth examining honestly.

"Mum is still very independent." This is exactly who benefits most from a personal alarm. An independent older person - someone who is active, who lives alone by choice, who goes about their day without supervision - is also someone who is frequently in situations where, if something went wrong, it would not be discovered quickly. A personal alarm does not reduce independence. It is what allows independence to continue safely.

"We check in on Dad regularly." Regular check-ins provide comfort and connection, but they do not provide continuous coverage. A fall that happens at 2am, or two hours after the previous phone call, is not addressed by regular check-ins. A personal alarm works in the gaps - at any hour, in any location, without requiring anyone to happen to call at the right moment.

"She has her mobile phone." A smartphone requires unlocking, navigating to the contacts screen, finding the right number, and making a call - all under physical and psychological stress. It also needs to be within arm's reach at the moment of the emergency, which it frequently is not. A personal alarm is worn on the body and requires a single button press. The comparison is not quite accurate.

"He'd never wear it." Resistance is common, and it is worth taking seriously rather than dismissing. But it is also worth having the conversation clearly: the alarm is not there for everyday use - it is there for the moment when everyday use is not possible. Most people, when they understand that the device exists precisely for the situations where nothing else would work, are more willing to try it.

"It feels like admitting something." This is the most honest version of the hesitation, and it is worth acknowledging. A personal alarm does represent a change in how a person thinks about their safety. But the choice is not between needing help and not needing help - the choice is between being able to get help quickly and not being able to. Getting that device is not a sign that independence is ending. It is a decision that keeps it going.

How the KISA Personal Alarm works

The KISA Personal Alarm is a 4G device designed specifically for older Australians and people with disabilities. It is worn on a lanyard around the neck - light and comfortable enough to be worn throughout the day - and includes GPS tracking, automatic fall detection, and two-way voice communication built in.

When the SOS button is pressed, or when fall detection activates automatically, the device simultaneously alerts up to five nominated emergency contacts by text message and voice call, sharing the wearer's GPS location via a Google Maps link. Contacts receive the alert at the same time - there is no queue or sequence. If a contact does not answer, the next one is already being alerted.

For those who choose to add it, KISA's 24/7 monitoring service provides a further layer of coverage. Australian-based monitoring professionals receive the alert, can speak directly with the person in distress through the device's built-in loudspeaker, and coordinate an appropriate response - including contacting emergency services if needed.

Family members and carers can use the MyKISA app to track the device's GPS location, manage contact settings, and receive low-battery notifications. It provides ongoing visibility without requiring constant phone calls to check in.

Because the KISA Personal Alarm runs on the 4G mobile network with its own SIM card, it works anywhere in Australia with 4G coverage - at home, in the garden, at the shops, or at a friend's place. It does not depend on a home wi-fi connection or a fixed base station.

Funding options in Australia

A personal alarm is not always an out-of-pocket purchase. There are government funding pathways that can cover some or all of the cost, depending on age and circumstances.

Support at Home program (for Australians aged 65 and over). The Support at Home program - which replaced the Home Care Package system in November 2025 - includes a dedicated Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) budget. This budget is separate from care services and is designed specifically to fund assistive technology including personal alarms, GPS trackers, and other safety devices. To access this funding, an assessment through My Aged Care is required. The KISA home care and funding page explains the process in more detail.

Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA). Eligible veterans may be able to access personal alarms through DVA funding. A GP or DVA-registered health professional can advise on eligibility and referral.

Self-funded. For people who are not eligible for government funding or who prefer to purchase independently, the KISA Personal Alarm is available directly. It is a one-time device purchase with an ongoing monitoring subscription for the 24/7 service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an emergency button for the elderly?

An emergency button for older Australians - also called a personal alarm or panic button - is a wearable device that allows the user to call for help instantly in an emergency. When activated, it alerts nominated contacts and, in better-equipped devices, connects to a professional monitoring service. Quality devices operate on the 4G mobile network with GPS tracking and automatic fall detection, meaning they work anywhere - not just within a home's wi-fi range.

Are personal alarms worth it for older people living alone?

For older people living alone, a personal alarm is one of the highest-value safety investments available. The main risk of living alone is not that emergencies happen more often - it is that there is no one nearby to respond to them quickly. A personal alarm closes that gap by ensuring that help can be reached immediately, regardless of the time of day or the location within (or outside) the home. Many families report that getting a personal alarm was one of the most reassuring decisions they made for a parent's safety.

What is the difference between a basic panic button and a proper personal alarm?

A basic panic button - the kind available from electronics retailers or online for $20 to $60 - typically works within a fixed home range via wi-fi or a base station. It has no GPS, no fall detection, and no mobile connectivity. A proper personal alarm operates on the 4G mobile network, works anywhere in Australia, tracks the wearer's location via GPS, may include automatic fall detection, and connects to a professional monitoring service. For someone who spends time outdoors, lives without a full-time carer, or needs reliable coverage around the clock, the difference is significant.

Can I get a personal alarm funded in Australia?

Yes, in many cases. Australians aged 65 and over may be able to access a personal alarm through the Support at Home program's assistive technology budget. Veterans may have access through DVA funding. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances and an assessment process. KISA can help guide you through the funding options relevant to your situation.