Fall detectors: how fall detection works and its limits

1. Start with the person’s situation and consent

Ask what reassurance the person wants, whether they would wear or charge a device, and who they want contacted. Consider falls at home, in the garden and outdoors; a device designed for one location may not work elsewhere. Talk through what happens if the user presses no button, cannot speak, removes the device or does not want an alert sent. If a person has fallen repeatedly, feels faint or has unexplained changes, contact a health professional; an alarm does not investigate the cause.

2. Understand what detection can miss

Ask the provider to explain which movements the detector recognises, which kinds of fall may be missed and how it distinguishes a fall from sitting, bending or lying down. A slow slide, soft landing, unusual body position or being out of range may not trigger an alert. Some systems can raise an alert when no help is needed. Ask whether the wearer can cancel a false alert, how long they have and what happens if they cannot reach the button. Do not treat a “fall detection” label as a guarantee.

3. What to look for when choosing

Check wearable comfort, weight, water resistance, battery life, charging routine, manual call option, signal coverage and whether the device works in the bathroom or garden. Ask whether GPS or location sharing is active and how consent and privacy are managed. Confirm if it needs a landline, broadband, mobile signal or subscription, how outages are reported, who monitors alerts, and whether someone answers at all hours. Ask about trial conditions, test-call costs, false-alarm fees, replacement and cancellation.

4. Build and rehearse the response plan

Name primary and backup responders, check that each person agrees and can reach the home, and confirm who has a key or safe access. Decide what the monitoring centre should do if the user does not answer, if a contact cannot be reached or if an alert appears to be a false alarm. Explain relevant communication needs and emergency instructions. Practise a test alert with the provider and responders, and repeat it after phone, broadband, address or contact changes. Keep a manual call method within reach.

5. Consider assessment, trials and safe purchasing

Ask the council, housing provider or NHS service whether telecare or a detector is available after assessment; local options and charges vary. A Disabled Living Centre may help someone compare wearable equipment. HMRC allows VAT relief for an emergency alarm-call system designed for a disabled person to alert a specified person or call centre, when it is for that person’s domestic or personal use and the eligibility conditions are met; an ordinary wearable is not automatically exempt. A DFG is generally for eligible home adaptation work, not a subscription or ordinary device. Avoid sales pressure and ask for a full written cost. Qualifying online or off-premises purchases usually have 14 days to cancel, with exceptions; faulty-device protections still apply.

6. Test and maintain without relying on it alone

Follow the supplier’s instructions for cleaning, charging, testing and software updates. Check that the wearer can still operate the manual button and that the monitoring centre receives the expected signal. Review fit and use if clothing, dexterity, memory or daily routine changes. Keep a phone or another agreed call route accessible, and consider what happens in a power or network outage. If alerts stop or response is delayed, report it immediately and agree a temporary alternative before assuming the service is restored.

7. What it typically costs

Which? notes there may be an extra cost for services such as a fall detector. Its guide, published in August 2026 with prices correct as of July 2026, lists fall-detector alarms at about £19–£27 a month plus a £30–£50 setup fee, compared with about £15–£20 a month for a standard pendant alarm. Council telecare charges vary locally, so ask for the full monthly and setup cost in writing. See the daily living aids guide for questions about an occupational therapy assessment and trying equipment before buying.

Common questions