The personal alarm industry covers a wide range of devices designed to provide Australians with a reliable, efficient response in a life-threatening medical emergency – but not every personal alarm is the same, with both non-monitored and monitored services available.
A personal alarm can provide you and your family peace of mind as well as support an independent and active life. But which alarm is right for you?
Having a non-monitored personal alarm involves a higher risk factor in a medical emergency when urgent assistance can’t be guaranteed or organised in a timely manner.
Unlike non-monitored personal alarms, MePACS devices are responded to by a 24/7 emergency response service, who are guaranteed to answer and assess what level of help you need and call the necessary contacts or emergency services.
The choice between a non-monitored and monitored personal alarm may sound simple when considering ongoing costs, but when it comes to the health of seniors, people with disabilities and those with compromised immune systems, their welfare must be prioritised.
What is the difference between Non-monitored Personal Alarms and a Monitored Alarm like MePACS?
The below table highlights some of the key differences between MePACS and non-monitored alarms.
| MePACS | Non-monitored personal alarms | |
| Answered by trained professionals in emergency response | Yes | No |
| Guaranteed response every time | Yes | No |
| Response time | Under 2 minutes | automatic call sequence until someone answers |
| Prioritise call to emergency services | Yes | No |
| Relay specific information about the event to emergency services | Yes | No |
| Mobile alarms that can be taken out and about or on holiday in Australia | Yes | Yes |
| Emergency response centre based in Australia | Yes | No |
| Offer a ‘daily call’ to check on clients | Yes | No |
| Professional installation by technician available | Yes | No, it can only be self-installed |
- In the event that the alarm press is an accident, only MePACS will be alerted and not family members who could become concerned about your safety unnecessarily, if a false alert. Non-monitored personal alarms automatically text and call a list of pre-selected contacts when the alarm is activated – even if it is accidentally.
- Our response team can talk to our clients through the home speaker unit and reassure them that a ‘real person’ is there to help, staying with them on the line until help has arrived.
- MePACS can establish what help is required and call the appropriate contact or emergency service immediately, relaying the medical information and situation.
- With a non-monitored medical alert system, you also have to hope that help is available when you need it. With MePACS, we can absolutely guarantee that your signal for help will be answered by one of our trained professional day or night.
- MePACS also offer a new, discreet and convenient personal alarm watch called the MePACS Solo – with GPS technology, falls detection and health metrics to keep up with an active and modern lifestyle.
Does a MePACS monitored alarm sound right for you? Join our service today at the link below:
How does a non-monitored personal alarm work?
A non-monitored alarm call or text message cannot deliver the specific event information and medical background to emergency services. Response from a real person at the MePACS team can make all the difference in an emergency situation. Time is of the essence.
Here’s an example of what could happen in a medical emergency if someone has a non-monitored medical alert system:
- Joan is 86 years old and has issues with her balance and mobility but chooses to live alone. She is carrying her lunch from the kitchen when she trips on the mat and falls forward onto the floor
- She is injured and can’t get up, but manages to press her non-monitored personal alarm
- The alarm automatically calls her daughter Mary as her first contact, but she is a swim teacher at the local pool and her phone is on silent in her locker
- The non-monitored alarm then calls her son Jack, but he is in a meeting and did not take his phone with him
- The alarm calls her third contact, but her neighbour June is driving with her grandkids and doesn’t hear the phone ring
- Joan’s fourth contact is Triple 0, but the non-monitored alarm can only play a recorded message and not relay the details of her injury
- Emergency services dispatch an ambulance just in case, but it is not prioritised. By the time they get to her house, they also have to wait for police to let them in
If the first contact does not answer, it can call up to five contacts until someone picks up. The downside of this is if your contacts receive a call in the middle of the night, or when they are at work, swimming or just not able to get to their phone in a timely manner, there is no guarantee they will respond quickly in the time that you need essential help.
While non-monitored medical alert systems may appear less expensive initially, the well-being and safety of your loved one is just not prioritised as it should be, and they won’t be getting the level of care they deserve – like they would from a monitored medical alarm service.
How does a monitored personal alarm work?
With a fully monitored response service, you can always rely on someone responding quickly to your signal for help. The MePACS response centre is based in Australia, so you know you are talking to a familiar voice. And with your medical details on file, we know just how specific you need the help to be.
- If Joan had a MePACS alarm, she could press her emergency pendant and be connected with our 24/7 monitoring team within two minutes.
- An operator would speak directly with Joan through two-way communication and assess the situation so she can receive the most appropriate help available.
- In this case, our operator would call an ambulance and relay the details of the emergency, including any relevant medical conditions that may worsen her injuries.
- Our operator would stay on the line with Joan until the ambulance arrives, reassuring her that help is on the way. If approved by the client, we can also give directions for the paramedics to access the keylock and thus reduce the need to break-in to get to the client.
- Our operator also calls Joan’s family once the ambulance is dispatched to let them know about the situation.