Personal Alert Victoria (PAV) is a 24/7 emergency response service funded by the Victorian Government. It assists isolated, frail, older individuals and younger people living with disabilities who have complex ongoing health and support needs, helping them live independently and safely at home.
The program provides a subsidised monitored personal alarm to eligible clients and also includes a mandatory daily wellbeing check to ensure continuous support.
MePACS is the personal alarm and emergency response provider for PAV in Victoria. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Who is eligible for PAV?
Applicants for PAV must meet specific criteria and be assessed at home by an approved PAV assessment organisation. Please note that there can be waiting period until an alarm unit becomes available.
As part of the eligibility criteria, applicants must be able and willing to wear an alarm pendant at all times, agree to doing a daily welfare check and live alone (or with a person who cannot help in an emergency). The daily welfare check involves pressing a button on the alarm unit every day between 6am-11am.
Applicants must also meet at least two of the following:
- Have fallen at least once and needed medical attention in the past six months
- Suffer from a major medical condition or chronic condition that puts them at risk of medical emergencies or has some ongoing effect on health or wellbeing
- Take six or more different medications permanently prescribed by a medical practitioner or doctor.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the PAV alarms, please call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
How do PAV alarms work?
The PAV alarm includes a base unit that is installed inside the home, and a small, waterproof pendant that can be worn around the neck or on the wrist.
In an emergency, you must press the button on the pendant. This will connect you to the MePACS emergency response team who will answer through the base unit within 2 minutes.
PAV alarms are monitored 24 hours a day by the MePACS response team who are professionally trained at handling emergencies. They quickly assess your situation, organise the necessary assistance, inform your nominated contacts and provide relevant information to emergency services as needed.
PAV Home Alarm
The PAV Home Alarm is fully-funded by PAV and designed to provide 24/7 safety around the home and garden. It includes a small wearable pendant and a base unit that is installed in a central location in the home. The Home Alarm is connected to the 4G network through a SIM card (included) and does not require the internet, home or mobile phone.
- Simple one-button activation
- Water resistant pendant can be worn in the shower (IP67 rating)
- 2-way voice communication through base unit
- Base unit has 38+ hours backup battery power in case of power outage
- No need to charge pendant
Installing the Home Alarm
The PAV home alarm is professionally installed by a MePACS-approved technician.
Daily Call
The Daily Call is a fully-subsidised check-in service used to ensure your welfare each day. PAV clients cannot opt out of the Daily Call service.
The Daily Call process
- Clients must press the red ‘Call’ button on the base unit between 6am-11am every day to let MePACS know they are okay. It also confirms the alarm is working correctly.
- If you don’t press the daily call button by 11am, MePACS will call you by 3pm to check that you are okay.
- If we can’t get hold of you, we will call your nominated contacts. If we can’t reach your contacts, we will send emergency services to check on you.
To make it easier for clients to remember to do the Daily Call, we can set up a reminder message on the alarm for a specific time, i.e. 8:30am.
Nominated Contacts
Client must nominate 2-4 contacts who agree to be contacted in an emergency, and reach the clients within 30 minutes. Nominated contacts can be relatives, carers, friends or neighbours.
Clients without contacts
PAV Clients who don’t have suitable contacts can register with the PAV Response Service, which provides a contact who can help the client in an emergency. The PAV Response Service is only for clients who cannot provide 2 contacts.
Assistance provided by the PAV Response Service can include:
- Personal care during an illness
- Guiding a client up from a fall
- Helping the client to bed after a minor fall
- Help with mobility problems (e.g., a wheelchair that is stuck)
- Support and reassurance after a fright
- Help if the client is locked out of their home.