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Exploring patterns of personal alarm system use and impacts on outcomes
Author(s) -
Andrew Nadine E.,
Wang Yun,
Teo Ken,
Callisaya Michele L.,
Moran Christopher,
Snowdon David A.,
Ellmers Sonya,
Beare Richard,
Richardson Dean,
Srikanth Velandai
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/ajag.12941
Subject(s) - alarm , cohort , medicine , feeling , descriptive statistics , medical emergency , audit , cohort study , emergency medicine , psychology , social psychology , statistics , materials science , mathematics , management , economics , composite material
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.