Are you unsteady on your feet or suffer from a chronic condition like heart failure or diabetes and would like to feel safer at home? Then you need the right SOS accessories to call for help in an emergency and reassure your loved ones. We think the One Button Phone is particularly well-suited for this. It not only features a GPS emergency transmitter but also an SOS button and fall detection, allowing you to kill several birds with one stone. However, we also want to present other solutions and will show you in the following blog article what types of SOS accessories are available and what their respective advantages and disadvantages are.

Home emergency call system – more security for a monthly fee

Would you feel safer knowing there was always someone you could turn to in an emergency? If you opt for a home emergency call system, the provider will supply you with a base station and often a mobile transmitter as well. In critical situations, you can use either of these to contact an on-call service. They will then assist you with your request. However, this service comes at a price. You have to pay monthly fees, which can quickly rise to over €50 depending on the scope of services. If you calculate that over a whole year, the bill would already be €600. Just for comparison: The One Button Phone costs less than half that.

Suitable for seniors – yes or no?

Personal emergency response systems are designed with the realities of seniors' lives in mind and are therefore ideally suited for older people. The mobile devices from various providers usually feature a large emergency button, making them extremely easy to use.

The staff who answer emergency calls are trained in dealing with senior citizens and decide what to do depending on the situation. Sometimes emergency services need to be informed. In other cases, it is sufficient for the on-call service to visit or for relatives to be notified.

However, not everyone is comfortable entrusting their safety to strangers and revealing so much of their private life. If you feel more at ease having emergency calls sent directly to your loved ones, private SOS devices like the One Button Phone are a better option. With these, you can easily define your emergency contacts yourself.

Advantages:

• professional 24-hour service
• Various services can be booked.

Disadvantages:

• high monthly fees
• Additional services cost extra.
• May not be available everywhere

GPS tracker with emergency button – the simple solution

GPS trackers with an emergency button are simply hung around the neck or can be worn as a bracelet on the wrist. These are small devices with GPS tracking and a large SOS button. Due to their simple design, they are also suitable for people with Alzheimer's and dementia.

If you opt for a private model, you can use it to contact private emergency contacts. These are particularly useful for people who frequently get lost and have a high propensity to wander, as they primarily serve for location tracking. However, they can also be used to call for help in dangerous situations.

Suitable for seniors – yes or no?

GPS trackers with an emergency button are often specifically designed for older people and are generally very user-friendly. The emergency button is clearly visible and can be found quickly even in emergency situations. Furthermore, the GPS tracking works automatically, so you don't have to do anything else. However, the device has very limited functionality.

If you opt for the One Button Phone, however, you not only get a GPS tracker with an emergency button, but also a compact mobile phone that you can comfortably wear on your wrist. It also has an alarm function and can measure your vital signs. A simple GPS tracker with an emergency button typically cannot do all of this.

Advantages:

• Suitable for seniors and also for people with dementia and Alzheimer's
• A reliable and robust device for almost all everyday situations.
• It is worn directly on the body, so you can't misplace it.
• usually very long battery life

Disadvantages:

• Not all devices have fall detection.
• Limited functionality (for example, compared to the One Button Phone)

Mobile phone with emergency call button – SOS accessory for home and on the go

Mobile phones and smartphones are also available for seniors. These models are characterized by a reduced range of functions and somewhat simpler operation. Furthermore, they are often equipped with separate emergency call buttons. These allow you to quickly and easily call an emergency contact of your choice.

Furthermore, you can install various emergency and health apps on your smartphone, customizing the device to your individual needs. Fitness trackers or sleep analysis apps, for example, can be useful. Apps for measuring and managing blood sugar levels may also be of interest to some users. However, a certain level of technical aptitude is required for these.

Unlike the One Button Phone, many mobile phones and smartphones lack fall detection. So, if you fall and lose consciousness, even the largest and most prominent emergency button won't help you. You simply can't press it. Even if the smartphone has fall detection, if it's lying on the kitchen table when you fall, the function is useless. As you can see, these devices can quickly reach their limits in everyday use.

Suitable for seniors – yes or no?

Whether a mobile phone with an emergency call button is suitable for seniors depends on their level of technical knowledge and their willingness to engage with modern technology. If you're unfamiliar with smartphones and apps, you can quickly become overwhelmed by the many small, colorful boxes and numerous functions. In that case, the smartphone might just end up gathering dust in a corner, unused. A smartphone or a feature phone specifically designed for seniors is probably the better choice in this situation.

Advantages:

• Not all devices are suitable for seniors.
• The SOS accessories are portable and suitable for use on the go.
• many other functions (listening to music, brain training, etc.)

Disadvantages:

• Smartphones, in particular, are often expensive to purchase.
• The device is not worn directly on the body and can be misplaced or lost.
• often without fall detection

Smartwatch with emergency call button – practical, compact and mobile

Perhaps you're considering getting a smartwatch instead of a mobile phone with an emergency button. After all, it's essentially a small smartphone that allows you to make calls and emergency alerts, but you always have it with you. We also think this is a good idea, but we would recommend choosing a smartwatch specifically designed for seniors.

The One Button Phone features a prominent emergency call button that also serves to control the entire device. Pressing and holding the button places an emergency call and initiates a call cascade. If the first emergency contact doesn't answer, a second, and then a third, will be called. The One Button Phone also has fall detection, which is quite useful since you wear it on your body!

So if you trip over a cable, twist your ankle, or even fall down the stairs, this small device on your wrist could be a lifesaver! It will automatically trigger an emergency call without any action on your part. It also sends your location to your emergency contact, ensuring you can be found even if you're not at home.

Furthermore, we would like to highlight the many practical additional functions of the device, which, for example, a simple GPS tracker or the emergency devices of a home emergency call system typically lack. For instance, the One Button Phone boasts a pedometer to motivate you to be more active.

Vital signs and an alarm clock are also practical extras, but see for yourself and take a closer look at the 2024 model and all its features. If you're interested, you can simply order it online. You don't even have to leave the house. Instead, the device will be conveniently delivered to your door.

Suitable for seniors – yes or no?

Just like with smartphones, the key to this SOS accessory is whether the device meets the needs of older people and, for example, offers a large display and easy operation. Many smartwatches don't.

The One Button Phone is a prime example of a model designed for seniors! It has a simplified feature set, but offers far more than a basic GPS tracker with an emergency button, and is just as incredibly easy to use. The controls are so simple that you won't need to spend much time with the device to figure out how it works.

You're welcome to test it for 30 days first and familiarize yourself with the controls. During this time, you'll quickly realize whether the One Button Phone suits you or not. However, we firmly believe that you'll quickly internalize the one-button operation. In that case, simply keep the device.

The family app is particularly user-friendly for seniors, allowing you to set up the device and access specific data such as blood pressure readings or GPS location. Don't worry! You don't need to install the app yourself, and you don't even need a smartphone. Simply ask a trusted relative. They can download the app to their device and set it up for you, so you don't have to worry about it at all.

Advantages:

• It is worn directly on the body and is therefore always within easy reach.
• Many devices, such as the One Button Phone, have a fall detection feature.
• practical additional functions such as telephony, alarm clock and vital data measurement
• There are no monthly costs like with a home emergency call system; only mobile phone charges apply.
• Smartwatches with a SIM card also work independently of smartphones.

Disadvantages:

• Controls can be complicated (not with a one-button phone!)
• Some devices are very expensive.

Budget tip: Smartwatches can quickly become expensive, but often have features you don't need in your daily life. The One Button Phone, with a new price of €299, is in the mid-range and offers all the functions relevant for seniors. If you're currently on a tight budget, you can also buy a used model and save a considerable amount of money.

SOS accessories for crises and disasters – be prepared for anything

Not every emergency is a consequence of your advanced age. External factors such as a power outage or a natural disaster can also put you in a dangerous situation. To be well-prepared for such situations, you should take appropriate precautions. Refer to the checklist from the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Relief. It details exactly what food and drink supplies you should stockpile. If needed, ask your children and grandchildren for help. Additionally, you should acquire the following emergency supplies:

• Battery-powered radio: This works even during a power outage and allows you to stay informed. Make sure you have spare batteries on hand.
• Flashlight: This will help you find your way in the dark and, if necessary, attract the attention of emergency services. Solar lamps that can be charged outdoors during the day are also a good idea.
• Power banks: These are small batteries that you can use to charge your smartphone or smartwatch. Of course, they themselves must be charged beforehand.

In such an emergency, the One Button Phone can actually be very helpful. It has a battery life of up to four days, so it should last you a while as long as you don't constantly activate the GPS emergency beacon .

With the One Button Phone, you can stay in contact with your relatives even in a crisis and, if necessary, confirm the emergency call button. Of course, this only works as long as the mobile network is stable. However, since mobile phone masts in Germany are at least temporarily powered by emergency batteries even during power outages, the chances of reaching someone are quite good.

Of course, there are also many other situations where you might need help, but the power grid is still functioning. In the event of a flood or landslide that cuts your home off from the rest of the world, you'll certainly be glad to be able to call for help simply by pressing a button. At the same time, your relatives can use the family app to check your location and know exactly where you are.