She was on the bedroom floor, in pain, unable to move, holding her hip.
That’s how my wife found her mother Catherine, 87, after her first fall. The walkie talkie we had bought so Catherine could call upstairs for a cup of tea was sitting uselessly on her bedside table. She couldn’t reach it. She couldn’t reach anything.
Catherine is recovering, thankfully. But the experience shook our family in the way a first fall always does – because it makes suddenly and uncomfortably clear that the arrangements you thought were adequate, weren’t. And that the next fall, if there is one, might not have someone home to find her.
If this story sounds familiar – a parent living alone, or living nearby but not always within earshot – this is the information we wish we’d had before it happened.
The first fall is a medical and practical turning point. Even if your loved one recovers without serious injury, a fall at 87 – or 75, or 70 – is not a one-off event to move past. It is a signal that something has changed and the living arrangements need to be reassessed.
In the immediate aftermath, several things should happen in parallel.
See the GP as soon as possible – ideally within a few days of the fall, not weeks. A falls assessment should include a review of all current medications (many common drugs, including blood pressure medication, sedatives and some antidepressants, significantly increase fall risk), a check of blood pressure lying down and standing (postural hypotension is a common and treatable cause of falls), an assessment of vision and hearing, and a referral to a physiotherapist for balance and strength work.
Ask for a referral to My Aged Care. Call 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au. Even if your family member is currently managing independently, a falls assessment and the resulting care plan can unlock funding for equipment, home modifications and support services that can genuinely reduce the risk of a second fall. The new Support at Home program, which replaced the Home Care Package system from July 2025, now includes a specific Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme that can fund personal alarms, grab rails, bathroom modifications and other equipment.
Here is the issue your family has probably already identified, as ours did: a device that requires the person who has fallen to press a button and speak into it only works if they can reach it and use it. On a bedroom floor, in pain, possibly confused, possibly unconscious – they often can’t.
The walkie talkie is a lovely, thoughtful solution to the problem of “how do I call upstairs for a cup of tea.” It is not a solution to the problem of “how does anyone know I’m on the floor.”
What you need instead – or in addition – is a device that either detects a fall automatically without requiring any action from the wearer, or that is worn on the body at all times so it is always within reach.
Personal alarm emergency devices come in several forms – pendants worn around the neck, watches worn on the wrist, or in some cases sensors placed around the home. All allow the wearer to call for help, but the most important feature to look for in 2026 is automatic fall detection.
Automatic fall detection uses built-in sensors to detect sudden movement, impact and periods of inactivity. If a fall is detected, the device triggers an alert automatically – even if the wearer is unconscious or unable to press a button. This is the critical difference between a device that helps and one that doesn’t.
Here are the main categories:
Pendant alarms (home-based): A button worn around the neck or on the wrist that, when pressed, connects to a monitoring centre or directly calls nominated family members. Simple, reliable and the most widely used. The limitation is that they require the wearer to press the button – and to be wearing them. Many older people take them off at night or leave them in another room.
GPS fall detection watches: Wearable devices that look like a smartwatch and can be worn all day, every day. The best 2026 models include automatic fall detection, GPS tracking, two-way voice calls, and the ability to send alerts to multiple family contacts simultaneously. Australian brands including LiveLife Alarms and SureSafe are well regarded. Prices range from around $200 to $500 for the device, with monthly monitoring fees of approximately $20 to $50.
In-home sensor systems: Systems like Cura1 use sensors throughout the home rather than wearable devices, creating an invisible safety net that can detect unusual inactivity, falls and other concerning patterns without requiring the person to wear anything. These suit people who consistently resist wearing devices – a very real issue with older Australians.
Smart home integration: Apple Watch and some Android smartwatches now include fall detection features built in, which automatically call emergency services if a fall is detected and the wearer doesn’t respond within a set time period. If your family member already uses a smartphone and is comfortable with technology, this can be a low-friction starting point.
This is the part many families don’t realise until after they’ve already spent their own money.
For Australians over 65, My Aged Care is the first port of call. By calling 1800 200 422, you can arrange an assessment that may unlock funding for personal alarms through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme or the new Support at Home Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme. Wait times for a CHSP assessment are typically two to six weeks.
State-based programs also exist. Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia all have specific schemes offering rebates or subsidised devices for eligible older residents. Your GP or local council’s aged care coordinator can point you to the right program for your state.
For eligible veterans and their families, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs also provides funding for personal alarm devices.
The situation we found ourselves in – Catherine living downstairs, my wife upstairs, a walkie talkie as the communication link – is extremely common. And it highlights a gap that families often don’t address until there has been a scare.
Living with family does not eliminate fall risk. It simply changes the nature of it. If Catherine falls at 3am, or while my wife is out, or in a room without good sightlines, the outcome could be the same as if she lived alone.
The practical steps for multigenerational households are the same as for those living alone: a wearable fall detection device worn consistently, a GP-reviewed medication and balance assessment, and a look at the physical environment – grab rails in the bathroom and toilet, non-slip mats removed (they are often a trip hazard rather than a safety feature), good lighting in hallways and the path to the bathroom at night.
A simple motion sensor nightlight on the route from Catherine’s bedroom to the bathroom costs around $20 and reduces nighttime fall risk meaningfully.
The first fall is frightening. It is also, in a difficult way, an opportunity – a moment when the whole family is paying attention and the person who fell is often, temporarily, more open to accepting help than they were before.
Use that window. Have the conversation about what device makes most sense. Make the My Aged Care call. Book the GP appointment.
The walkie talkie was a lovely, caring impulse. It just needs a backup – one that works when she can’t reach anything at all.