Bed alarms are lifesavers for caregivers of older adults. Below I am sharing the best bed alarms for the elderly for fall prevention, personally tested by myself.
Contents
Older people do struggle a lot while sleeping at night. Sleeping can be difficult for them as they often suffer from multiple sleep disorders or other conditions that make it difficult to get some shuteye.
Many older people also have a habit of sleepwalking at night. My father suffers from sleepwalking. Sleeping walking can be pretty dangerous as you may not be able to prevent yourself from falling and hurting yourself.
Another common problem is dementia wandering, where the person may get up at night and start walking about, confused as to where they are and what they are doing. This is common in patients with dementia and Alzheimers.
Getting up at night can be a major problem because there is a huge fall risk in the darkness for older adults. It’s important that their loved ones be immediately warned that they are getting up so that they could take care of their needs and stop them from venturing in the darkness.
I was determined to find an ideal bed alarm so that I could be there in case my father woke up at night and there was a fall risk. I used and reviewed several of the best bed alarms for the elderly which prevent them from falling. This article contains a review of these bed alarms in detail.
How To Choose a Good Bed Alarm
Performance
Ideally, the performance of the best bed alarm systems is very important. In my opinion, the best bed alarms have sharp motion sensors. These sensors are responsible for detecting any unusual movements while you are sleeping. Otherwise, every individual makes some sort of movement when they are asleep.
You will get special sensors with the alarm systems mentioned above. You can either place these sensors on yourself or underneath your bed sheet to keep track of your movements.
Convenience
I would state from my experience that convenience is a major factor that you should look for while buying or using any device. The most convenient thing about these bed alarms is that they can be kept away from your room to not disturb your sleep by the alarm sounds.
Durable
The majority of the sensor pads you get with these bed alarms are made from soft vinyl material. This vinyl material is free from latex and other harmful substances.
I felt these sensor pads to be long-lasting as they have a unique design. My father often spilled water on these pads, but they continued to work fine.
Portable
The portability of any device is again an issue for elderly people like me. I have personally selected bed alarm systems that are very lightweight and compact. You can place these alarm systems anywhere in your home without making them too noticeable.
Answers to Other Common Questions.
How effective are bed alarms in preventing falls?
Yes, bed alarm systems effectively prevent falls. These alarms are based on the technology that any intervention or change of weight on the sensor will indicate that the user is moving on the bed. When these sensors indicate this weight movement, they will either start ringing or notify the nearest person that the user is about to fall from the bed.
Do fall alarms prevent falls?
Yes, fall alarms do help you to prevent and avoid falls. Many senior citizens fall from their beds while they are sleeping. These fall alarms will detect the motion of the user and prevent them from falling while they are asleep.
Where do you put a bed alarm?
The position of your bed alarm depends on the volume setting and the type of bed alarm you are using. There are some bed alarms that have a loud noise that is audible all over the house. Whereas some of these bed alarms just vibrate and notify the caregivers about the movement.
What is the best alarm for the elderly?
After careful review and taking opinions from other friends and people from online communities, I concluded that the best option was the Smart Caregiver Bed Alarm. It works perfectly, is waterproof, durable, and easy to use.
The 7 Best Bed Alarms
#1 Smart Caregiver Bed Pad
Features
- Performance:- 9.7/10
- Convenience:- 9.5/10
- Durable:- 9.8/10
- Portable:- 9.9/10
- Overall Score:- 9.8/10
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions:-30 x 10 x 2 inches
- Weight:- 1 pound
- Batteries:- Yes, three batteries
- Sensors:- Yes
- Material:- Vinyl
Bottom Line
In my experience, this bed alarm is perfect for the elderly as it prevents them from falling while they are sleeping. This bed alarm has sensors that will detect the movement of the person sleeping and then indicate to others about it.
Pros
- This bed alarm has multiple volume settings.
- The vinyl sensors with this bed alarm are very effective.
- You will find locating and using this bed alarm very simple.
- It is made from suitable quality materials for durability.
- This alarming alarm runs on batteries.
Cons
- You will have to replace the batteries on this bed alarm after some time.
- Some people also experienced some delay in sound after the alarm.
Details
- Performance:- This bed alarm has bed sensors. You can place these sensors across the width and length of the bed. You can also quickly put them under your bed sheet. If you recognize these sensors under the person’s shoulder, the alarm will ring when the person sits up. If you place these sensors underneath their hips, the alarm will ring when the person gets up from the bed.
- Convenience:- You can conveniently place this bed alarm anywhere in your house as it is pretty loud. I put this bed alarm near my caregiver to be aware of my situation while sleeping. I customized the volume options on this bed alarm from low, medium, and high settings. You can also set a gentle chime alert on this bed alarm if you want.
- Durable:- The sensor pads and the bed alarm are made from top-notch materials. The sensor pads can easily detect any movement while the person is sleeping. These pads will notify the caregivers about the patient’s conditions. Sleeping on these sensor pads is not that difficult as they are made from soft vinyl.
- Portable:- This bed alarm is pretty lightweight as it just weighs about 1 pound. In my opinion, installing and using this portable alarm is pretty easy because of its unique design. This bed alarm works on three batteries, or you also have the option to choose a power adapter for running this bed alarm.
#2 Secure Bed Exit Alarm Set for Fall and Wandering Prevention
Features
- Performance:- 8.5/10
- Convenience:- 8.6/10
- Durable:- 8.3/10
- Portable:- 8.4/10
- Overall Score:- 8.4/10
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions:- 16.61 x 12.83 x 2.32 inches
- Weight:-13.76 Ounces
- Batteries:- Yes, two batteries
- Sensors:- Yes
- Material:- Latex-free
Bottom Line
Suppose you are like me and want to protect yourself from wandering or falling while sleeping. This bed alarm system will immediately alert your caregiver, friends, or family as soon as you attempt to leave the bed at night.
Pros
- This bed alarm system will protect you from falling or wandering off while asleep.
- This bed alarm system is very portable.
- You’ll find the bed sensors to be very soft.
- It alerts the people near you.
- This bed alarm system is very durable.
Cons
- This bed alarm system might be below for some people.
- You’ll find this bed alarm system needing batteries after some time.
Details
- Performance:- I would suggest you purchase this bed alarm system for your parents if they have a habit of getting up from your bed at night. This bed alarm system works with bed sensor pads. These bed pads are responsible for alerting people. People that are at risk of falling from their beds must use motion sensors to detect any unnecessary movement while sleeping.
- Convenience:- Connecting these sensor bed pads was not an issue for me. There are special metal pins on these sensors, and you can connect these pads with these metal connecting pins. In my experience, these metal pins will not break easily from the sensors.
- Durable:- This bed alarm system is very tough as it is tamper-resistant. No one can mess with the settings of your alarm system. My father could sleep comfortably with the bed sensors as they are made from high-quality latex-free materials. You will not sleep on hard sensors as they will keep irritating you at night.
- Portable:- This bed alarm system runs on two triple-A batteries. I found this universal alarm monitor very useful as it has a flashing alert light. You can place this alarm system anywhere in your home, and you’ll still be able to see this light properly.
#3 Smart Caregiver FallGuard Basic (Wired)
Features
- Performance:- 9.0/10
- Convenience:- 8.8/10
- Durable:- 8.9/10
- Portable:- 8.7/10
- Overall Score:- 8.6/10
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions:-1.5 x 30 x 10 inches
- Weight:- 1.1 pounds
- Batteries:- Yes
- Sensors:- Yes
- Material:- Vinyl
Bottom Line
This bed alarm is ideal for elderly people who live alone or don’t have a full-time caregiver. With this alarm system, you’ll be able to leave the patient unassisted. Caregivers will also perform some other tasks, and they can visit the patient as soon as they hear the alarm.
Pros
- This bed alarm system works effectively with motion sensors.
- You’ll find this bed alarm system to be very lightweight.
- This bed alarm system has adjustable volume levels.
- This bed alarm system is easy to set up.
- The sensors are made from the best quality material.
Cons
- Some people had some delivery issues with this bed alarm system.
- There might be a slight sound delay with this bed alarm system.
Details
- Performance:- This bed alarm system has several sensors. These sensors are designed to detect the person’s motion sleeping on the pad. You can keep this sensor beneath the shoulder blades of the person to notice when they are sitting up at night. Similarly, you can also place these bed pads beneath the hips to detect when they wake up from the bed at night.
- Convenience: I installed this bed alarm system without help from any other external source. You can also set this alarm system up in three simple steps. The first step is to insert the batteries into the monitor, and then you can test the pad by applying pressure on it. When you release the tension, the alarm will start making a sound. You’ll know that you have installed the setup properly with this test.
- Durable:- This bed alarm system has adjustable volume settings. The voice and sound projectors in this alarm are long-lasting. I also found the bed sensors with this alarm system to be very tough and rigid.
- Portable:- I found this bed alarm system to be very lightweight. I could easily keep this alarm in other rooms as well. The notification sounds from this alarm are audible all over my home.
#4 Smart Caregiver Weight Sensing Alarm
Features
- Performance:- 9.2/10
- Convenience:- 9.3/10
- Durable:- 9.4/10
- Portable:- 9.5/10
- Overall Score:-9.4/10
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions:- 10×30×1 inches
- Weight:- 1 pound
- Batteries:- Yes (not included)
- Sensors:- Yes
- Material:- Vinyl
Bottom Line
In my opinion, this bed alarm is the ideal fit for seniors or people who have a sleepwalking habit. This bed alarm will notify the family members or their caregivers about their sleepwalking when they wake up from bed at night.
Pros
- This bed alarm works on sensors to locate the person sleeping on the bed.
- This bed alarm is audible up to 300 feet.
- The bed pads with this bed alarm are durable and fluid resistant.
- Adjustable volume settings for convenience.
- This bed alarm requires batteries to operate.
Cons
- Some people find the response time to be slow on this bed alarm.
- According to some people, this bed alarm is too sensitive.
Details
- Performance: I could help my father avoid falling while sleeping with this bed alarm. This bed alarm provides the user with an excellent fall prevention system. You can operate this bed alarm with sensors by placing the wireless sensors you get underneath the patient or the bedsheet. Whenever the user gets up, this alarm will make a notification sound that can be heard up to 300 feet.
- Convenience:- I felt that this bed alarm, along with its sensors, is a safe and convenient device. You don’t have to use any messy wires with these pads as they are all cordless. You also get individual cleaning wipes with these bed pads. These cleaning wipes will assist you in maintaining these bad pads. With this bed alarm, you’ll not disturb the patient’s sleep as it has adjustable volume settings.
- Durable:- I liked the build of these bad pads. They are very soft and made from latex-free vinyl. You’ll also get a foam filling or interior in these bed pads. You’ll be able to use these bed pads for a longer time as they are fluid resistant.
- Portable:- All the components, including the bed alarm and the bed pads, are very lightweight. This bed alarm operates on batteries. Since the bed alarm is audible over a long range, you can place it somewhere centrally in your house. This will alert all the other members in the house and not just the people closest to you.
#5 Lunderg Early Alert Bed Alarm System – Wireless Bed Sensor
Features
- Performance:- 7.9/10
- Convenience:- 8.0/10
- Durable:- 7.8/10
- Portable:- 7.7/10
- Overall Score:- 7.7/10
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions:- 10 x 33 inches
- Weight:-1.68 pounds
- Batteries:- Yes
- Sensors:- Yes
- Material:- Polyvinyl Chloride
Bottom Line
In my opinion, this bed alarm system should be in every home with the elderly as you’ll have peace of mind with this bed alarm.
Pros
- This bed alarm system has all the batteries included.
- You’ll find this bed alarm to be very portable.
- You’ll be able to have a deep sleep with this bed alarm system.
- This bed system alarm has special sensors.
- This bed alarm system does not have any false alarms.
Cons
- This bed alarm system is too sensitive for some users.
- It may be small for some users.
Details
- Performance:- This bed alarm system has multiple sensors and an alarm. It is carefully designed to prevent you from falling or wandering off. You’ll be able to rest and sleep easily at night.
- Convenience:- I was able to learn how to change the vibration levels on this sensor. The different vibration levels for these sensors are high, medium, and low level. You can choose the best settings that suit your needs when you want to go for a night of deep sleep.
- Durable:- I did not face any situation in which there were no false alarms. Many people experience such false alarms because of the shifting and repositioning at night.
- Portable:- This lightweight bed alarm system is small enough to fit into your pockets. You’ll also get a special pocket clip to conveniently place this bed alarm system in different places in your home.
#6 Val-U-Care Safety Monitor With Bed Exit Pad
Features
- Performance:- 7.5/10
- Convenience:- 7.4/10
- Durable:- 7.2/10
- Portable:- 7.3/10
- Overall Score:- 7.3/10
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions:- 15.75 x 11.34 x 2.44 inches
- Weight:-1.72 Pounds
- Batteries:- Yes, three batteries
- Sensors:- Yes
- Material:- Soft vinyl
Bottom Line
I would suggest elderly people buy this bed alarm system as it includes many other components. The other components include a safety monitor, sensor pads, and an alarm system.
Pros
- You also get a safety monitor with this bed alarm system.
- This bed alarm system also has special sensors to detect motion.
- You can easily silence this alarm by just with a single button.
- This bed alarm system is very lightweight and portable.
Cons
- According to some people, this bed alarm system is very sensitive.
Details
- Performance:- I was able to keep track of the sensor reading. This sensor can also be read by your family, friends, or caregivers. The dimensions of these bed sensor pads are ten inches× 30 inches wide. Your caregiver will get to know about when you are getting up from your bed unassisted.
- Convenience:- Once this alarm system goes off, You can switch this alarm off with a single click of the reset button. With this lightweight bed alarm system, you can hear the notification sounds all over your home. Your caregiver will know about your condition when you wake up or get up with these sensors.
- Durable:- The sensors on this bed alarm system are made from soft vinyl. Sleeping on these bed pads was very easy as they were soft and comfortable. These bed pads are also very fluid resistant. The sensor will start to make sounds when you reapply the weight on these pads.
- Portable:- You’ll find this alarm system perfect for your home as you can easily change the position and location of this alarm in your home without any hassle.
#7 Elderly Care Bed Alarm for Monitoring Patients in Bed
Features
- Performance:- 6.8/10
- Convenience:- 6.9/10
- Durable:-6.6/10
- Portable:-6.7/10
- Overall Score:-6.7/10
Technical Specifications
- Weight:- 0.035 ounces
- Batteries:- Yes
- Sensors:- Yes
- Material:- Waterproof
Bottom Line
The one thing that impressed me about this bed alarm system as it also has a bedwetting indicator. This indicator helps the caregivers to know that the user needs help in changing their clothes and so on.
Pros
- This bed alarm has a special bedwetting alarm.
- You’ll find this alarm system to be portable and lightweight.
- The sensors on this bed alarm are very sensitive.
- You will find the sensors easy to attach and install.
- You can easily clean this bed alarm sensor.
Cons
- This bed alarm can be a little disturbing for some users.
Details
- Performance:- The bedwetting feature on this bed alarm adds great value to this product. In my opinion, this feature helps maintain the patient’s hygiene. It also prevents them from various problems and diseases as bedwetting can expose the users to many germs and viruses.
- Convenience:- You will not have to encourage the seniors to wake up and use the restroom with this bed alarm. As soon as this sensor detects the first drop of urine, it will indicate you to go and use the washroom.
- Durable:- As this bed alarm indicates when the user has wet their bed, it is made from waterproof material. You will also be able to easily clean the sensors of this bed alarm for further use.
- Portable:- You can easily attach and use the sensors given with this bed alarm. You can easily place it under the bed sheet, and the person sleeping on it won’t even recognize this alarm present there. This bed alarm is very lightweight and portable.
My Top 3 Choices.
Prevention from injuries and falling is a major concern for elderly people. These people suffer from an injury mainly because they are not supervised most of the time properly. At night it is very difficult to constantly look after someone when they are sleeping. This is where you’ll find these bed alarm systems very helpful and useful. These systems will help you evade all kinds of sleep wandering and movement-related injuries.
Let me highlight three options as a final summary of my review:
The best option is the Smart Caregiver Bed Pad. This is because this bed alarm is perfect for the elderly as it prevents them from falling while they are sleeping. This bed alarm has sensors that will detect the movement of the person sleeping and then indicate to others about it.
The Secure Bed Exit Alarm Set for Fall and Wandering Prevention is another great choice. It offers an ideal fit for seniors or people who have a sleepwalking habit. This bed alarm will notify the family members or their caregivers about their sleepwalking when they wake up from bed at night.
If you are looking for a value for money option, you can also consider the Smart Caregiver FallGuard Basic (Wired), which offers great features. You’ll find this bed alarm system to be very lightweight. This bed alarm system has adjustable volume levels, is easy to set up and made from the best quality material and all these features come at a very reasonable price point.
