Personal AlertSA

You must:

• be aged 75 years or older (65 years or older if you are Aboriginal)
• have a Centrelink or Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Pensioner Concession Card
• be a permanent resident of South Australia
• meet the additional clinical, functional and social criteria requirements
• have sought an assessment from My Aged Care for aged care services and been assessed as one of the following:
  • approved for a Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)
  • approved for a level 1 Home Care Package (HCP)
  • approved for a level 2-4 HCP and not assigned a Level 1, 2, 3 or 4, HCP
  • not eligible for an HCP or CHSP.

  Visit My Aged Care or call 1800 200 422 to seek an assessment for aged care services.

Additional criteria

A registered health professional must certify that you meet all the clinical and functional criteria.

Clinical criteria

You must:

• be a high fall risk
• suffer from an ongoing major medical condition that requires an emergency response.

Functional criteria

You must:

• have sufficient physical and cognitive function to wear and operate the personal alert system
• be willing to wear the alert system and activate it if necessary.

Social criteria

At least one of the following must apply:

• you live alone
• you are alone for a minimum of five consecutive hours, four times a week
• you live exclusively with someone who is unable to communicate using a phone in an emergency.

People not eligible

• people who have not sought an assessment for aged care services from My Aged Care
• people approved for a level 2-4 HCP who have been assigned a Level 1, 2, 3 or 4, HCP
• people who have rejected an HCP or CHSP
• people currently participating in the Transitional Care Programme (TCP)
• veterans or veterans' widows or widowers who are eligible under the DVA Rehabilitation Appliances Program
• DVA Gold Card holders
• people who live independently in a retirement village where a personal alert system or similar service is included in the residence contract
• people who live in supported accommodation, eg a supported residential facility or residential aged care facility.

Alert systems

All systems:

• are 4G compatible
• have falls detection
• are monitored (non-monitored options available)
• have SIM cards - additional SIM card costs apply if monitoring is provided by friends and family and not the supplier.

* Monitoring provided by Tunstall Australasia, or friends and family. A post-paid voice and data SIM card must be purchased separately for systems monitored by friends and family.

Suppliers

Contact your chosen supplier once your application has been approved.

Download the list of approved alert systems and suppliers (104.3 KB PDF)

Two organisations can help with choosing a system.

The Catalyst Foundation

The Catalyst Foundation is a government-funded information service that aims to improve the independence and quality of life of seniors by providing free information about available services and facilities.

Visit the Catalyst Foundation website or city office at:
149 Currie Street
Adelaide

Phone: 8168 8776 or 1800 636 368 (SA country freecall)

Independent Living Centre

The Independent Living Centre (ILC) provides information and advice on equipment to help individuals improve their quality of life and maintain their independence. This service is free of charge and available for all members of the public. Health professionals can advise on the most appropriate systems to suit your needs, as well as provide detailed product information and supplier details.

ILC's equipment catalogue has additional information on personal alert systems.

Phone: 8266 5260 or 1300 885 886

The introduction of the National Broadband Network (NBN) telephone services may affect people who use personal alert systems. Personal alert systems can work under the NBN but you will need to ensure that, when the NBN begins rolling out in your area, your telephone provider (new or existing) is aware you have an alert system and can support its continued operation.

In some cases, new equipment or extra wiring may be required.

You will need to register your personal alert system using the online NBN Co Medical Alarm Register or by calling 1800 227 300.

You can register immediately, you do not need to wait until the NBN is being rolled out in your area.

You'll need your:

• Centrelink customer reference number (CRN) or DVA file number
• My Aged Care (AC) ID.