Innovations in Personal Safety Devices: What’s Next After Personal Alarms?
For decades, personal alarms have been a cornerstone of independent living for older New Zealanders and Australians. These devices, typically worn as pendants or wristbands, allow users to call for help at the press of a button—a simple yet powerful innovation that has saved countless lives.
But as technology evolves, so does the potential to transform how we think about personal safety. In a world increasingly shaped by smart systems, artificial intelligence (AI), and real-time connectivity, personal safety is no longer just reactive—it’s becoming predictive and preventative.
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So, what comes next after personal alarms? Let’s explore the cutting-edge innovations that are redefining the future of personal safety and how Tunstall Healthcare is at the forefront of this transformation.
The Changing Landscape of Personal Safety
The personal safety industry has come a long way from basic emergency call buttons. As Australia’s population ages and more people opt to live independently for longer, the demand for intelligent, intuitive safety solutions is growing.
Traditional alarms are effective in emergencies, as they rely on the wearer to initiate the alert. What happens when someone falls and is unconscious? Or if they’re disoriented or distressed to press the button?
The next generation of safety technology aims to bridge these gaps, moving from passive systems to proactive solutions.
Related Reading: Best 3 Connected Care Devices: How to Make Them Work for You
1. Smart Wearables: Beyond the Panic Button
Wearable technology has advanced far beyond fitness tracking. Today’s smart wearables can continuously monitor vital signs, detect falls automatically, and even identify irregularities in movement or behaviour that may indicate a problem.
Smartwatches integrated with health monitoring tools, GPS tracking, and AI algorithms can send alerts in emergencies and also when they detect deviations from the user’s usual patterns.
For instance, a sudden drop in activity levels or erratic heart rate readings can trigger a wellness check, a vital early intervention feature for seniors or people with chronic health conditions. Tunstall Healthcare is already exploring how to integrate these wearables with existing care frameworks and technologies to improve Connected Care.
2. AI-Powered Fall Detection
Falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults in Australia, accounting for 77% of injury hospitalisations. While traditional personal alarms can include fall detection capabilities, many of these systems still have limitations — they may misinterpret sudden movements or fail to detect soft or gradual falls.
Enter AI-powered fall detection systems. Using a combination of motion sensors, machine learning models, and accelerometers, these systems can better differentiate between real falls and everyday activity. They can also learn an individual’s unique movement patterns over time, improving accuracy and reducing false alarms.
Some solutions also have computer vision technology, such as cameras with privacy-preserving algorithms, to visually confirm falls or risky behaviour without compromising dignity. These systems can alert carers or emergency services automatically, offering a new level of protection without the need for user input.
Related Reading: How Fall Detectors Work
3. In-Home Smart Sensors and Environmental Monitoring
Another significant innovation area is in-home sensor technology. Rather than relying solely on wearables, smart homes are increasingly equipped with non-intrusive sensors that track movement, temperature, humidity, appliance use, and more.
For example, motion sensors placed strategically throughout a home can detect whether someone has gotten out of bed, used the bathroom, or opened the fridge. If expected activity doesn’t occur, such as a person not leaving their bedroom by mid-morning, the system can flag this as a potential concern and notify caregivers.
These technologies are especially helpful for individuals living with dementia, who may struggle to use wearable alarms. By building safety into the home itself, they provide an added layer of reassurance for both users and their families.
Tunstall’s next-generation solutions are already looking at how to integrate environmental monitoring with personal alarms to create a more holistic approach to care.
Related Reading: 5 Things to Look for in In-Home Monitoring Devices
4. Voice-Activated Assistance and Smart Speakers
As voice technology becomes more mainstream, devices like Amazon Echo and Google Nest are making their way into Australian and New Zealanders’ homes, including those of older adults.
These voice-activated systems can be used to make calls, send messages, control appliances, and even check on health data — all without needing to physically interact with a device. For people with limited mobility or dexterity, this can be life-changing.
Future integrations may include emergency voice commands like “Help, I’ve fallen” or “Call my daughter,” connected directly to a care response centre. It’s vital to explore how voice-controlled systems can complement traditional personal alarms and enhance user experience, particularly in supported living environments.
5. Predictive Analytics and Personalised Care
Data is at the heart of all these innovations. But collecting data is just the beginning — the real breakthrough lies in how it’s interpreted.
Predictive analytics involves using historical and real-time data to forecast potential risks and intervene before an emergency occurs. For example, if a person’s sleep quality has been deteriorating for several nights and they’re also experiencing increased heart rate variability, it could point to an impending health issue.
AI-driven platforms can synthesise this information and alert healthcare providers or family members to check in before the situation escalates. This shift from reactive to proactive care is a key trend in personal safety, and one where Tunstall’s expertise in monitoring services and clinical triage plays a critical role.
6. Integration with Broader Health Ecosystems
Modern personal safety devices are no longer standalone solutions. The future lies in their seamless integration with electronic health records, telehealth platforms, and care team workflows.
For instance, a fall alert or abnormal vital sign reading could be automatically logged in a person’s health record, triggering a virtual consultation or a nurse visit. This level of integration ensures that safety alerts lead to actionable outcomes — closing the loop between incident detection, response, and follow-up care.
Tunstall is working to ensure that its technology solutions are interoperable with major health and aged care systems in Australia, supporting continuity of care and better outcomes for users.
7. Emphasis on User-Centred Design
While innovation is exciting, technology must be designed with the end user in mind — particularly when that user may be older, less tech-savvy, or living with cognitive impairments.
This is why user-centred design is critical. Features like long battery life, intuitive interfaces, discreet wearables, and clear audio prompts can significantly improve adoption and comfort. Personalisation also matters — the ability to tailor alerts, contacts, and functions based on individual needs helps users feel more in control.
Tunstall places a strong focus on co-design with end users, clinicians, and carers, ensuring that new innovations are practical, usable, and genuinely supportive.
What’s Next for Tunstall Healthcare and the Industry?
As we look to the future, the personal safety space will likely see continued convergence between healthtech, smart home innovation, and aged care services. Tunstall Healthcare is uniquely positioned at this intersection, combining decades of experience in personal safety with a forward-thinking approach to digital health.
Whether it’s AI-enhanced monitoring, integrated care platforms, or intuitive user experiences, Tunstall’s mission remains the same: to empower people to live independently, safely, and with confidence — wherever they call home.
The journey beyond the traditional personal alarm is already underway. The future of personal safety is not just about pressing a button — it’s about intelligent systems that watch over us quietly, compassionately, and proactively. And with ongoing investment in innovation, partnerships, and care delivery, Tunstall Healthcare is helping to lead the way.
Interested in learning more about the future of personal safety and independent living? Contact the team at Tunstall Healthcare to discover how our Connected Care innovations can support your loved ones, clients, or organisation.
Further Reading: What are the Devices Used for Elderly Home Monitoring?