Introduction

This article explains how to adjust fall detection sensitivity on a Mobile Alarm on the Family Response Plan. If you are experiencing frequent false alarms, or feel that real falls are not being detected, you can adjust the sensitivity by sending a text message to your alarm.

On the Professional Response Plan? Get in touch with us and we will make the adjustment for you.

What do I need before I start?

To adjust fall detection sensitivity, you will need:

• The alarm's phone number, printed on the box your alarm arrived in
• The alarm's Alarm ID, also printed on the box your alarm arrived in

If you cannot find your alarm's phone number or Alarm ID, get in touch with us and we can help.

How do I change the sensitivity?

Send a text message to the alarm's phone number using the following format:

[Watch ID]fl[on/off],[sensitivity],1

Where:

• [Alarm ID] is the unique ID printed on your alarm's box
• [on/off] is 1 to turn fall detection on, or 0 to turn it off
• [sensitivity] is a number from 1 to 9, where 1 is the least sensitive and 9 is the most sensitive. The default is 6

For example, to turn fall detection on at sensitivity level 4, where 123456 is your Alarm ID:

123456fl1,4,1

To turn fall detection off entirely:

123456fl0,1,1

What sensitivity level should I use?

Sensitivity runs from 1 (least sensitive) to 9 (most sensitive). Your alarm is set to level 6 by default, which is designed to work well for most people.

If you are getting frequent false alarms, try reducing the sensitivity by a level or two. If you are concerned that falls are not being detected, try increasing it. Small adjustments either way are usually enough.

If you are unsure what level to start with, get in touch with us and we can help you find the right setting.

Who can send the text message?

The command can be sent from any phone — it does not need to be the client's own number. This means a family member, carer, or referrer can make the adjustment on the client's behalf. The alarm will only accept commands that include the correct Alarm ID, so the Alarm ID acts as the security check.

Will adjusting sensitivity guarantee fall detection?

No fall detection system can detect every fall. Some falls, such as a slow slide down a wall, may not match the pattern the alarm looks for. Equally, some sharp movements can occasionally trigger an alert when no fall has occurred. Adjusting the sensitivity can help reduce these issues, but fall detection is best understood as a safety net rather than a guarantee. For a fuller overview, see our guide to falls detection on the Mobile Alarm.

If you continue to have problems after adjusting the sensitivity, get in touch with us and we can work through the options with you.