Secure Wheelchair Seatbelt Chair Alarm for Elderly Dementia Patients - Non Restraint Seat Belt Strap Sensor and 80 dB Alarm Monitor - Fall Prevention Safety Device for Monitoring Seniors

Purchased to help spouse who was using a wheelchair and recovering from a brain injury.Alarm was loud enough to be heard from another room. Also worked well to remind spouse to not get up alone.

easy to use

THIS IS MY ORIGINAL REVIEW (but see the update below)This belt is a life saver. My loved one has broken both hips and cannot walk unassisted, but due to the onset of dementia, she "forgets" she can't walk, gets up, and falls. I've used pressure sensitive chair alarms but the ones I've found have a three second delay that does not alert me until it's too late. This seat belt, though, alerts me as soon as she tries to open it, i.e., before she falls instead of after. We've had the belt for nearly a month now and it has prevented numerous falls. Highly recommended.The belt closes with velcro and the velcro seems to be deteriorating faster than I expected. We fasten and unfasten the belt many times a day, though, and I'm sure that's the reason the velcro is becoming a bit frayed. However, if it gets to the point that it does not fasten, I will order a new belt as I've found nothing that works better to prevent falls. Again, highly recommended.UPDATE AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF USE:The velcro seat belt will no longer stay fastened and started giving many "false alarms" after three months. The "fuzzy side" if the velcro belt does not hold up to use and wears out quickly. Also, the wire from the alarm to the belt buckle has come loose and is difficult to repair. And, after four months of use, by us and by in-home caregivers, we found that the need to "press the button three times within two seconds" to silence the alarm is VERY annoying, to both caregivers and the patient.So, although the concept of an alarmed wheelchair seatbelt is an excellent idea, THIS seat belt alarm ("SECURE Wheelchair Seat Belt Alarm") is NOT the one to buy. It worked well for the first couple of months, but went down hill quickly. I would strongly recommend purchasing a wheelchair seat belt that fastens in a manner similar to a car seat belt. These belts are a little heavier in the patient's lap, but they are much easier to put on and take off and the alarm is SO much easier to silence. I was very enthusiastic about the "SECURE Wheelchair Seat Belt Alarm" when I bought it, but within a few months, the alarm failed and the velcro fastener was worn out. After using the belt for about four months, I would not recommend purchasing this product.

This wheelchair seat belt with patient alarm system is not meant to be a substitute for keeping an eye on a demented person who is at risk of falling. It is an additional tool only. This works best in a home environment where the confused or demented person is sitting in a wheelchair with a caregiver either in the same room or at least within viewing range. It allows the caregiver to read a book or a magazine, do minor tasks, or watch tv without having to keep a constant, nonstop eye on the patient. It is not meant to be a substitute caregiver while the human caregiver leaves the room for extended periods of time, however. The alarm will sound quickly, but it will not catch the patient losing their balance, and it will not reach out and sit the patient back down in the wheelchair. The caregiver must be close enough to the patient to respond to the alarm before the patient has a chance to fall. With all that in mind, this is a good system and a useful device to have in the home when taking care of someone who is confused and therefore at high risk of falling. The alarm itself can be set up as a portable alarm that can be moved from bed to wheelchair, or it can be permanently mounted to the wheelchair by placing one of the wheelchair screws through the grommet in the back of the alarm holder case. The seat belt also has grommets to allow it to be fastened permanently to a wheelchair. The 80 decibel alarm is loud enough to be heard when the caregiver is nearby. To give a comparison, a standard garbage disposal grinding food scraps is about 80 decibels. As with all velcro, this velcro will wear down with time and heavy use, so it needs to be checked regularly for holding ability prior to using it on a patient. Velcro can be readily found in department stores and online, so worn velcro can be reinforced or replaced as needed. I consider this wheelchair seat belt and alarm system a good product and a useful item.

Got this hoping to use on a relatives chair that we take into the city often.All the parts look great - but the first thing I tested was the actual alarm sound to see if it would be loud enough in a busy building or street.For us, when tested, it simply was not loud enough for us to feel confident we would hear it.If it is used indoors in a home setting it should be fine - but our needs were specific and it wouldn't work for us on a city street.