A Guide to Paying for Personal Medical Alarms

This blog was updated 16 November 2025.

Many older Australians live with reduced mobility, but the last thing they want is to give up their independence. For families, it can be a real balancing act.

A monitored personal medical alarm or SOS pendant can help everyone meet in the middle. Your loved one keeps living the way they prefer, while you have peace of mind that they can reach help quickly if something goes wrong.

The big question is usually cost. Before you panic about how to pay for a personal alarm, it helps to understand the different funding options and how they actually work in practice.

This guide walks through:

Government funding under NDIS and the Support at Home program
Renting an alarm instead of paying a large upfront amount
Buying a device outright, including APERS buyback options

Note: This article is general information only. Funding rules change regularly, so always check current details with My Aged Care, NDIS, or your chosen provider.

Government funding options in Australia

There are several ways government funding can help with personal alarms, depending on your situation.

Support at Home funding for personal alarms

From 1 November 2025, the federal Support at Home program replaced Home Care Packages and Short Term Restorative Care, with Commonwealth Home Support set to transition later. [1]

Support at Home includes a dedicated Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme, which can fund items such as:

In-home medical alarms
Mobile personal alarms with GPS
Fall detection devices and other safety technology

To access this type of funding you may need:

A My Aged Care assessment that identifies the need for a personal alarm
A clinical prescription from a health professional such as your GP or an occupational therapist, confirming that a monitored alarm is suitable and necessary for your safety at home

The upside is that the Support at Home program can cover the cost of the alarm, installation and training if you are eligible. The downside is that there is some process involved. You will need to:

Apply through My Aged Care
Wait for assessments
Work with your provider to have the device supplied and set up

For many families, this is worth it. For others, the waiting time and paperwork feels like a lot of red tape at a point when they simply want Mum or Dad to have an emergency pendant as soon as possible.

NDIS funding for personal alarms

People with NDIS plans may be able to receive personal medical alarms and monitoring through the NDIS as part of their assistive technology supports. [2]

In practice, this often involves:

Checking that your NDIS plan includes funding for assistive technology
Obtaining clinical evidence or an assessment that a personal alarm is reasonable and necessary
Working with a provider who understands NDIS invoicing and reporting

Again, this can be a great option if you already have funding and support in place. But if you are not yet on the NDIS or you are in the middle of a plan review, it can take time.

When government funding feels like red tape

Government programs can make personal alarms more affordable, but they are not always fast or simple.

Common challenges families mention include:

Multiple forms and assessments
Waiting periods between application, approval and installation
Confusion about which program is responsible for what

If your parent (or other family member or friend) has already had a fall or a recent hospital stay, waiting months for paperwork to catch up can be frustrating.

That is why many people use a blended approach:

Apply for Support at Home or NDIS funding where appropriate
At the same time, rent or buy an alarm privately so they are not left unprotected while the system catches up

You can always switch funding arrangements later if government support comes through.

Renting a personal alarm

If you cannot or do not want to pay the full upfront cost of a device, renting can be a very practical option.

With rental:

You pay a modest ongoing monthly fee rather than a large lump sum
Monitoring is included, so there are no separate surprise charges
You can upgrade or change more easily if your needs change

For many families, this feels much simpler than navigating funding rules. There is no need to wait for approvals or worry about which program will cover what. You simply choose a device and start using it.

When comparing rental offers, look carefully at:

What is included in the monthly amount
Any minimum contract periods or exit fees
Whether 24 or 7 monitoring is part of the package

At APERS, our rental options are designed to keep the cost predictable and straightforward, so you know exactly what you are paying for.

We offer:

Home Companion: For in-home usage
Freedom Friend: For use when you are away from home

Buying a personal medical alarm outright

Buying a device outright can make sense if:

You prefer to own the equipment
You have savings set aside
You want to avoid long term contracts

With APERS, you can purchase personal alarms such as the APERS Freedom Friend mobile personal alarm or the APERS Home Companion in home personal alarm outright, then pay a separate monitoring fee.

To reduce the risk of being stuck with unused equipment, APERS also offers a buyback option if the device is no longer required. For example:

Your loved one moves into residential aged care
Circumstances change and the alarm is not needed anymore

This buyback approach helps families feel more comfortable purchasing, knowing that some value can be returned if life takes an unexpected turn.

Our buyback option: good for you, good for others, good for the planet

If you buy an APERS personal alarm outright and it is no longer needed, we offer a buyback option.

When a device comes back to us, it is not simply put in a cupboard or sent to landfill. Wherever possible, we sustainably refurbish returned units, thoroughly test them, then move them into our rental program.

That means:

You are recycling equipment instead of creating e-waste
The device gets a second life, helping someone who may not be able to afford to buy a unit outright
We can keep our rental pricing low, because we are making the most of every device rather than constantly supplying new ones

It is a simple way to feel good about your purchase. When circumstances change, your returned alarm can go on to support another family and reduce its environmental footprint at the same time.

Support at Home, NDIS or self funding: which option is best?

Every situation is different, but a few general guidelines can help.

You might lean towards Support at Home or NDIS funding if:

You already have an approved package or plan in place
Your provider has clearly confirmed that personal alarms are covered
You are comfortable with some paperwork and waiting time

You might lean towards renting or buying privately if:

Your parent has already had a fall and you want protection in place quickly
You are still waiting for government assessments or decisions
You want to avoid the complexity of multiple programs and simply pay a clear monthly amount

There is no rule that says you must choose one or the other forever. Many families start with a privately funded APERS alarm for immediate safety, then transition to government funded arrangements once they are set up.

Final thoughts

Personal medical alarms can genuinely make the difference between a minor scare and a serious emergency outcome. The good news is that there are multiple ways to pay for them.

Government programs like Support at Home and the NDIS can fund personal alarms for eligible people
Renting spreads costs across a small monthly fee and avoids big upfront bills
Buying outright, with APERS buyback options, gives long term value and flexibility

If you are unsure which path suits your family, one of our APERS consultants can talk you through the self-funded options, and help you decide whether renting or purchasing a Freedom Friend or Home Companion is the best fit. Contact us to speak with a Consultant.

Reference:

[1] https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home

[2] https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/assistive-technology-explained

At APERS, we understand that keeping your loved ones safe is the most important thing in the world.

For more information about our services, please phone us on
1300 852 148 or send us a message using the enquiry form on the Contact Us page of our website.

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