This blog post has been updated November 5th, 2025.
If you’re new to using a medical alert alarm, you may have a few questions about how they work. Different personal emergency response systems such as the APERS Home Companion can work in a variety of ways and have unique capabilities. We take a closer look at how our Home Companion and our Freedom Friend work.
Home Companion
The Home Companion is designed to be used in and around the home and yard. The pendant has a 300-metre range in the open air and will work in and around most suburban homes and their yards. These are an excellent option for most people as the base station is mains powered with a battery back up with the pendant battery lasting up to five years. While the pendant range does limit the usability to just in and around your home, these offer a low maintenance solution for someone who spends most of their time at home.
How does it work?
When an emergency occurs, you will be able to press a button on your pendant which will connect you to the APERS 24/7 monitoring centre Care Centre through the Home Companion Base Unit.
Freedom Friend
The Freedom Friend is a mobile alternative to the Home Companion, and has been specifically designed for use outside of the house. A compact solution this Personal Emergency Response System can be used almost all over Australia, you just need to be in range of the mobile phone network!
How does it work?
Our Freedom Friend has a built-in SIM card, microphone, and hands-free speaker, enabling you to speak to our 24-hour APERS Care Team. Whether you’re walking along the beach, on a holiday or doing your weekly shopping, the Freedom Friend gives you peace of mind of your safety.
Want to know more about our Home Companion or Freedom Friend? Our friendly team can step you through the process to help you find the perfect alert alarm for your needs. Give us a call on 1300 852 148 or contact us today!
