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Personal alarm system for home-visiting healthcare workers
Alone on the road. Alone on site. But never without help.
For many healthcare professionals, home visits are part of daily life, providing medication support, assisting clients with psychological challenges, or working in complex home situations. But these visits are not without risks. The environment is unfamiliar, colleagues are far away, and situations can change suddenly.
This became clear when a community nurse encountered verbal aggression from a confused client during a home visit. Although nothing serious happened, the incident was reason enough for the organisation to take preventive action.
Risks during home visits in the care sector
During home visits, care workers may encounter a wide range of situations. These include aggression, confused behaviour, emotional family members, medical emergencies or unexpected escalations. As colleagues are not immediately on hand, it is important that staff can call for support quickly when necessary.
Particularly within home care, mental health care, care for the elderly, care for people with disabilities and outpatient support, personal alarm systems for lone workers are therefore being used more and more frequently.
An essential safety measure for the healthcare sector
Healthcare workers who operate alone are especially vulnerable. Not every situation can be predicted, and not every client is stable. The numbers are alarming: in 2023, nearly 62% of healthcare workers experienced aggression, according to the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
An article published in Pharmaceutisch Weekblad on March 13, 2025, titled “90% of healthcare employees faced verbal abuse or shouting”. More than a quarter of healthcare professionals have considered leaving the sector due to aggression in the workplace.
These figures highlight how important it is not only to offer staff support whilst they are working, but also to provide a safety net when they are on home visits on their own.
Staying safe during home visits in mental health care
For staff working in mental health care, home visits are often part of their daily work. Situations can sometimes change unexpectedly due to mental health issues, a heightened risk of crisis or emotional tension.
It is precisely in these situations that it is important for staff to be able to call on support quickly and discreetly. Personal alarm systems offer staff extra peace of mind and enable them to call for immediate help when a situation threatens to escalate.
Safe home visits with a panic button
Our client decided to implement the personal emergency button — a reliable and user-friendly solution tailored to the needs of mobile healthcare staff.
The button can be worn discreetly on clothing and connects with a smartphone app. In case of emergency, the employee can trigger an alert with just one press. The notification is sent immediately to colleagues or the emergency call centre — including location data and the option for live communication.
Why is this emergency button ideal for home visits?
- Compact and discreet
The button is small, lightweight and can be worn discreetly under clothing. This allows help to be called without causing any additional stress. - Targeted, rapid assistance
The alert is sent only to colleagues or team members who are currently on duty or available to respond. This prevents unnecessary alerts and enables action to be taken more quickly. - Real-time location tracking
Thanks to location tracking, emergency services know exactly where the staff member is at all times. This can be crucial for a rapid response, particularly during home visits in unfamiliar neighbourhoods. - Live listening capability
Upon activation, a listen-only or two-way audio connection can be established, enabling colleagues or a crisis team to immediately assess the situation and respond appropriately. - Real-time follow-up
The dashboard shows who has received the alert, who is responding to it and what steps have been taken. This provides an overview and control during emergency situations.
A single solution for home visits and care settings
Many care organisations operate in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Staff visit clients at home, but also work in nursing wards, residential care homes, mental health institutions or other care settings.
This often results in the use of several separate systems: one solution for home visits, a separate system for aggression alerts within the building, and sometimes additional communication tools for internal emergencies.
With MultiBel, organisations can use the same solution for both situations. Staff use a single app for emergencies during home visits, whilst the same platform can also be used for aggression alerts, first-aid calls, evacuations and personal alarms within care facilities.
This reduces administrative burden, improves ease of use and ensures a standardised approach across the organisation.
Confidence and peace of mind on the road
Since the introduction of the emergency button, healthcare staff have felt significantly safer. Staff report feeling less anxious during home visits, particularly when visiting clients at increased risk of aggression or unpredictable behaviour.
It also provides peace of mind to be able to call for help quickly during family visits, when emotions can run high.
The button has now been used on several occasions – fortunately, mostly in situations that were quickly brought under control. Nevertheless, it makes a difference: staff feel heard, supported and protected.
What are the benefits for the healthcare organisation?
- Enhanced protection for employees, even outside organisational premises
- Fast and targeted response in unsafe situations
- Greater confidence among both staff and clients
- Prevention of escalation and reduction of stress-related complaints
- Professional incident registration and follow-up
- A single solution for both inpatient and outpatient care
Remote care, safety close by
Home visits remain essential in healthcare — but they should never come at the cost of employee safety. With MultiBel, this healthcare organisation is now better prepared for emergencies that demand immediate action.
The employee may be working alone, but with MultiBel, there is always a safety net.
Looking to better protect your healthcare staff?
Do your staff regularly work alone in clients’ homes? Find out how MultiBel supports healthcare organisations with personal alarm systems, emergency buttons and rapid response to emergencies.
Request further information with no obligation and feel free to take a look at our page on personal alarm systems in the healthcare sector.
