In conversations about this story in the lead-up to publication, it seems everyone has a story about an independent-minded loved one who has sneered at the idea of an alarm pendant or, God forbid, a walking frame.

An older woman of this editor’s close acquaintance would nod and smile at her progeny’s efforts to get her to actually wear her alarm pendant, rather than display it on a door handle, like some kind of digital artefact from a modern age she would rather ignore.

Then came a fall and desperate hours on the floor before the alarm was raised and, from that vantage point, suddenly the digital age did not look so bad.

It seems many have similar stories, but that of Helen, the Moruya nurse quoted in our story, is particularly poignant.

Helen approached the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner with a heartfelt piece she had written shortly after Ivy’s ordeal.

She could not bring herself to send it to us for many months, but when she did, she sincerely hoped it would make a difference.

Ivy’s ordeal – falling and not being discovered for six days – led many at the time to conclude that she had no friends and cold, uncaring neighbours.

This was hurtful to those neighbours, a maintenance man and Helen herself, who really did look out for Ivy, despite her vocal protestations.

A perfect storm of all Ivy’s key supporters being away or ill at the same time made her ordeal worse than it needed to be.

However, if every elderly person who was trying to live independently made the minor concession of wearing an alarm pendant at all times – many such awful incidents would be averted.

Many may see such a pendant as giving into old age – they are wrong.

They should be marketed and worn as a badge of honour – a medal to be worn with pride: “I am still here, I love being independent, but I am not afraid to ask for help in a crisis.”

Please, bring us a marketing campaign that makes these pendants funky for all the old ducks we love so much.