Why SenviaSOS Exists: It Started With a Phone Call I Didn't Get

My mom lived alone in a quiet townhouse in Pretoria. Independent, stubborn, proud. One Tuesday morning she slipped on the kitchen tiles and couldn't get up.

Her phone was on the counter, a metre above her head. She lay on that cold floor for almost five hours before a neighbour heard her calling. I was at work, 30 minutes away, with no idea anything was wrong.

Everything we tried was broken

The monitoring companies wanted R400+ a month on a two-year contract, routed through a call centre that didn't know her name. The smartwatches had tiny screens and endless menus, so they lived in a drawer. And a phone only helps if you can reach it.

So we built the thing that should have existed

One big button. Press it, and every family member's phone lights up at the same time. Water resistant, so it stays on in the shower where most falls happen. Light enough to forget about. And no monthly fees, because peace of mind shouldn't be a debit order.

We built this for my mom. We share it with you.