<p>Has anyone investigated or signed up for one of the medic alert-type systems for their elderly parents? My BIL called me last night with a very valid concern. He and my sister live local to my parents, I am 400 miles away. Anyway, my dad has had a stroke and my mom uses a hydraulic Hoyer lift to transfer him. My BIL had arrived to pick them up to go somewhere and saw my mom transferring my dad. It dawned on him that if my mom (80 and 45 years post-massive coronary) had a heart attack while my dad was on the lift, he’d be left hanging there until an aide showed up, which could be 6-8 hours later. Not a comforting image, to say the least. If my dad was wearing one of those buttons around his neck he would, at least, be able to call for help. I know there are different companies that make these devices and hold the service contracts, and wonder whether one is better than the other. Any information would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>My mother has one of these though she doesn’t wear the device - she’d have to get to the device and push the button. I wasn’t involved in the decision to get it and I don’t know that she really needs it (she’s in her early to mid-90s).</p>
<p>My in-laws have one. They use it for certain situations (e.g. FIL working in the yard away from the house) only. The key is getting the seniors to wear the devices! If they do, I think they serve a great purpose.<br>
On the down side, we were surprised at the expense and, at the time, there were really only two vendors available.</p>
<p>I wonder if a Mobile Phone with a panic button (that calls a particular number) would work just as well.</p>
<p>We talked about getting them for my parents. In the end, they moved into an assisted living facility and were happy as anyone can be who has spent their entire life in free mode. I think post 90 they liked being in a place that cooked their food and where people were close. So we talked about it and didn’t buy one.</p>
<p>We’ve been keeping the cell phone within reach for him when he’s in a chair or in bed, but in the circumstance my BIL fears, a phone wouldn’t help. He literally is suspended from a sling on this thing and has the use of only one hand. I’ve just started my research, and I’m sure my mom will not want an added expense, but I think my sisters and I will spring for the yearly cost if it can give some piece of mind to those who have to deal with the possible consequences - like my local sister and BIL.</p>
<p>We have the devices for all our elderly parents and they are very inconsistent about having them within reach. That’s the key, unfortunately, besides remembering to use it even if it IS within reach!</p>
<p>Been TRYING to get my parents (88 and 89) to just get a cell phone! Got the cell phone finally (after much trial and tribulation) and guess where it is? In the car, out of battery. Useless! (Their reaction–guess we don’t need one–see, it doesn’t work!)
I kept telling them the phone isn’t for them, it’s for us! They’re little–stuff it in your pocket! And quit picking out the cheapest, hardest to use model!!! (Believe me we’ve tried!) So frustrating. I should be on the rant page. My parents are totally with it in every regard (thank the heavens!) but clueless that times have changed–there are no pay phones handy anymore–anywhere! You don’t simply ask “can I use your phone” and get a ready positive reply. If you can get to a phone.
My dad is active, goes on walks (one reason to have a cell phone with you) and my mom has to use a walker (she needs to be able to call him). So guess what? You need to turn the cell phone ON when you go on a walk! (and I’m talking to an engineer …)
I think I’ve finally gotten through to them and did program all the contacts etc, into the phone and figured out the emergency call list for them to make it the easiest as possible—but it has not been easy!
Bottom line–I thought a phone would work as well as buttons but getting them to use it? that’s the hard part! And if it’s at all difficult to figure out–from hard to read or small buttons,or too large to carry around, or the volume isn’t right, or has to be recharged often-- forget it.
The main problem is I’m the one doing the worrying–they don’t worry about themselves. They still worry about me!</p>
<p>I worry about my father (91 and living on his own, alone), constantly. It’s hard when they can still live independently and you certainly don’t want to rush them to get assistance before it is really needed. However, after my mother passed away, my siblings and I insisted that dad get a cell phone. He is on my brothers plan and we split the cost…told dad it was only a few dollars a month, so he wouldn’t object for that reason. He carries it with him everywhere and even takes it in the bathroom. So far no problems, but I know when his memory gets worse, we will have to adjust.
Good luck-</p>
<p>I just purchased Phillips LIfeline for my “other parents” two seniors (88 and 92) respectively. It is extremely easy to set up and easy to use. You can have the device on a lanyard or on your wrist and I chose one of each so they could decide which they like better. My dear other dad had a stroke nine years ago and although he has very limited speech he gets around extremely well. What I was worried about is if something were to happen to his wife, he would not have been able to use a cell phone. </p>
<p>The devices can be worn all the time - even in the shower. </p>
<p>What cracked me up were some of the comments in the user’s manual. It is obvious they are accustomed to working with seniors:</p>
<p>If phones are left off the hook there will not be a dial tone and the Communicator will not be able to place a help call.</p>
<p>Yes, folks it is a good idea to make sure you have ended a call after talking to friends and family. </p>
<p>Do not spray cleaner directly on your Communicator.</p>
<p>Nope, it is not necessary to spray Windex or Pledge on all surfaces. </p>
<p>Your Personal Help Button is NOT a microphone (nor is a cell phone a walkie-talkie)</p>
<p>Do not put your Personal Help Button through the clothes washer or dryer. Just as that does not work well with your wallet, it will not work with this device. While we are on the subject of appliances, it is also probably not a good idea to store the device in the crisper or freezer. </p>
<p>Anyway - we feel better knowing these people have the device. It may not be a perfect system, but at least we have done our best. The fee for the two is about $45/month.</p>
<p>My aunt had one of the buttons that you push. When she fell, she laid for almost 24 hours because she forgot she had it. She was so shook up that it never occurred to her to use it. That being said, I’m sure it has helped many other people, and it’s probably worth it just for the little bit of peace of mind it gives the wearer and his/her family.</p>
<p>^^^^^^Even if that peace of mind is only wishful thinking!</p>
<p>Yes! - I had my mother get a medic alert button from the following company (after I researched several companies out there) - </p>
<p>[Lifeline</a> ® - the trusted medical alert service provider](<a href=“http://www.lifelinesys.com/content/home]Lifeline”>http://www.lifelinesys.com/content/home)</p>
<p>The above company is part of a large company (Philips) and doesn’t require a large initial outlay - it’s just month to month. They have both a necklace style and a bracelet style button. She got the necklace style. They also have one that automatically detects a fall and triggers the alert in the event one loses consciousness or physically can’t press the button.</p>
<p>It turns out she actually used it several times after falls and if she hadn’t have had it the consequences could have been dire. It was definitely worth it and a good decision.</p>
<p>
Before getting the above button we tried the cell phone route by getting her a small lightweight cell phone and making a necklace pouch it could fit in but she never would really either wear it or have it in her pocket so it wasn’t helpful. In addition, a cell phone needs to be recharged frequently and that’s an opportunity to either forget to recharge it and have a dead phone or forget to take it off the charger and put it back in the pocket.</p>
<p>With the button they can put it on and leave it on including when they take a shower. Since they never need to take it off they’re more likely to always have it on.</p>
<p>We had looked into one for my 81 year old mom but we did a little digging and found some less than favorable reviews. The cost can be high on a monthly basis. On top of that, the sales people who started contacting my mom were unbelievably manipulative (at one point, when she said she’d have to think about it and check with her daughter about the expense they said “oh doesn’t your child love you enough to keep you safe?” which is when my mom reared up, told them to shove it where the sun doesn’t shine & to take her off their list 
</p>
<p>The reality is that she wouldn’t wear it 24/7 because it’s not a pretty piece of jewelry & it wouldn’t work with her outfit. And I call her every, single day so if there’s a problem I’ll know. When she had her stroke, she called my DH instead of 911 anyway. </p>
<p>And we tried a cell phone 3 years ago, but she never heard it ring, or feel it vibrate and kept shouting into it when she did have someone on the other end. </p>
<p>I’ve spent a good portion of this week trying to help her understand what an iPad is. A newly rediscovered friend told her that she HAD to get a laptop, that there’s all this stuff on the internet that you can research, etc. Which is true. Except my mom has never used a typewriter, retired before computers came into the workplace and has broken a VCR by forcing a tape in backwards. At Best Buy I had to explain to her that the phones my kids have which “have those pictures on them” are just regular cell phones, not a smart phone, which is different from a lap top which is different from an iPad.</p>
<p>We had one for MIL, and when she wore it it worked very well. Hers was a wristwatch style one. She fell twice when she was alone and was able to thus call for help. But, for whatever reason, she eventually elected not to wear it. Hers was through her local hospital.</p>
<p>
When I did the research on them I discounted one company (one that advertises frequently and has C Everett Koop as a spokesperson) right away due to them being salesperson oriented and not up front with the costs. </p>
<p>The company I mentioned above was up front with the costs and no pressure plus it was month to month as opposed to some king of yearly plan.</p>
<p>arabrab: through the local hospital? Interesting. My mom has 2 dr. appts tomorrow so I’ll ask if there’s something similar here. Thanks!</p>
<p>Great info, thanks. I have been looking at the Phillips version since they don’t seem to require a contract. Whether he would remember it was there and use it if the circumstances warranted, I have no idea, but we’d all feel better.</p>
<p>My mother (who lived alone) had a Lifeline alarm that she wore on her wrist. She used it on three occasions when she fell at home… The last time she fell it literally saved her life. When she fell, she gashed her leg on a piece of furniture. She was on Coumadin and began bleeding heavily but couldn’t get up off the floor. She pushed her Lifeline button and help came quickly. If not for the Lifeline she could have easily bled out in her own bedroom floor.</p>
<p>
It seems that the bigger issue might be that your 80 y/o mom is doing this kind of physical work. </p>
<p>I’ve known other 80+ y/o wives, who usually have their own share of health issues, taking care of even worse off or bedridden elderly husbands. You’ve got to look at this on a couple of levels - </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Is it safe for either party for the 80+ y/o spouse to be doing the kind of physical work it takes to care for the other spouse?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it the best situation (i.e. fair) that the 80+ y/o spouse should be spending her waning years almost full time caring for the other spouse?</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Do they have in-home help that can do the physical transferring work as well as taking care of other things to free up your mom so she can do other things and not have her in the position of having to do this?</p>
<p>Have you read the recent ‘Assisted Living Facility’ (ALF) thread? There could be an issue with your dad being unable to transfer without this type of device but it’s something to consider if you haven’t. They’re expensive but that needs to be weighed against the safety and freedom.</p>
<p>If nothing else the Lifeline button will seem a bargain compared to the cost of an ALF.</p>