Any of your family member subscribes to Lifeline Medical Alert? The HomeSafe Standard (cheaper) or the HomeSafe with AutoAlert? Any negative aspect that you can think of? Good testimonials on the website.
My mother, who is 81, is in good health in general, lives by herself and enjoys being independent. She fell a few months ago on an uneven sidewalk, broke her pinky. Since then, she grew more "worried’ about herself falling, she has good recent medical checkups, the fear maybe more psychological rather than physical. She asked about the medical alert device which will give her peace of mind since she lives alone.
I live over 500 miles away, my brother is only 30 minutes away, so he will arrange the sign up of service, but I want to see if anyone on cc has experience with the product.
Both of my grandmothers had them. However this is the key. They have to actually wear it! Neither one did with any consistency. I’m thinking partially because as you get older you forget to wear it. I don’t know but one fell in her kitchen broke her hip and ended up laying on the floor for hours before my uncle found her. The other had a heart attack and died at home .She was not wearing it at the time. In both cases they were checked on both with a phone call and a visit from relatives every day. We thought that the service would be helpful But again they have to be wearing it.So make sure she wears it at all times.
I think this is the one my Mom has: http://www.greatcall.com/products/greatcall-splash (older model) My Dad had it before he died and it worked well. He tried it out when we were on vacation out of state and talked to a very nice operator over it. Her voice was clear and calm and she didn’t seem to mind that he was just calling to make sure it worked. My sister and I live about two hours from our Mom so we all have some peace of mind with her having that. She used it once just over a year ago when she was in a car accident. The operator called my home phone and I was able to talk to her through it. Easier than her cell phone, which she is still not quite clear on how to use.
Exactly, MG-D’s adopted Nana is 90 and lived alone but very nearby to her family and was always taking hers off. After she did fall while wearing it and saw how fast she got help, she stopped taking it off. She lives with her D now in another state so I don’t know that they kept it up, but the service was excellent when they lived around us.
My much older SIL has one and she DOES wear hers. She has multiple health problems and mobility issues and has been saved several times from laying on the floor for hours. My H is the contact person though she lives out of state. They’re very good with following up.
I hate how they use fear to sell these services. Unfortunately, the ads reflect reality and these devices can be a life savers. My mother fell and broke her hip. It probably (no one really knows) took over 24 hours for her to be found. Couldn’t get to a phone. After that, she got and wore a similar device. Worth every penny for the peace and mind alone.
My 90 yr old mother has the ADT service. She wears the button around her neck all the time. It works for about 200 yds from the box in her kitchen. She can press buttons on the box for fire or intruder. Monthly they check that the box works by changing the light color and she responds. However, when she fell outside, she didn’t think it worked outside of the house. The neighbor saw her and helped her back into the house.
It’s peace of mind for her, but she still calls me every morning when she is up and about. If not, I will call the neighbor and have them check the house.
My mother would never wear the device around her neck. She was afraid it would strangle her especially when sleeping. We found that they offered a bracelet model which she couldn’t take off. She used it once because of a fall. I don’t remember what company it was but highly recommend using some kind of “life alert” product.
I’ve been trying to talk my mother into getting one for several years. She doesn’t want one because “they’re for old people and I’m not that old.” Seriously? She’s 80 and has asthma. Her best friend (who was only 69) collapsed at home and was found dead several days later. Denial is a powerful thing… %-(
My mother, who lives alone in her house, just turned 92. Thankfully, she doesn’t have any significant medical issues, but my sister and I still get nervous when we can’t get in touch with her for a day. (I live closer, and am 4 1/2 hours away. Luckily, 2 of my nieces live much closer, one about 20 min away, and the other about 45 min away.) We can’t even get her to put her cell phone in her pocket when she goes out in the car or to take a walk or work in the yard.
I just spoke to her about an hour ago, and she told me that this morning she dig up a large bush that was obscuring her kitchen window, despite constant pruning, got it into a plastic garbage bag, dragged it to another part of the (2 acre) yard, dug a big hole, and planted it. Then she drove to Walmart, bought a shrub that will stay smaller, took it home, re-dug the hole, and planted it.
You can imagine how she would react to the alert button idea. =))
Her neighbors all seem to be in awe of her. I met a very nice woman walking last month, and she asked if I’d like to have her number just in case. She said she doesn’t want to intrude, but she does try to keep an eye out. So thoughtful!
Although I worry about it, honestly, I have to figure that she is incredibly fit for her age, very independent, not a danger to anyone else, and living the way she wants to. I am afraid that she will have a fall on ice in the driveway and freeze to death because no one can see her from the street, or that something will happen to her in the house, but she’s aware of the possibility and this is what she wants. At least she is not foolhardy. If the drive is covered in black ice she will drive out to the mailbox. And she refrains from climbing up on ladders when alone. Small concessions.
My 90+ aunt fell in her home and lay for hours because she lives alone and was unable to get herself up and near a phone.
After some research and consultation, she bought a bracelet that can’t be removed and is connected to a local service staffed 24/7/365, that will call if you press the button OR it senses a fall. There was an initial set up charge and monthly fee. So far, so good, I believe.
I’m thinking of getting one for my husband and I. The house is big and sometimes neither of us can hear the other shouting. I’m worrying somebody could get hurt and don’t get help immediately.
For folks who carry their cell phones 24/7 and are comfortable using them, doesn’t seem as essential. My inlaws got a pendant for mil because she was on dialysis and lived 66 steps from street to front door. I don’t believe they ever used it, but since it was just the 2 of them living there, it gave us peace of mind. Fil moved to SF to live with my SisIL after mil died.
My 94 year old grandmother lives in her own home. She wears the GreatCall alarm device on a lanyard around her neck except when she sleeps at night in her bed. Nighttime the device charges on dresser next to her bed. She even wears the device when she bathes…it’s waterproof. The unit costs about $45 total upfront (no contract) at WalMart and she pays $15/month for the service which is on the Verizon cell network…she can use monitor away from home because it uses the Verizon mobile cell network for contacting central station for GreatCall. She wears it religiously because she’s fearful her children will put her in retirement home if she doesn’t wear neck monitor.
My mom is now is nursing care, but when she was home she had that type of system, but we found a local company that really worked well for her needs. It was one of those companies that also could provide a home companion as needed, or some home health care. It was nice having that local company and the flexibility in their services. You might see if there is something similar in her area.
I want to be like Consolation’s mom when I grow up. She sounds like quite a lady. My mom lives with me and is rarely alone, but I’ve wondered about those bracelets and how easy or hard it is to set them off by accident.
Both my 94 yo mom and 90 yo MIL have the Phillips system, which uses a landline phone for communication (neither use cell phones). It can detect a fall even if the wearer does not push the button for help. Both have had to make use of the system and we have been pleased with the service.
My mom has one. I did a lot of research and went with Life Station as opposed to Life Alert and some of the others. It was more reasonably priced and the calls were not outsourced. My mom has a bracelet and never takes it off.
