<p>My mom just returned home after having a total hip replacement surgery due to a fall out of state. She was doing her annual B&B trip and the last evening at the B&B, tripped, broke her hip and had surgery. She was in rehab for one month and then we brought her home.</p>
<p>Of course, she was home for about two weeks, was doing well with home PT, was making brownies and took two steps to get a spatula and BAM! she fell again. Of course, on the hip that was replaced. She broke the femur holding the shaft of the new hip.</p>
<p>When she fell, she yelled for about 2-3 minutes trying to get my attention- she lives in our basement in her own “in-law suite”. We have been thinking about getting her a medical alarm for those times when we are at work and nobody is home. Has anyone had any experience with any of these type alarms? I’m looking for something that is inexpensive- less than $50 per month that is simple to use- mom is from the 19th century (jk) but has trouble with anything that is based on technology… </p>
<p>I have looked at LifeStation, Alert1 medical alarms and American Medical Alarms, but could use any advice from fellow CCers.</p>
<p>Now if I could just get her to be less hard headed… or maybe the surgeon can surgically attach her walker to her hands… :p</p>
<p>For my mother we ended up opting for just using a small lightweight cell phone that my W made a pouch for so it can be worn like around the neck if necessary. This way she has the option of calling a neighbor or something instead of essentially 911 every time.</p>
<p>I agree with the cell phone. There are cellphones almost just for this purpose, with a big key for 911 and a few others that can be programmed with your number or other family members numbers. Many family accounts can add an additional phone for $10/mos. They can “wear” it in a pocket or around the neck. Like anything, it has to be held close to be most useful.</p>
<p>We have tried the cell phone thing and she won’t use it or carry it anywhere. When I say 19th century, I’m not kidding. She tolerates a cordless phone, barely understands how to use her answering machine. Got her a DVD player, won’t use it. She still buys Movies on Video- because they are so much better and easier (in her mind). </p>
<p>It drives me crazy on how she shies away from anything that technology can do to make things easier for her. :D</p>
<p>If she doesn’t want to use a cell phone, I suggest you go with the system SHE finds easiest, not the one you like the best or we like the best–because she’s the one who will have to use it.</p>
<p>^^ I understand that. I was also looking to see if anyone on this board had experience with any of these type companies. My mother will not do research on any of these places and I want to make sure she has options on what she will purchase.</p>
<p>Chuckle–when my mother looked at alarm systems (a zillion years ago), she asked her friends what they recommended. Perhaps the rehab center has some suggestions? She may take it better if it comes from an “authority” instead of from you.</p>
<p>I am a home health PT so, unfortunately, confront this daily. Sometimes local senior centers offer discounts for seniors (here in LA they do) so you might check with one in your area. Otherwise, you can try either local alarm companies or some of the big national ones such as “lifeline” or “lifealert”. Usually it is a necklace or bracelet with a button to push if you’re in trouble. Some communicate back through an intercom box connected to the phone which they come and set up so it is really easy to use. If you want to keep an ear to her while you are home, you might be able to use a baby monitor in addition. Good luck!</p>
<p>We recently went through this with my mother. After checking with different companies we found out that her (already installed) home alarm system could easily be upgraded to take care of this. She wears (when she remembers) a pendant with the emergency button on it (had bracelet options too). If she pushes her button they first call me, then my brother, then my son and if are unable to reach any of us, then send police and ambulance.</p>
<p>My MIL has Life Alert. She wears the necklace ALL the time. There’s a monthly fee. Unfortunately, she did not use it when she had a stroke and couldn’t move from her bed a few weeks ago. She has memory issues and I think she forgot she had it on. Thankfully, BIL (upstairs) heard her so it turned out OK. But she really needs someone around 24 hrs at this point…we can’t trust that she’ll use the alarm when she needs it. OP, this may not be true for your mom if she can remember that she’s wearing it and what it’s for. (Oh, we also got the baby monitor and it works well for times that someone is home…as long as she doesn’t talk in her sleep or snore). Good luck to you.</p>
<p>I have looked into these for my mom. I remember deciding that there was no reason to go for the long term contract. I believe Life Alert is the one that has a contract. They have lots of complaints against them based on that contract. I can’t remember now which company I decided I liked best - seems it was either LifeStation or LifeLine. On important issue to me was the range because my mom goes outside around the house a lot. There was quite a bit of difference among them.</p>
<p>We looked into this for my uncle & have read feedback from many folks. One that looked promising was one that allowed the person who was called (you program the numbers to be called & sequence in advance) to turn the machine into an intercom so that you can speak with the person who pushed for assistance to see what kind of help is needed & how urgently (so you know whether it’s a false alarm, something a neighbor can handle or needs the EMTs). Those devices had NO monthly charge and allowed you to wear the button as a pendant or bracelet.</p>
<p>Agree that there are some VERY SIMPLE cell phones that she can just press one button and it will call & put her on speaker phone.</p>
<p>Yes, I’d be interested in options too, my mother recently had another compression fracture (osteoporosis); once she gets out of the hospital and rehab, she will be by herself much of the day. Like, Chuckledoodle, I didn’t hear mom for a bit when she needed help, it was early AM and I had a fan on upstairs while I sleep (mom gets up at dawn and makes a racket in the kitchen, I need my beauty sleep on the weekends )</p>
<p>I would also like to suggest hiding a key outside somewhere so that if medical personal or police need to gain entrance to the home they could get in easily. We put my dads key in a plastic zip lock hidden outside.</p>
<p>Search “medical alarm with intercom.” I doubt links can be posted without being removed & I have no personal experience with any of these systems. Read reviews from different folks who hare tried them. I believe that amazon.com and other sell some of them as well.</p>
<p>Sorry, haven’t researched this recently, as my uncle died before he made a choice about systems.</p>
<p>Hello,
Ever wondered what will happen if your elder parents are alone at home and there have been serious health disorder and what if they are diabetic too . The insulin level can get increased or decreased accordingly. If an Alert alarm system is implanted it would be of great help to those. That can be very helpful in monitoring them.</p>
<p>I imagine the OP took care of this by now but an update - </p>
<p>We just got my mom a necklace button from Lifeline - owned by consumer electronics giant Philips. I think it was around $40-$48/mo. This one has no contract required, it’s just month to month, includes the button (doesn’t require a purchase) and they came across to me as more professional than Life Alert but that could just be due to the individuals I talked to. They have both a necklace button and a wrist button but we opted for the necklace one since it can be activated by either hand. </p>
<p>They have one button model that can detect falls itself and will contact the alarm center by itself if it detects a fall. This is a good feature since some falls are due to losing consciousness or one may hit their head or something as a result of the fall. They told me it has about a 95% success rate of detecting the fall. It also has the regular ‘button’. This is the one we got.</p>
<p>The button units work in the vicinity of the house and send a signal to a unit attached to the phone. This unit will then dial their alarm center where someone will come on over speakerphone to talk to the person. They’ll contact 911 as well as other contacts in the profile the person provides. </p>
<p>Related - once 911 is called they’ll need to get into the house and will break down the door if there’s no other way to get in. With the monitoring company one can leave instructions on how to get into the house. This could be telling them where a key is hidden or what the key code is to get in if the house is equipped with a keypad lock. I purchased a wireless keypad remote (around $35) for the garage door opener and mounted it on the outside of the house and gave the combo to the monitoring company who can provide it if they contact 911. Once the garage door opens by the keypad they can go into the house through the door if unlocked or use the key hidden in the garage.</p>
<p>I hope, like insurance, she never really needs to use it but I’m glad she has it just in case since she would have already used it a couple of times by now had she had it.</p>
<p>My mother-in-law had a LifeAlert button on a necklace. Twice she had emergencies and did not use the button, even though it was around her neck. The first time was a serious fall and she spent the night on the floor in her den until her aid arrived in the morning. The second time she fell, she managed to get to the couch but could not get to the phone. Her neighbor called and got alarmed when she didn’t answer, called her aid who came by and found her. I’m pretty sure it was not just her, many seniors do not think about technology when they are in trouble. There first reation is to call out for help. I’m not sure what the answer is. My dad just got home from rehab and I worry about him every time I leave the house.</p>
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