Medical Alert Systems

[Alexle2007]

My 75 year old mother lives by herself and is becoming very unsteady on her feet. So she has had some Falls lately. Luckily, just some bruising but my siblings and I are thinking she might benefit from a medical alert system since she insists on staying her home. Are there any companies you’d recommend? Or recommend avoiding? Or I was thinking maybe an Apple Watch although I realize it is not as easy as a monitored system where you just press a button.

 

[kymom99]

My mom had a life alert button. I’m sorry I don’t remember the exact company. She was going through cancer treatments and was experiencing neuropathy in her feet. It was worth getting because I got a call at 2 am one time. She was on the floor in the bathroom. Unfortunately she was not able to come home after that and she eventually passed away from the cancer. But the system prevented her from laying in the floor all night, with her face wedged against the door.

I think you can get recommendations from her doctor or hospital. Some companies may be regional.

My mother in law now has one since falling and breaking her hip and having to crawl to the phone.

 

[afan]

I don't have experience with them, but I would make sure it's something she'll wear. There's an older woman my mom talks to when they meet out walking their dogs and her kids got one for her. She doesn't always wear it because she doesn't like the necklace thing. It defeats the purpose if she won't wear the device. She did have an incident that I don't recall the exact details of, plus I'm not sure my mom got it all correct, but the emt's did show up though it wasn't necessary. I think she accidentally pressed the button and didn't hear the phone ring when they called to check if she needed assistance. Their response was fairly quick.

I do think they are a good idea when the person that needs it will wear/use it.

 

[TikiBabe]

My grandma had a life alert button because she had inoperable pancreatic cancer and wanted to stay in her home. The button saved her many times as the ambulance was dispatched to take her to the hospital, she sadly eventually passed from it, but based on how good it was for her for a long time I would suggest Life Alert.

 

[barkley]

check with her local hospital b/c some have their own set-ups. my mom used one through her local hospital and it was great b/c since they had all her extensive medical records (and access to her treating doctor's) they could communicate up to date information to the emt's when they had to respond.

 

[tvguy]

Ask around in your area. My mom's neighbor had one that was prone to false alarms.

 

[dward1961]

My 75 year old mother lives by herself and is becoming very unsteady on her feet. So she has had some Falls lately. Luckily, just some bruising but my siblings and I are thinking she might benefit from a medical alert system since she insists on staying her home. Are there any companies you’d recommend? Or recommend avoiding? Or I was thinking maybe an Apple Watch although I realize it is not as easy as a monitored system where you just press a button.

My Mom lives by herself also, we got her the Great Call alert, at first she didn't wear it but she always wears it now, luckily she hasn't had to use it. The reason we went with that one is it has fall detection and GPS, so she can use it when she goes out. Because she lives alone we also decided to get a lock box so the fire department wouldn't need to break into the house if she couldn't get to the door in an emergency. I called the fire marshal in her town for advice on the box.

 

[a1tinkfans]

The lock box is a great idea for emergency services. My mil had life alert. She wore around her neck. The comfort of knowing she had it was good. She also came to
Appreciate it. We were able to use it both in ny and fla when she was able to travel and leave the cold behind. Worth every penny.
Best of luck OP.

 

[wenrob]

I have very limited experience with “the button” but I thought I’d give my thoughts based on my current parent situation and what I’ve considered. My dad passed in November and I worry about my stepmother being alone. She had a heart attack about six years ago and if Dad hadn’t been there I don’t think she would have been able to summon 911 herself. She took a spill on the way out of the hospital and while it wasn’t bad I worry that a bad fall is in her future. She will be 68 next week and I’m considering asking my sibs to go in on an Apple Watch 4 for her for the following reasons:

My grandma (82-84) had “the button” and she hated, hated, I mean LOATHED it. She wore it unwillingly. If she accidentally pressed the button it would make he mad that she had to get up to answer the phone to tell them there was no problem. You couldn’t get through to her that she did not have to keep the phone on the charger 24/7. IME people of a certain age do not feel they need their phones nearby at all times like the vast majority of younger folks do. At my parents house their cell and cordless phones were/are always on the chargers AWAY from them.

In the end “the button” failed. We are not sure if the system did not work or if my grandmother did not/could not press the button. This was 16 years ago so I would assume there are much better systems now.

My stepmother would tell me to go to hell if I suggested a button. She loves her phone though (when she fell that was her first concern) and I think I could get her wear an AW.

Pros for my situation:
I think she’d wear it. Unlike her phone the watch would always be with her.
One time purchase, no fees. (She rarely goes out and when she does she has her phone so wouldn’t need the cellular version)
It will monitor her heart and alert her to possible problems. She could get ahead of the situation.
If she falls the watch will ask if she needs help. If she doesn’t respond it will call emergency services AND me.
You can set up SOS that she can hold down the side button to call emergency services and again ME.
You can make phone calls so again, if she’s in a situation she can call me without her phone that’s on the charger in the kitchen.
It can be worn in the shower.

Cons:
Must have a working iPhone to use it.
They have to wear it at all times. It’s useless if it’s not on their wrist.
Needs to be charged daily. Could be a problem for older people with memory issues.
Not suited for folks who may struggle with tech or cognitive issues.
I’d have to set up and maintain.
Could fail but as mentioned above so can a button.

I don’t know if any of that helps but I can tell you I’ve read about quite a few people who have bought their parents in the mid 60s to 70s age range an AW who are happy to wear them. I think it gives them more a sense of freedom and doesn’t make them feel “elderly.”

 

[karmic]

My mother has Life Alert- she is 87 and in failing health at home with 24 hour care
Went there yesterday and the aide could not get her into bed
Pressed the button and EMS was there within minutes to help
She has had it for years since Dad passed in 2005 but was resistant to it until recently
Now it is a godsend

 

[SandyinMonterey]

My Mom has had one for many years now. The first one was a local company. At the time my Mom lived alone in a very small town (very rural). That was only choice for her. She now lives with my sister. My sister works crazy hours & my Mom has multiple health issues including being unsteady on her feet. One big thing we had to consider was that she has a pacemaker. So, we had to do a lot of research to find one she can use & clear it with her cardiologist. Do a google search, there is a lot of information there & top rated systems.

 

[kymom99]

I have very limited experience with “the button” but I thought I’d give my thoughts based on my current parent situation and what I’ve considered. My dad passed in November and I worry about my stepmother being alone. She had a heart attack about six years ago and if Dad hadn’t been there I don’t think she would have been able to summon 911 herself. She took a spill on the way out of the hospital and while it wasn’t bad I worry that a bad fall is in her future. She will be 68 next week and I’m considering asking my sibs to go in on an Apple Watch 4 for her for the following reasons:

My grandma (82-84) had “the button” and she hated, hated, I mean LOATHED it. She wore it unwillingly. If she accidentally pressed the button it would make he mad that she had to get up to answer the phone to tell them there was no problem. You couldn’t get through to her that she did not have to keep the phone on the charger 24/7. IME people of a certain age do not feel they need their phones nearby at all times like the vast majority of younger folks do. At my parents house their cell and cordless phones were/are always on the chargers AWAY from them.

In the end “the button” failed. We are not sure if the system did not work or if my grandmother did not/could not press the button. This was 16 years ago so I would assume there are much better systems now.

My stepmother would tell me to go to hell if I suggested a button. She loves her phone though (when she fell that was her first concern) and I think I could get her wear an AW.

Pros for my situation:
I think she’d wear it. Unlike her phone the watch would always be with her.
One time purchase, no fees. (She rarely goes out and when she does she has her phone so wouldn’t need the cellular version)
It will monitor her heart and alert her to possible problems. She could get ahead of the situation.
If she falls the watch will ask if she needs help. If she doesn’t respond it will call emergency services AND me.
You can set up SOS that she can hold down the side button to call emergency services and again ME.
You can make phone calls so again, if she’s in a situation she can call me without her phone that’s on the charger in the kitchen.
It can be worn in the shower.

Cons:
Must have a working iPhone to use it.
They have to wear it at all times. It’s useless if it’s not on their wrist.
Needs to be charged daily. Could be a problem for older people with memory issues.
Not suited for folks who may struggle with tech or cognitive issues.
I’d have to set up and maintain.
Could fail but as mentioned above so can a button.

I don’t know if any of that helps but I can tell you I’ve read about quite a few people who have bought their parents in the mid 60s to 70s age range an AW who are happy to wear them. I think it gives them more a sense of freedom and doesn’t make them feel “elderly.”

These are good points. I think at your step mother’s age an Apple Watch would be a good choice.

In my mother’s case she would have been overwhelmed with the technology. When we got her button we considered a wrist one. But the person we talked to said that might be a problem if she falls and pins the arm the thing was worn on. As it happened, she did fall and was caught in an awkward position, but was able to free one hand to find the pendant around her neck.

I had an aunt who lived in a senior community. They provided the residents with an alert button. Hers sat in a drawer. Until one day when she fell and couldn’t get off the floor. Fortunately she was able to sit up, she just couldn’t get to her feet. She sat like that for several hours until my uncle and cousin came home. I think that taught her a lesson. If viewed the right way, these devices can actually give you independence.

My parents would both be 90 if they were still living. They loved their cordless phones. My dad also got in board with a cell phone once he found himself stranded in his broken down truck. Sometimes it just takes an incident to change their way of thinking. My husbands siblings kept blowing him off when he would suggest an alert button. Then MIL fell and broke her hip and they realized it was a good idea. She sure did it want it at first but now she is used to the idea.

Whatever device anyone chooses, the technology is there to help folks be I dependent longer.

 

[Alexle2007]

I have very limited experience with “the button” but I thought I’d give my thoughts based on my current parent situation and what I’ve considered. My dad passed in November and I worry about my stepmother being alone. She had a heart attack about six years ago and if Dad hadn’t been there I don’t think she would have been able to summon 911 herself. She took a spill on the way out of the hospital and while it wasn’t bad I worry that a bad fall is in her future. She will be 68 next week and I’m considering asking my sibs to go in on an Apple Watch 4 for her for the following reasons:

My grandma (82-84) had “the button” and she hated, hated, I mean LOATHED it. She wore it unwillingly. If she accidentally pressed the button it would make he mad that she had to get up to answer the phone to tell them there was no problem. You couldn’t get through to her that she did not have to keep the phone on the charger 24/7. IME people of a certain age do not feel they need their phones nearby at all times like the vast majority of younger folks do. At my parents house their cell and cordless phones were/are always on the chargers AWAY from them.

In the end “the button” failed. We are not sure if the system did not work or if my grandmother did not/could not press the button. This was 16 years ago so I would assume there are much better systems now.

My stepmother would tell me to go to hell if I suggested a button. She loves her phone though (when she fell that was her first concern) and I think I could get her wear an AW.

Pros for my situation:
I think she’d wear it. Unlike her phone the watch would always be with her.
One time purchase, no fees. (She rarely goes out and when she does she has her phone so wouldn’t need the cellular version)
It will monitor her heart and alert her to possible problems. She could get ahead of the situation.
If she falls the watch will ask if she needs help. If she doesn’t respond it will call emergency services AND me.
You can set up SOS that she can hold down the side button to call emergency services and again ME.
You can make phone calls so again, if she’s in a situation she can call me without her phone that’s on the charger in the kitchen.
It can be worn in the shower.

Cons:
Must have a working iPhone to use it.
They have to wear it at all times. It’s useless if it’s not on their wrist.
Needs to be charged daily. Could be a problem for older people with memory issues.
Not suited for folks who may struggle with tech or cognitive issues.
I’d have to set up and maintain.
Could fail but as mentioned above so can a button.

I don’t know if any of that helps but I can tell you I’ve read about quite a few people who have bought their parents in the mid 60s to 70s age range an AW who are happy to wear them. I think it gives them more a sense of freedom and doesn’t make them feel “elderly.”

Thanks! I have an Apple Watch and had no idea that it could do that! I think this might be a much better option for now. I think she typically wears a watch so this would just be an upgrade. And she charges her iPhone regularly so she is used to having charge things. And, also, typically has her phone with her. Since she is still driving this would alleviate needing additional services.

 

[wenrob]

Thanks! I have an Apple Watch and had no idea that it could do that! I think this might be a much better option for now. I think she typically wears a watch so this would just be an upgrade. And she charges her iPhone regularly so she is used to having charge things. And, also, typically has her phone with her. Since she is still driving this would alleviate needing additional services.

Just so you know it’s the newest Apple Watch 4 that has the fall detection. I have the 4 and it asks you if you want to set up these things as you’re setting up so it should be simple to do. There are tons of tutorials out there and of course the Apple Store.

Glad I could help, let us know what you decide.

 

[Alexle2007]

My mom had a bad fall on Tues and it took her 2 1/2 hours to be able to get up. Of course, she didn't have her phone with her. And instead of calling 911 once she could reach her phone, she called my sister to come to her house instead. To keep a long story, short she ended up in the hospital 4 nights because she had 2 very large blood clots on her lungs. Her new Apple Watch 4 should be arriving today if UPS can make it there in the snow we are having. My other sister is with her for the next month and will set up the watch. This will give us all a peace of mind when she is back to being in the house by herself. The good part is excited about the watch! (I am pretty sure she would not have been excited about a LifeAlert necklace.) I did try to make it clear to her that she will need to charge it and make sure she is always wearing it.