Any experience with Life Alert

[Sigarms]

If you can get him to carry it.

Two things think I can…


1. He's pretty good at keeping his end of the bargain, and he said he would if he can drive home by himself (I think he realizes this will make most if not all of the family happy knowing how much he drives).
2. I'm picking up the tab, and I'm not spending money so it can sit on his desk

 

[Sigarms]

SPOT is pretty expensive, but you might look into it. We got my 92 year old mother a home only life alert system as she now lets my brother take her to the doctor.

Which unit did you use? Looking at their website, they look to be on par with "Alert 1" per the GPS monthly tracking plan. The spot looks to get more expensive over the Alert 1 when you use their tracking online system for family members.

 

[EarPlug]

How about Verizon Family Locator Service for $9.95 per month.

 

[/pine]

just an observation...if an elderly person is capable of pushing a button on a key fob or pendant etc...they should also be able to dial 911 on either a cell or cordless phone (some cordless phones will work at up to 1000 ft from the base)
Also any old cell phone is capable of calling 911 even if there is no paid service carrier (i.e., free 911 access)

 

[Sigarms]

just an observation...if an elderly person is capable of pushing a button on a key fob or pendant etc...they should also be able to dial 911 on either a cell or cordless phone (some cordless phones will work at up to 1000 ft from the base)
Also any old cell phone is capable of calling 911 even if there is no paid service carrier (i.e., free 911 access)

The neurologist I talked to thinks otherwise. His point was that if a person was having a TIA (or any other "stroke like systems"), there is a good chance that with multiple numbers to push on the phone you brain may give you "nothing" per what number you're supposed to dial. That same comment came from the cardiologist. Both agreed that a single button to push gave the person the best odds of contacting someone.

 

[Sigarms]

How about Verizon Family Locator Service for $9.95 per month.

Father has a $19 a month flip phone he picked up from AARP. Although the verizon service plan you mentioned looks attactive via price, that would still leave the person needing to actually contact someone to them there is a issue.

 

[tcreeley]

Life Alert is good. My mother had one. You'll get the calls from the sheriff's department that your relative is not answering the call in check. My mother used to forget to notify them she was out. Never needed it, but good for the peace of mind.

 

[/pine]

The neurologist I talked to thinks otherwise. His point was that if a person was having a TIA (or any other "stroke like systems"), there is a good chance that with multiple numbers to push on the phone you brain may give you "nothing" per what number you're supposed to dial. That same comment came from the cardiologist. Both agreed that a single button to push gave the person the best odds of contacting someone.

Another option is a device (there are several on the market) that installs on a land line and comes with a key fob /pendant that on the push of a single button will dial 911...there are no monthly charges...the distance ranges may vary with different devices...

 

[dave1949]

Nothing is fool proof.

The old neighbor lady (she's 93) whose house the EMS team had to break into was found laying on the floor in her bedroom with a nasty gash on her head and sort of semi-conscious. She had pressed her Life Alert button but couldn't get to the phone, doesn't even hear the phone sometimes .. like the time her cat stepped on her Life Alert button and she didn't respond to the Life Alert check call. Another EMS run.

 

[Firemanbuck]

Whatever you chose, it can be difficult for EMS folks to enter a locked house when the resident is unable to open the door.

EMS had to break into the old neighbor lady's house this winter, and there is some procedure/permission process to follow for that which adds delay. There is supposed to be a hidden key or lockbox combination on record with Life Alert or whoever, but that is only as good as the person making sure the key or box is actually where it is supposed to be. In this case, the key was supposed to be under a planter. Trouble was, no one could see the planter in the hard frozen 4' of snow covering it.

It took 15-20 minutes for the EMS team to get in her house, plus she had two locked doors to get through; one into a mud porch, and a second door from there to the kitchen.

It's never difficult from a physical standpoint, for my EMS crews to enter a locked door - we'll have it open in about 5 seconds. There is a psychological barrier to breaking a window or popping a door, however. I always am second guessing - what if it's the wrong house, or a false alarm?

"Key under the planter"....which planter? There may be 5 of them on the porch. My suggestion is a Knox Box with a key inside. In my department, the engine and the rescue both have Knox keys on them so we can access the box.