Help! I've fallen and I can't get up.....

[Jchonline]

Apple now includes fall detection in their watches, as well as cellular service. So they can also make phone calls from the watch. The watch does have to charge every couple of days, so it has to be taken off and put back on every time. If dexterity is an issue this may not be a good choice.
Not sure if this is an option, the watches can be pricey but it may be worth a look.

 

[robbyr]

That last line by Sig.....mine probably didn稚 quite get to that point but it sure is nice to have adult kids who are fairly close by and we are close to.

To the point of this thread, there was a fella who called in to the Michael Berry Show back in October with a funny story. He is older and retired and has a farm and lives alone. I don稚 remember if it was life alert or what, but it notified 911 I think if there was a fall. A neighbor came over with a bottle of whiskey and they decided to ride around the place on the side by side. Upon returning the neighbor cuts the wheel kinda sharp and stops which throws the farmer out. Does not get hurt but just lays there on the ground laughing. Few minutes later, as he is still laying on ground, a diesel truck with emergency lights comes up his drive. It痴 an acquaintance who is a first responder. Got alerted. The neighbor goes home and after convincing the first responder he is ok, the first responder leaves. By himself again he gets up to go in the house not realizing how much he had drank and stumbles and falls again. Yep, first responder turned around and came back. Apparently that thing worked. Don稚 remember if it was a necklace or what it was.

 

[Jstpssng]

My mother's cell phone has a button which automatically dials 911 if she pushes it. I don't know if you can still get that feature or not.

 

[Sigarms]

My mother's cell phone has a button which automatically dials 911 if she pushes it. I don't know if you can still get that feature or not.

The issue with a cell phone and having multiple buttons to choose from (or in a squence line a phone number) is if the person has something affect their brain (such as a TIA in my fathers case which got me looking for a medical alert in the first place) they may not be able to "hit" the right one button to call out (even some as simple as dialing 9 1 1 may impossible).

 

[Jstpssng]

Agreed, there are a lot of variables. Yet if we worry about everything which can happen we would never get out of bed.
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Then a plane would probably fall on the house.

This is a dedicated button on the phone, if/when that isn't adequate we will take other steps.

 

[3Ts]

CMV - I know it's a rental so this may not be appropriate, but consider replacing the stairs with an elevator. There are ones that aren't much bigger than the area needed to stand in and maybe a dumb waiter for laundry baskets.

 

[turnkey4099]

IT- You know more about the electronics than I am capable of ever learning. I would add kitchen to your list.

James- Your observations reflect my reality during a good part of my work history. Nicely posted.

In addition efforts should be made to "fall proof" the home. Throw rugs are actually trip mats in reality. Improved lighting never hurts either, but from personal observation many elderly "conserve" energy by alway turning off the lights.

Aging in place is not easy nor cheap.

I put handholds all over the bathroom and railings in every hallway and room. She still found places to fall down.

 

[turnkey4099]

one company, Medial Alert, tried to scam me on the automatic fall detector. "we have a new bacelet that will notify us if you fall", etc with much arm twisting. It fell apart when I asked what it would cost "$10". I asked "per month?" "yes". then I pointed out that once I had one it would cost the company not a thing as the operator would not know if it was automatic or pushed it "But it has a chip in it"...'And I know what chips cost, **** all nothing. You could make a point of a one time fee but an extra 10 a month forever for nothing ain't a gonna happen". They tried 2 more times.


I wonder just how many old folks didn't realize how they would get ripped off.

 

[CMV]

Yeah.....I don't want to say all those services are a ripoff - they probably save lots of lives every year. But they are expensive for what they are. I found a competing brand that has a package that would be great. Works off it's own cell service, has 4 remote HELP! push buttons to mount wherever you want, and a pendant to wear. But the service is $50/month. $10 of that is for the cell service (fair IMO), but then $40 is just monitoring. My burglar alarm with intrusion, glass break, and fire monitoring isn't $40/month and is monitored by a very responsive US based call center.

Really, for $50/month, would just do an all out burglar alarm with the voice call out feature. Would be same $50 (after equipment purchase) and include intrusion & fire. My home one works off wifi (so wait 15 min for UPS to die after cutting power to rob me ) so no need for land line or separate cell service.

 

[drssg]

Unfortunately, once a loved one needs this type of service, they probably won’t need it for long. The next step in the aging process will likely require more hands-on assistance.

That could be part of the reason they are more expensive. A home alarm system could easily be in place for 30 years. A fall notification system might do well to last three. They would have higher overhead for sales and assistance.

I know it’s kind of morbid, but just a thought.