Medical alert systems

Sunny

Sunny

SF VIP
Location
Maryland
Does anyone here use a medical alert system? Those are the alarms, usually for seniors who live alone, which provide a pendant to wear around your neck or as a bracelet, and if necessary you push a button which summons medical help to come to your home. Most people get them because they worry about falling and not being able to get to a phone.

I do have one, but have to replace it, as it's based on my land line phone, which I am getting rid of. There are many other companies that provide systems that are cell phone based, or where you just speak through the pendant itself. But reading the reviews, comments, ads, etc. is really confusing! Consumer Reports provides a list of companies with a summary of what each one advertises, but no comparison chart, which is disappointing. From looking at Yelp, I see that at least one of the companies, Medical Alert, appears to be a scam with very dubious business practices.

Any experiences you would like to share, or recommendations? Or warnings?
 

Sunny said:
Does anyone here use a medical alert system? Those are the alarms, usually for seniors who live alone, which provide a pendant to wear around your neck or as a bracelet, and if necessary you push a button which summons medical help to come to your home. Most people get them because they worry about falling and not being able to get to a phone.

I do have one, but have to replace it, as it's based on my land line phone, which I am getting rid of. There are many other companies that provide systems that are cell phone based, or where you just speak through the pendant itself. But reading the reviews, comments, ads, etc. is really confusing! Consumer Reports provides a list of companies with a summary of what each one advertises, but no comparison chart, which is disappointing. From looking at Yelp, I see that at least one of the companies, Medical Alert, appears to be a scam with very dubious business practices.

Any experiences you would like to share, or recommendations? Or warnings?
Click to expand...
The wife and I have Alert One. We have not used it but a test or two, so I cannot judge it yet.
 
Sunny said:
Does anyone here use a medical alert system? Those are the alarms, usually for seniors who live alone, which provide a pendant to wear around your neck or as a bracelet, and if necessary you push a button which summons medical help to come to your home. Most people get them because they worry about falling and not being able to get to a phone.

I do have one, but have to replace it, as it's based on my land line phone, which I am getting rid of. There are many other companies that provide systems that are cell phone based, or where you just speak through the pendant itself. But reading the reviews, comments, ads, etc. is really confusing! Consumer Reports provides a list of companies with a summary of what each one advertises, but no comparison chart, which is disappointing. From looking at Yelp, I see that at least one of the companies, Medical Alert, appears to be a scam with very dubious business practices.

Any experiences you would like to share, or recommendations? Or warnings?
Click to expand...

THANK YOU for posting this, I've been wondering myself since I live alone. Waiting for the answers to your question.
 

My whole-house security system has a wearable pendant that communicates with the alarm. At the push of a button, I can summon police, fire and/or 911. Look into such systems, if you're a homeowner or renter who can have such a system installed. I wouldn't trust those companies who advertise dedicated pendants on TV.
 
Make sure you go with one that lets you cancel at any time and get refunded once the equipment is returned. I called 5, listening to their sale pitch, when with one. Then my stepfather refused to wear the button so it was returned. Waste of time and money.
 
Kitties said:
Make sure you go with one that lets you cancel at any time and get refunded once the equipment is returned. I called 5, listening to their sale pitch, when with one. Then my stepfather refused to wear the button so it was returned. Waste of time and money.
Click to expand...
What company did you choose? How much? If you don't mind me asking. I rather have one that I can use anywhere, even while doing yardwork or driving. There's one that claims it will call even if you fall and lose consciousness. It's not dying that bothers me, what I fear is lying there for days unable to get to a phone to call for help.
 
I would like to add to the OP from Sunny and wonder if anyone has experience with the ones that have GPS, so if you fell outside, or on a walk, you can be tracked.
 
We got my mother one. She absolutely would not wear it. She didn't like the necklace type, so we got her a wrist one. She decided to wear it on her ankle, for a day or two. I told her that if she fell and broke her hip she wouldn't be able to reach down to her ankle.

There is no way to make a 93-year-old woman do what she doesn't want to do...….
 
Most of them do advertise several different types of gadgets. Some of them have a button to push, some automatically detect falls (and also have the button), and some have a gps and are meant to be worn outside the home as well as inside. I started out with the kind that detects falls, and I didn't like it. It kept thinking I had fallen every time it tapped on a table, etc. Much too sensitive, which is annoying if you're awake and moving around at 2 AM and a booming voice suddenly asks if everything is all right. I traded it in for the button type.

I've never needed it, but my husband wore one, as he fell frequently. The medics responded very quickly. After he died, I kept it and tried it for a few months. I hated it (made me feel like an old lady) so I cancelled the service and turned it back in. A few years went by, and I decided to get one, as like PVC, I was worried about falling or having a medical emergency that didn't let me get to a phone. Fortunately, I've never needed to use it, but liked having it. I wish it wasn't land line based! (That company is Philips Life Line).

It's very hard to compare companies, as a lot of it is apples and oranges. And apparently some of them are scams who are trying their hardest to cheat elderly people out of their money.
 
We were given an Alexa last year. It can be configured to your cell phone and will be able to call any number you already have set up in your cell phone. I figure to plug Alexa in after we feel we might need to be able to call out as we get up in age (right now Alexa is unplugged...wasn't doing much with it except listening to local radio over the internet. She interrupted a few TV shows/movies thinking she heard her name...). Have the county Sheriff's office non-emergency number programmed into our cell phone, so could get some help (Sheriff is closer than any relative).
 
I don't think Alexa really works for making phone calls. There are certain requirements that must be met, on your end and the end of others you might call. I investigate the idea awhile ago, and found it was not suitable for me. I tried finding the info today, but wasn't able to put it all together. If it was easy, they'd have all the info available on the first search.
 
Residential alarm systems, personal alarms, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have all saved many lives. Many fire companies will “give” smoke detectors to people who cannot afford to purchase them. I have also know community chests such as the Lions Club to give elderly people personal medical alert systems and pay for the monthly fee. Check with other community chests if you are in need and unable to afford these systems, but are in need. Just a suggestion.
 

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