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

My 80yr old M-I-L who lives alone wants a "button".
Any experiences with companies who prey on the elderly less than others?

I can't recommend one company over another, but I can tell you that I'm the guy who shows up when the button gets pushed.

About half the time, it's an accidental activation, but in many other cases, it's a legitimate emergency. I have also found people who don't have the button that have been on the floor for three days. This is almost never good. If she thinks she needs it, see that she gets it.

it is one of those devices that I think does more good than bad.

My grandmother used to live with her sister--my aunt, obviously--and once my aunt fell out of her bed. As my grandma tells the story, my aunt said, "I've fallen and I can't get up."

Laugher from both of them soon followed.

David S. Wallens wrote: My grandmother used to live with her sister--my aunt, obviously--and once my aunt fell out of her bed. As my grandma tells the story, my aunt said, "I've fallen and I can't get up." Laugher from both of them soon followed.

Wouldn't that be your great aunt?

How about one of these, no monthly fees: http://www.vtechphones.com/careline/careline-home-safety-telephone-system

I'd suggest contacting your/her local hospital/trauma center and ask who they'd recommend ... that's what my Mom has done, and it's worked out well so far (hasn't had to use it so far) makes it a lot easier for me to leave town occasionally, knowing she can push the button

EastCoastMojo wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote: My grandmother used to live with her sister--my aunt, obviously--and once my aunt fell out of her bed. As my grandma tells the story, my aunt said, "I've fallen and I can't get up." Laugher from both of them soon followed.

Wouldn't that be your great aunt?

You know, technically, yes, I guess. What's funny is that we never used term on either side of my family. We just had aunts and uncles.

There are a few free andoid apps that do this. Cradar and motosos for example. Adjustable for impact sensitivity, time to reset before they call, and who they call. Pretty cool and usefull for a person (or hiker, motoccyclest, etc) who carries their smart phone.

Definitely get one. My coworker's 87 year old mother fell last weekend and broke her hip. Nobody found her for two days. Now she's in hospice with a "dead" leg, she's too weak to operate on and only has maybe a week left.

Two weeks ago, she was active, healthy and taking care of herself. The sad irony is she was due to move into an assisted living facility four friggen days before the fall.

While we make fun of the commercials, one of those buttons probably would have saved her life.

Bought my Mom a basic large number cell phone w/ the Emergency alert button. You can program to notify 911, docs and kin. Basic plan $10/ month after purchase. It's light enough to wear as a pendant around the neck, does the same as medical alerts. Pure Talk USA.

Woody wrote: About half the time, it's an accidental activation,

I always wonder what features they have to prevent accidental activation. It doesn't just go off if the button gets touched at all does it?

That's kind of what happens. Some people wear it like a watch. A lot of people have a pendant that they were around their neck. We get a lot of false alarms around dinner time when people slide their chair in and the button gets pressed against the table.

When we send a patient to the hospital, we always make sure that they leave the button home. Occasionally, they push the button in the hospital, in an ambulance or just in a car. Life Alert calls us, and they come home to a broken door.

Some companies just contact 911 automatically when the button is pushed. Others have a hands free two way transmitter in the house with a loud speaker and a reset button. When the system is activated, the company's dispatcher can talk to the patient to find out if there is a problem or if it was an accidental activation and then dispatch us accordingly. These can be helpful if we arrive and find an unconscious patient. We can speak to the dispatcher and find out the patient's medical history.

Wow, I know those SPOT trackers (which idiots took about 10 seconds to abuse) require you to hold two buttons down at the same time for 10 seconds or something like that. You'd figure the granny-alarms could at least require you to hold it for that long while an alarm beeps, so if you're pressing it accidentally you'll notice it and have a chance to stop it.

For those thinking that a cell phone would be a good alternative to this: It usually isn't.

My grandparents both have cell phones. They usually stay plugged in sitting on the counter, so that in case they need it in an emergency it will be charged. My great aunt did the same. My grandmother had a cell phone before it was cool, and kept it in the trunk of her car.

We looked into these, but decided ultimately that we didn't need one. We were really close on my great aunt, but she moved into independent living (check on her at 10AM, 5PM, and 10PM) before we could make a decision. FWIW, she still fell there and it took 10 hours for her to be found, but at least she didn't break anything and she was able to sleep for most of it. It also prompted a visit to the hospital that was the needed kick in the rear to move her into assisted living where they check on her numerous times of the day and night.

My grandparents are both still in their house and still relatively able bodied, the only way that something bad would happen is if they both happend to fall and both of my aunts/uncles who live in the same neighborhood were out of town. Highly unlikely.

EastCoastMojo wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote: My grandmother used to live with her sister--my aunt

Wouldn't that be your great aunt?

Actually, I have it from a reliable source that the correct term is "grand aunt", but that "great aunt" is used much more frequently.

Check with a local, locally owned, alarm company. Those are all standard wireless alarm parts, same as a hold up button. Much better to do business with.

My great grandmother had one of those life alert deals. The one time she tried to use it, when she fell pulling weeds and stopped herself with her face, it didn't work, and she was found by a neighbor after laying there for 40 minutes or so. They called the company and they came out and replaced the whole system. that's my only experience with them. Might be more reliable to get her a durable cell phone that she keeps with her at all times, but it depends on the person and how comfortable they are with new tech.

Strizzo wrote: Might be more reliable to get her a durable cell phone that she keeps with her at all times, but it depends on the person and how comfortable they are with new tech.

In my experience, it isn't the technology that is the issue. You can still find cheap, durable, big-numbered cell phones that anybody can figure out--dial the number and hit the green button. The problem is breaking them from old habits and ways. My grandparents have an Ipad and know how to use it, but they turn the wireless router off when they're done. That is pretty ridiculous in todays world. They leave their cell phones on the counter plugged in, so that they'll have it charged when they need it. Defeats the purpose, no matter how many times we've tried to explain it to them. Luckily they both live together and have a child/grandchild over probably 1-2 times a day.

mtn wrote:

Strizzo wrote: Might be more reliable to get her a durable cell phone that she keeps with her at all times, but it depends on the person and how comfortable they are with new tech.

In my experience, it isn't the technology that is the issue. You can still find cheap, durable, big-numbered cell phones that anybody can figure out--dial the number and hit the green button. The problem is breaking them from old habits and ways. My grandparents have an Ipad and know how to use it, but they turn the wireless router off when they're done. That is pretty ridiculous in todays world. They leave their cell phones on the counter plugged in, so that they'll have it charged when they need it. Defeats the purpose, no matter how many times we've tried to explain it to them. Luckily they both live together and have a child/grandchild over probably 1-2 times a day.

right. wireless internet or a cell phone with a battery that lasts all day on standby might be old tech, or not considered tech to you, but it is to them, thus "new tech."

Beware: Old People and Phones

We went to a house fire not too long ago (not too bad) that was called in from the house next door. When I spoke to the elderly woman after it was all over, she said that she couldn't understand why 911 wouldn't work. She left the house and called from her neighbor's phone. As it turns out, she was dialing from a cordless phone. Appearantly, when she dials a regular ten or eleven digit phone number, it begins ringing automatically, but for a three digit call (911), she needs to press "Send". In a panic situation, they may not be able to figure this out. I made a test call to our dispatcher and it worked fine.

My 83yo mom who is active on her computer and cell phone keeps the cell phone off so that she wont incur unnecessary costs. If you call on the house phone, she wont answer because all the soliciting calls that she used to get when she got on a "sucker" list. Even though she locked herself outside in the courtyard in the winter, she wont carry the cell phone with her. I cant tell you how many times I have had to go up to her house to verify that she is ok after a long period of silence or failure to respond. She would tell you that she doesnt need the Panic Button.

FWIW, my coworker's mother passed away this afternoon. I was standing next to him when he got the call. He knew it was coming, but not this soon. Not something I care to experience again anytime soon.

We're convinced a life alert would have saved her life. It DOES happen.

cwh wrote: Check with a local, locally owned, alarm company. Those are all standard wireless alarm parts, same as a hold up button. Much better to do business with.

I will look into this tomorrow.
I thank you all greatly and if you have more...keep it coming.

She has a cell phone. Same or similar tech hurdles as mentioned above.

My mother lived with my brother and he got her one since he and his wife were at work during the day. He got the kind that had the speaker so the company could call and check. In the 8 years she had it she had a few false alarms that were resolved when the company called.

There were 2 times that she really needed help and the company called my brother at work and 911 to get the ambulance.