topic Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”… in Wellness

“I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

Skyegirl21 — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 20:36:51 GMT

We have all seen the silly (but can be real) Life Alert ad (well, most of us)!
I need to get my elderly Mom a device like this, since my sister moved out of the hous, Mom is now alone with no friends or neighbors around and I am 2 hrs away from her (Mom totally refuses to move)-

I figure maybe there are forum friends who have this experience? What device did you get? I know there are many brands. Did you like it? Thx! Skye and Mom- 💕

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

depglass — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 20:43:11 GMT

I have a friend who actively gardens, and I mean active. Her yard is phenomenal. Anyway, whenever she is outside, or goes down the stairs to the basement, she has her portable phone in her pocket.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

RedTop — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 21:28:09 GMT

2 extended family members over 80 had these devices; both fell and were on the floor for many hours until someone came to check on them because they did not answer the phone calls. Neither lady remembered they had the device around their neck!

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

gizmogal — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 16:46:29 GMT

Many excellent articles and direct comparisons available so you can compare prices, devices, services, and features side by side. Google "comparison of medical alert systems for seniors" and select sites to view and learn from. Yes, first havd recommendations are valuable, but you also want information, not just opinions.

Be careful what sources you select to read. You don't want a promotion from one of the services. Comparison should be objective, with both pros and cons presented not selling one over the other.

Hoping you can set up your mom for her safety and your peace of mind very soon.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

On It — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 22:06:47 GMT

An Apple Watch can detect falls and send help. I am not certain if she could learn all the functions other than time, but it might be worth a look.

I think it will detect heart rate too high or too low and text emergency contacts. I do not have one, but I am considering it. It is all in the settings you choose to activate.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

CatsyCline — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 22:20:52 GMT

My sister and i lived far away - i was closest at 5 hours. My Mom had an ADT unit for years til she recently moved. An additional hard phone line was installed. There's a tabletop unit, you press the button and it connects to their operators. The box sat by her TV chair. She usually wore the pendant . One time the EMTS came when she accidentally pushed on the button out in the yard trying to carry a wicker chair. She was warned that the next time she'd have to pay for the call.

ADT monitored the temp in the house when Mom was away in Florida, we got calls if the temp went below 50. They called if Mom didnt do the monhly equipment test. The best thing is we got calls if the EMTS took her to the hospital, because she was so stubborn and independant she would NEVER give us a heads up! Oh i dreaded those ADT calls! They did keep her safe though, sooo many times she was in AFIB and they got her right into treatment.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

Meridian2009 — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 22:24:06 GMT

I bought a Life Alert for my Mom. It came through when she needed it. She fell and couldn't get up. She activated her Life Alert. It connects with a live person who called the fire department. They broke the door down to get her off the floor. I was also called. Who knows how long she would have been on the floor if she hadn't had the Life Alert. (I had a neighbor who laid on the floor for more than 24 hours!)

I think the Life Alert is worth the cost.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

Skyegirl21 — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 22:31:40 GMT

FYI, Mom is completely NO tech, won't (unable) to use a cell phone or an iPad or a laptop- I did purchase these for her, believe me, I have tried! Thx again!

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

Skyegirl21 — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 22:34:07 GMT

Thanks for the link @gizmogal ❣️

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

fthunt — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 23:11:42 GMT

Had Lifeline since hubby died - 15 years ago. Wrote the check today...wouldn't be without it.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

CatsyCline — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 23:12:47 GMT

To save doors from damage, you can buy a Lockbox to hold a key outside the home so the door can be opened by the EMTs. The EMS service has the combination on file and relays to the EMTs.

My Mom kept her spare key in a clothespin bag so they knew to look there.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

SilleeMee — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 23:20:41 GMT

Years a go I had LifeAlert and it was connected to my landline. I no longer have it but a friend told me that she has one for her disabled son and that it's also connected to her landline. She said the ones connected to cellphones can be vulnerable to disconnect especially if you live in an area, rural mostly, where cell towers have problems in storms. Landlines are more reliable in those instances. Something to think about.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

mspatmac — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 23:39:36 GMT

@On It

I got an apple Watch a couple months ago and love it. In case of a car accident, home accident, fall and are unconscious it will call both my son and 911 automatically with my location immediately. No relay through a third party and no monthly fee. I can also activate manually. It does need to be recharged if that is a deal breaker.

I also have an iPhone as do my kids so they know where I am all the time while traveling or anywhere in the country, even the grocery store. I have enabled such permission, . I understand from past threads that many don't see the value in cell phones etc, but there is so much available to kelp us all safe.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

Skyegirl21 — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 00:09:55 GMT

Yes Catsy, I did get a lockbox for that purpose. A great idea!

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

Kachina624 — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 01:38:14 GMT

@mspatmac If one buys an Apple phone, then an Apple watch, you're talking about a considerable investment of over $1,000 for a device(s) with a limited lifespan which must be frequently recharged. That's not practical for many people and certainly not for someone with no tech knowledge or skills.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

patbz — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 03:09:19 GMT

Amazon has a similar service which is much more cost effective than Life Alert or an Apple Watch. Its " Call toU" ($33.95 on early prime). I had a friend who was nearing 80 who lived alone but had many friends ( also elderly). I suggested that she pair with several friends who could call one another in the morning and.the evening and take action if they got no response. Years ago my MIL, who lived alone ( but had 2 local kids; one of whom visited in the evening on his way home from work and the other did her shopping and cleaning). Guess what, my MIL tripped over her small dog and hit her head on b.r. sink. She laid on floor for 1 1/2 days and both kids were out of town and assumed the other was home. We lived 5 hrs away so were of no help in this case. When she was found, she was hospitalized and after that point she was never the same. So anything you can use as a backup system increases the likelihood that won't happen to your loved one.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

mspatmac — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 03:10:19 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@mspatmac If one buys an Apple phone, then an Apple watch, you're talking about a considerable investment of over $1,000 for a device(s) with a limited lifespan which must be frequently recharged. That's not practical for many people and certainly not for someone with no tech knowledge or skills.

@Kachina624

Valid points but every product is not affordable or practable for everyone. It was a discussion of Life Line type products and I was mearly explaining what I utalize as others explained what they have or provided their parent(s).

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

Lilysmom1 — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 06:25:12 GMT

@On It , I was going to mention Apple Watch as well. I have had one for four or five years and would not be without it.

When I work in the garden sometimes I dig holes in some pretty hard conditions requiring quite a bit of force. My Apple watch detects the force of the movement and prompts me with 'Did you Fall?"

I have also gotten the prompt if I shake out pillow cases before hanging to dry.

If the techie mountain isn't too high to climb, I would certainly recommend and there is no monthly fee to pay. LM

PS, I see from reading on that it is not for everyone but good info to get out there.

Also smart idea to have a lockbox outside. I have a Weiser electronic door that opens with a keypad touch pad. I keep the lockbox outside in case it fails.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

Eileen in Virginia — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 13:10:12 GMT

My 97 year old Aunt has had a lanyard (I'm not sure which brand) for the past 4 years after she laid on the floor for over a day before anyone found her. Hers is for use in her house and is tied to her land line. She didn't feel she needed an outdoor version because she never went outside alone. So far, this has worked for her.

She last used it about 6 months ago when she had a nosebleed that she couldn't stop and was weak from blood loss. She pushed the button on her lanyard and they had the EMT's there very quickly. Unfortunately, they had to break through the back door, so I'll ask her about hiding a spare key. I'll also look into the notification option, as she didn't tell us about this trip to the ER until the next day.

BTW, one of my friends lives with her husband, who has dementia. Her husband doesn't remember how to use the telephone, so I recommended she look into subscribing to one of these services. She has a number of health issues and is very wobbly on her feet. If she fell or had another serious incident, he wouldn't be able to get help.

Re: “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”…

chrystaltree — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 13:29:16 GMT

We've been talking about that. I'm happy my disabled sister has one. My upstairs neighbor who is around my are but has some condition that requires an ambulance and paramedics on occasion. Friday she fell off the toilet and could not pull herself up. She was yelling for help, apparently for quite some time until her upstairs neighbor heard her. Her door was locked. No one could get in and they wasted a LOT of time trying to kick the door in. Finally, they called for an ambulance and those paramedics had to call the fire department to get in her door. This is where hubby and I got home. They get in and and the ambulance whisks her off to the hospital but thank heavens, it had not been a medical event. She just fell off the toilet bowl. If she'd had a Life Alert device, she would have had help in minutes. I think if she'd had a heart attack or stroke, it's likely she would not have survived after all the time that was wasted.