topic Re: Life Alert? in Wellness

Life Alert?

kismet — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 23:30:40 GMT

I'm now living alone and my daughter wants me to get Life Alert just in case. I don't know anyone that has it so does anyone have any experience with it.

Re: Life Alert?

missy mouse — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 23:42:55 GMT

My mother had it. She wore it around her neck. Never had to use it. I live alone and have an Apple Watch. Has fall detection and emergency calling. Also use it for daily steps etc. You do have to pay for it and have to have a phone line which most homes now do not have. Maybe they have changed that.

Re: Life Alert?

fthunt — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:08:00 GMT

Great peace...........have had mine since 2007

3 level house - stairs - basement floor concrete....doors locked..

How do you get help if you fall?

Your daughter will sleep better and so will you...just get it please.

Re: Life Alert?

laluzdelmundo — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:28:31 GMT

@missy mouse I have the Apple Watch with cellular. Just have to be careful not to fall when it's charging!

Re: Life Alert?

conlt — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:34:07 GMT

I have an Apple Watch that will call someone, even 911 if I fall. I have fallen twice and it worked both times. It says it detected a hard fall and I have to answer I am ok, or it will make the calls. I can also call someone on my watch. I do not pay a monthly fee for this service.

Re: Life Alert?

shoesnbags — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:34:47 GMT

@laluzdelmundo wrote:
@missy mouse I have the Apple Watch with cellular. Just have to be careful not to fall when it's charging!

The Apple Watch will be my choice too when I'm at that point. Can't you just charge it while you're sleeping and then put it on when you wake up?

Re: Life Alert?

781Florist — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 02:35:31 GMT

I have Echo speakers in every room. If I should have an accident I simply need to tell Alexa to call ------ and she will call whoever it is I name.

Re: Life Alert?

Skyegirl21 — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 02:47:02 GMT

My Mom needs something soon. She is all alone, a 3 level house, lives far from me and refuses to move. She is "NO tech", so Apple watch And Alexa are out of the question.
Please share how much Life Alert costs? Thanks!

Re: Life Alert?

kaydee50 — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 06:24:38 GMT

@781Florist :
I have Echo speakers in every room. If I should have an accident I simply need to tell Alexa to call ------ and she will call whoever it is I name.

And what do you do if you fall or need help outside your home???

Re: Life Alert?

KingstonMom — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 07:29:06 GMT

@kaydee50

Smart thought!

Our MIL fell in her yard and had to crawl across her yard to the patio door, which thankfully was not locked, to get to a phone.

Then we insisted on Life Alert. She had the pendant and a watch.

Re: Life Alert?

Lilysmom1 — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:55:31 GMT

@kaydee50 @781Florist also what if you can't speak? I have Apple Watch but would add life alert if it gave my family peace of mind.

Re: Life Alert?

Boehm Collector — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 13:01:37 GMT

My mother had something similar. It was out of our local hospital. She wore it around her neck. It gave me peace of mind. She only had to use it once.

Re: Life Alert?

Eileen in Virginia — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 14:18:19 GMT

My Aunt had a Life Alert lanyard for the last 5 years of her life that she got through the hospital. She was in her mid-90's, lived alone in her home and her physical health was starting to decline. We insisted she get one after she'd fallen in her home, couldn't reach the phone and laid on her living room floor until her neighbor returned from a trip and decided to check in on her. She had no idea how long she laid there. She refused to get one that worked outside her home, stating that she always had someone with her when she went outside, so hers worked through her landline. She was feisty!

To her credit, she wore her lanyard religiously. In the 5 years she had it, she used it 3 times. The operators were very responsive. I don't know if an Apple Watch is better, but she would never have worn one. I've recommended either of these devices to a friend who has mobility issues whose husband has dementia. Although he means well, he can't remember how to use a phone, so no help there.

SUGGESTION: if you get one of these devices, hide a house key in a secure location outside your home and tell Life Alert/Apple where it's located. On one occasion, the EMT's had to break through a back door to get into my Aunt's house because she couldn't get to the door and she didn't want to bother anyone else who had a key. 🙄

Re: Life Alert?

cheriere — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 15:45:20 GMT

@Eileen in Virginia that's a good idea about the key. I hadn't remembered this until reading this post , but Apple Watch also has GPS tracking built in. Should the wearer have dementia and wander off, this could help them to be found much easier. I don't know what the life alert costs to monitor per month. F you already have cellular service the Apple Watch would require no additional fee if this is an issue.

Re: Life Alert?

Zhills — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 16:43:13 GMT

@kaydee50 wrote:
@781Florist :
I have Echo speakers in every room. If I should have an accident I simply need to tell Alexa to call ------ and she will call whoever it is I name.
And what do you do if you fall or need help outside your home???

I have the Amazfit watch that I can use to call for help using the Alexa appl Alexa has a 'help' that can call 911

Re: Life Alert?

SchippyLuv — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 20:02:37 GMT

I've been wearing a mini-Medical Guardian for the last three years. I've had four friends fall alone - two with broken femurs and two died alone.

My device works like a champ. It alerts if I accidentally drop it and sometimes my cat sets it off when he's playing with me.

The cost is $99 for the unit and $50/month for the continuing service.

When I got my Guardian, I turned off my home phone which was costing $30/month. So I think for the added $20/month, I'm getting a very good value and service for my money.

I've also tested it around town and it works like a champ...

Re: Life Alert?

Shelbelle — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 20:09:05 GMT

My mom had something similar called Senior Safety, at the time I had checked out this one and compared it to Life Alert and found this one to be a better deal and there was no contract to sign.

Re: Life Alert?

CelticCrafter — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 21:30:28 GMT

@kismet Will you use it or will you be like my in-laws and leave it hanging on a hook.

They have had a few medical emergencies in the past couple of months and rather than use it, they decided to call my brother-in-law and waste time.

Re: Life Alert?

kismet — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 02:12:12 GMT

Celtic Crafter, I will use it. I do go outside in the yard every day to feed the squirrels and birds so would use it. Why pay for it if I won't use it. I will check into the other brands that were named in this forum. One thing I may have a problem with is when I got my internet and phone they asked about something like Life Alert. It was a long time ago so it may interfer with my phone or may not be able to get it. I do have a home phone and a pay as you go cell phone only. Have been thinking about an apple cell phone since it seems the one I have now doesn't always work. My tax lady suggested Life Alert since her mom has one but she couldn't remember much about it.

Don't know which I'll get yet.

My daughter does have a key to my house and she lives about 3 or 4 miles from me. I have a neighbor on the block that is older also and she may have one. Didn't think to ask her.