Re: LIFE ALERT SYSTEM IN CASE OF A FALL AT HOME

qvcaddition · ‎03-10-2010

I text my son in morning that i'm OK and my sister at night. I also have an alarm system, but if I fall can't get to it. I am thinkin of getting the Life alert system, but low income and don't know if I can afford it. Checking.

shoesnbags · ‎03-10-2010

@pdlinda

I have an Apple Watch, too. I have it set to call 911 and my son if I fall or need help. I'm actually very active at this point but anyone can fall at any time so after my husband passed I bought the watch. I wear it in the shower and while I'm sleeping. It sits charging fo about an hour at night while I'm watching tv - that's the only time it's off my wrist.

As far as price, it was about $300 at Best Buy. I have no extra monthly cost because it connects to my iPhone which I'm already paying for. This type of Apple Watch works wherever you go as long as you take your phone with you. (The phone doesn't have to be on your person, just in the same house. )

There's another more expensive version that works independently of your phone, but there is an added monthly fee from your cell phone provider because you've added another device to your plan. My version of the watch doesn't have this expense - I paid for it once and that's it! As another poster mentioned, I use it for so many other things since it's a like a mini phone attached to my wrist. That $300 was money well spent for me.

"Breathe in, breathe out, move on." Jimmy Buffett

ChouChou · ‎03-13-2010

I, too, am an Apple Watch believer. I have the version with the cell service and am happy to pay the $10/month charge. I use Verizon. My sister lives near Dallas and last year slipped on the ice in the Walmart parking lot. It stunned her a bit and the next thing she remembered was the paramedics putting her in the ambulance. The watch also notified her daughter and grandson.

I always wear mine except when charging. Mine takes about an hour to charge. The other thing I like about it is through Apple I was able to sync to my Kaiser health record. Now first responders and ER personnel can see my health records even if I’m not conscious. Most medical providers and hospitals have the ability to sync your health records.

Bottom line: don’t leave home without it.

sydsgma1 · ‎03-09-2010

@pdlinda

I concur with the Apple Watch. Over the long run, although it ihas an initial cost of around $600 + , it is more cost efficient over time.

mine has successfull called 911 for a couple of bad falls.

i only take mine off to shower...I have my cell very close.

godd luck

shoesnbags · ‎03-10-2010

@sydsgma1 wrote:
@pdlinda

I concur with the Apple Watch. Over the long run, although it ihas an initial cost of around $600 + , it is more cost efficient over time.

mine has successfull called 911 for a couple of bad falls.

i only take mine off to shower...I have my cell very close.

godd luck

@sydsgma1

Can I offer a suggestion from one satisfied Apple watch wearer to another? And I realize that it's none of my business, but.. Since so many falls at home happen in the bathroom, it's really important to wear your watch while showering or bathing. It's 100% waterproof, even under water. Then charge the watch whilie you're doing something sitting still, like reading or watching TV. If it's like mine, it'll charge and be ready to wear again in an hour.

"Breathe in, breathe out, move on." Jimmy Buffett

kismet · ‎03-10-2010

I too have been looking for something to wear in case of a fall. I did check out Medical Guardian. Have been considering the Apple watch also. I think it all depends on how well you get around at the time. I'm good and do all my own things at home and the yard work. I know a person can fall and that's mainly why I feel I need something. I feel the Apple watch is one and done. Maybe in the future I'll need something more. My husband took a fall in the driveway 2 years ago, fell backward resulting in a brain bleed. A week in Intensive Care and there was no hope. He never woke up. I requested a DNR after he flatlined twice. Just never know.

roeroe1005 · ‎03-13-2010

Reading these posts has really gotten me thinking also.

Even though I moved back to NY to be closer to my family, I still live alone. My older nephew and his wife are only about 8 miles away, but with traffic, it can take a good 20-25 mins for me to get to their house, probably more on the weekend. My sister and other newphew are 30 mins away.

G*d forbid I fall (as I've done when I lived 300 miles away) or worse, and I don't have my phone right next to me, I hate to think what could happen.

I was just on the Apple site, as I have an iphone, but I don't know what I should be looking for.

You ladies who do have an apple watch, would you tell me what series you have? I have a cheap wanna-be watch from Amazon that's about $25. It has the phone/text feature and tells me how many steps I walk, but I need something a bit more helpful to me.

Good discussion. Thanks PDLinda for starting it and reminding me I'm not 35 anymore!

ChouChou · ‎03-13-2010

I purchased the AppleWatch series 10. I didn’t get the Ultra but I did get the 46mm watch face because I wasn’t sure if I could read the smaller face SE option. Because I have a Verizon account I got the watch with the cell service rather than the WiFi version. It costs $10/month annd is worth it for me. If you always carry your phone you can get the non cellular version. Also, either the cellular version you don’t need to carry your phone with you. I knew I didn’t want the bands that Apple offered so I didn’t care what I got. I got a leather band on Amazon.

It was pretty easy to set up. I am 81 years old and did it without help. I have made calls using it and received calls on it. I was able to hear quite well in both cases. I have afib and it has an afib monitor which I use. I also uploaded my medical records from Kaiser. Again, easy set up. If your providers have electronic medical records and are listed on Apples health app then you can upload them. I am a retired RN and I have the EMAY 6L portable ekg monitor. I do my ekg about once/twice a month and upload it to my health app.

I only wish I had gotten this thing a few years ago. I fell three years ago and fractured my sternum. By scooting along the floor I was able to get to my nightstand and get my phone to call my grandson. That’s why I wear it all the time except when charging. I have to charge it every 2-3 days for about an hour.

It took me about 2-3 days of playing with it to get super comfortable with it. Good luck!

roeroe1005 · ‎03-13-2010

@ChouChou,

Thank you, I actually wrote down Series 10 when I was looking online at Apple watches. I also have Verizon service w/my phone.

I will look further into this.

arrabella · ‎03-12-2010

@We rescue cats wrote:
@pdlinda A few years ago I went to the yard to feed the birds, it had snowed and when I was coming back I could not see the small step and took a tumble. Sadly we had enough snow that my arms could not reach the ground to get myself up so I rolled over to the patio where there was no snow! (LOL) I was alone, my DH was at work.

I was telling one of my friends about it and she told be to get an apple watch. She had the flu and had fainted in her home, she lived alone, and her watch called 911 and they responded to her home. I went the shop the next day and have worn that watch every day since.

I will not be without that Apple watch again.

Same here