Wellness

[lyndapace]

does anyone of have any advice regarding the emergency call systems that get help to you in case of a fall? I have checked several and you get some good and bad reviews. I am 70 and recently fell in my front yard. thankfully, a neighbor's nephew who was visiting, heard me call for help. I was ok, but may need to invest in one. thanks. lynda

[betteb]

My advise would be to call your county Dept of Aging and ask them who they recommend.

You can find it on Google. Put in the name of your county and state followed by Dept of Aging.

Another source for info may be your doctor's office.

[Big Sister]

Around my house and in my yards, I now carry my phone in my pocket, just in case.

[Kachina624]

Usually government agencies will not recommend commercial businesses.

[hckynut]

If you have a cell phone and a good connection when inside or outside your house, carry it with you "turned on" at all times. I had my 2nd heart attack while down at the bottom of our front yard(which is about a 40% incline up to our house. I was able to walk back up by using some mathematical equation which would be the easiest way to get up the hill. I took the long way but it was not as steep.

I was not dying at that moment and I could walk, but I knew I was having a heart attack and I did not have my cell phone on me at the time. I now take it anytime I go outside when home alone and plan on doing anything outside that is time consuming.

If you are concerned about falling when indoors, carry it with you all the time when alone. Have the person closest to you, physically by distance and/or a person that you can almost always reach. First call should be 911 of course and move on from there.

My Tracfone costs me less than $6 per month so it is not an expensive item to have in case of an emergency.

[meem120]

If you had one of the services, and wear the call button all the time, I'm assuming you would need a land telephone line??? So many have given up their landlines in favor of cell phones, do the services work if you only have a cell phone?

[Peaches McPhee]

On 3/7/2014 mcall1020 said:

If you had one of the services, and wear the call button all the time, I'm assuming you would need a land telephone line??? So many have given up their landlines in favor of cell phones, do the services work if you only have a cell phone?

Some will, but you have to ask for that type. Sometimes the cell phone type costs more.

[betteb]

On 3/7/2014 kachina624 said: Usually government agencies will not recommend commercial businesses.

In this instance they do. The Dept of Aging will even help her set it up. Part of what they do is try to help people stay in their homes.

[lavendar]

I have an appointment for one next week. I am very fortunate because my local hospital provides one at a minimal cost for seniors. Seniors means sixty. However, it can't be used outside. I carry a small inexpensive cell phone in my pocket. I don't know if this is true but I was told if you call 911 on a landline it goes locally immediately but a cell does not.

[151949]

On 3/7/2014 bigsister said:

Around my house and in my yards, I now carry my phone in my pocket, just in case.

Many people think this is enough but if you fall and break your hip you may not be able to get into the pocket to get the phone and you may break the phone when you fall onto it.or if you have a stroke and are unable to dial a phone .... the push button device is much safer.