I live alone in my home designed by my deceased husband. The land includes 5 acres with about 700 trees. I have great support from two local brothers and two sisters who live a ways away. I'm in pretty good shape but do have diabetes and COPD. I fell the other day which incentivized me to start exploring the medic-alert bracelet or pendant. Need ratings or some kind of guidance re which service is better or best.
* tracks their location in real time
* alerts you when they travel outside boundaries are set / control
* allows you to listen / hear the sounds and noises of the area they are in
* allows you to call and talk to them without their intervention (it automatically answers / pickup)
* has an emergency button if they choose and remember to use it
* allows emergency workers to locate your loved one.
It does other things as well, but I found the above most helpful.
I am married to an engineer and am constantly amazed at what products come out in response to needs.
My husband has been awarded several patents for several of his designs.
I wonder if you might be better served by simply keeping your cell phone charged and on your person at all times?
Check whether Consumer Reports has rating Medical alert systems in the past year or so. You can check out their recent issues at the public library.
https://www.consumerreports.org/health/medical-alert-systems/best-medical-alert-systems-a1136054281/
It looks like they rated them in November 2023.
If falling is a reality for someone you love or yourself, something that notifies a service that a fall has taken place, without you having to do anything, is a better idea.
I would contact the local fire department and ask them for help in choosing, they are always happy to help.
I went with Bay Medical, which was highly rated by AARP. I paid 3 months at a time for $9.99 month, with no upfront fees. Now that mom has passed I have to return the base unit or be charged $299. But it’s the same system - you give them a list of people to call, or they will call 911 etc. It costs more for automatic fall detection or gps monitoring.
The other companies charge you for the equipment upfront and you don’t have to return it, but they don’t allow you to give it away. The family of my mom’s late best friend offered me theirs, and the company (LifeLine I think) said she would still have to pay the full amount.
I used to think that people were spoiling their kids when they gave them phones at a young age. I don’t feel that way anymore.
I remember my uncle telling me that there was a kid in his area who was being abducted from his school bus stop and managed to call 911 and report the incident. This 11 year old boy saved himself from being taken away by a stranger.
Cell phones are no longer a luxury. They are a necessity. They are truly a valuable tool for everyday communication and also help with our safety.
Gosh, I remember my dad asking me if I had change for the bus and a pay phone before I left the house. Those days are gone forever! Now parents buy cell phones for their kids.
Hahaha, it took a while for my kids to become responsible with their cell phones! My oldest daughter had hers taken away at school once for using it at an inappropriate time!
I had to go to the school and sign it out. She was not allowed to go get it back herself. She NEVER used it again in school after that episode.
I same thing happened with my youngest daughter too.
My youngest daughter had a friend who would put her cell phone in her back pocket and dropped it in the toilet 3 times! After the third time her mother said, “No more cell phones for you! When you learn not to place your phone in your pocket, I will consider getting another one for you.”
I did a pretty exhaustive search and comparison back in September 2022 and finally decided on Senior Safety Medical Alert (Get Help Now). They don't require a contract, and the equipment is "free" as long as you return it when no longer needed (or a $300 equipment fee is assessed). It's $39/month and we elected to pay quarterly, which also included a lock box for a key to be put in near her front door. We arranged for her local Fire Department/Police Department to have the combination on file in case we ever needed to gain access in an emergency, and her home care company also had it. (I live in another state).
They were VERY nice, friendly, helpful. She did have a number of false alarms, which they took care of in a kind, caring way. Always made sure she was okay. They did have to call her EMS help a time or two when she couldn't get up by herself.
Good luck - hope this helps!
Last year I fell, like a faint, and after I was on the floor I pressed the button. They had already sensed I had fallen and were trying to contact me. They called an ambulance for me. I live in an apartment complex. The door was locked. They told me not to move, they could enter, either getting key from complex office, or otherwise. I never knew what other way they could enter my apartment. But, they got here, and had to take me to hospital. The system works. They followed up with a few days later to see if I was okay.
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