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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.

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Using technology can help you in your care of your loved one, but all devices have limitations and your loved one may not interact with the device in ways you might think. Over time I’ve tried several related solutions with my wife and finally settled in on a device used by parents for their autistic child. It might or might not be right for you, but if you’re interested it’s called AngelSense. You need to attach it to your loved one’s clothing and is nearly impossible for anyone but you to remove. Some of the things it does are the following:
* 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.
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NeedHelpWithMom Mar 8, 2024
What a wonderful device! Technology is amazing and growing all the time for helping with specific needs.

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.
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Welcome, Marylu!

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.
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Marylu Mar 8, 2024
Thanks so much for your info re rating. I trust Consumer Reports and will go to my local library to find the back issue. Cell phone remedy is not really helpful, as my service is not always reliable. I fell recently and just called a neighbor, who came over immediately from next door and got me off the floor. I was able to walk, so figured nothing was broken. I know that I was lucky, did not hit my head or break a bone. I am (to be kind) zaftig and my own family doctor said that, in this case, having a little fat in the bank was helpful in avoiding broken bones.
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For everyone that is saying just carry your cell phone; a precious woman from my church carried hers without fail, fell in the yard, on the pocket where the phone was, she couldn't get to the phone and died from exposure.

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.
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swmckeown76 Mar 14, 2024
Smartwatches also have fall detection and can be linked to a phone. Should do the job and be far less expensive.
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My husband has a small crossbody pouch type bag that he uses these days to carry is cell phone in.
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Life Alert is the worst, very expensive and requires a contract, so you could have to keep paying after LO passes. The second place company with a similar name is also expensive.

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.
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KPWCSC Mar 14, 2024
Thank you for the insight on Life Alert. We have used another company and wanted to try a new one. I called Life Alert and said I had experience with another company and wanted to get their cost. I didn't want to wast their time and mine if it was substantially higher knowing we could not go a lot higher. I also did not want a contract. He was less than friendly insisting he could give no info unless I gave them my info and have someone do a presentation. So I said no thank you. It may be different in other areas.
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Like others have said I always take my cell phone with me when I am outside, walking the dog or what not. And I have gotten some great pictures with it too!
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NeedHelpWithMom Mar 8, 2024
Yep! We would be lost without our cells.

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.”
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Marylu: I'm sorry you fell and glad that you were lucky and had a friend who could come over to help you. Re: Consumer Reports and a trip to your local library. If you have a computer at home you might want to try, before making a trip to the library, calling and speaking to someone at the reference desk. My library has access to Consumer Reports (including back issues, I think) online, and you just have to have a regular library card to access these. If they do have this service, and you have a computer, they could possibly walk you through this on the phone. It could depend on the library's budget if they have a service like that. Good luck!
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elcee499 Mar 14, 2024
I have a digital subscription to Consumer Reports and could pull this info up very quickly. They rated seven systems. Rankings are as follows: 1- Bay Medical Alarm, 2 - MobileHelp, 3 - Philips Lifeline, 4 - GreatCall Lively Mobile, 5 - Medical Guardian, 6 - Medical Alert, 7 - Life Alert. The full article has more info that you will want to review. The magazine and the library are both very helpful resources.
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I got one for my mother when she had her stroke - I used Life Alert, watch and help buttons. The only downside is it is a 3-year contract. I feel secure in knowing she has help if I'm not around
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Hi Marylu - I'm so glad your recent fall wasn't serious. You're so smart to start looking now at medical alerts for yourself. My (rather vain) aunt refused to even consider one (too ugly and makes me look old) until she had fallen and been hospitalized several times.

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!
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I am a single 83 year old and for more than 10 years now, have used two companies. The first one was almost the only one at the time, Medic Alert. Now I am using Medical Alert. There is also Life Alert, and quite a few other companies. I always look up record with Better Business Bureau on line of company I'm researching. There are ways the internet tells us online the "rating" of a company against others. Go on line and google Medical Alert Pendant and look at the many companies who offer the service. I am a fall risk. Both companies I have used, and now use, call immediately when I fall and through the button on the alert or master battery alert, the caller will address me by name and ask if I am okay.
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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