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OCShaun Asked October 2012

Is there a device like Life Alert that you can program to call a designated number when the victom presses the help button?

I mentioned to my elder grandmother that I wanted to get her a life alert device and she said she didn't want me spending money on that. (Even know she has fallen 3 times inside her home in the past 45 days). Was just thinking there should be an alternative to pressing a button and reaching me on my cell phone if she needs help...

EXPERT Carol Bradley Bursack, CDSGF Oct 2012
The reason most of these systems call a contact person first is to cut down on false 9-1-1 calls. If she presses the button and you don't answer, then they will call 9-1-1. You could put monitors and/or cameras around her home. Then you or a company would monitor her movements, but you'd still get a call.
I don't know of anything that would just call you, but there may be something out there. You'd still likely have to pay for the service, however. Any way you look at it, having these devices can be very helpful.
Take care,
Carol

Joe520 Oct 2012
You can get a "no-fee" medical alert that can be programmed to dial up to 5 numbers until someone answers. The best ones are by LogicMark because you can speak through the pendant. There are some cheap alternatives on Amazon that are junky and dangerous because they don't actually allow your grandmother to have a conversation with the callee. All they do is play a prerecorded phone message and then you have to wait 75 seconds for the phone line to clear before you can call back. The reason they're called no-fee alerts is that you don't pay a monitoring fee every month.

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treatmenttime Oct 2012
Thanks for the question, I didn't know how to ask it. My MIL said that if we got her one she would use it for needing milk, etc. knowing that 911 was on other end! We cringed...because she would...her sister did. Thanks again, I didn't know we had alternatives.

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