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PeggySue2020 Asked August 2022

Do Life Alerts really work like in Hollywood? Warning, spoilers for Better Call Saul.

The episode ends with the protagonist pulling out Carol Burnett’s landline wire. Burnett backs up and hits the life alert pendant, instantly in touch with a real human. She tells them to send cops.


 


Is this the way they work?

ainorlando Aug 2022
The newest ones work off of the 5G cell network and the pendant is basically a very tiny cell phone. Push the button and a live person answers and asks what is needed. Then emergency services are dispatched if necessary.

Sendhelp Aug 2022
Can we google search "con man" plus a name, and get an answer? Lol....
PeggySue2020 Aug 2022
I did it according to script, meaning that you’d ask ask Jeeves.com, now ask. I put in conman and Albuquerque as Burnett said.

Initially there were no Saul Goodman mentions. I believe there is one now.

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PeggySue2020 Aug 2022
The full scene with Burnett has posted to youtube


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfIuQ5KdhFM
cwillie Aug 2022
Yeah, that looks bang on to me!
cwillie Aug 2022
These things have been around a long time, my grandmother had one before she died in 1990. Mom's had it's own dedicated phone jack strategically placed where it had the best signal to send and receive, and she was instructed to push the button monthly to check that it was functioning (and I suspect this also was a way to get people used to actually using the unit). Today there are units that work through cellular service so those will definitely still work without the land line, but even without a cellular system pulling out a phone line wouldn't necessarily disrupt the service unless you were breaking the main line coming into the house.
JoAnn29 Aug 2022
When u pull the line to the box from the jack, it is not able to send and receive. The button will not work. There is no connection.
JoAnn29 Aug 2022
Thought I'd look it up

"If a landline medical alert system becomes disconnected from the phone line, it's not going to work. A landline medical alert system contacts the monitoring station via your phone line. If the line gets pulled out of the jack or out of the medical alert system, it simply won't work."

It does go on to say that cell phones now can be used with alert systems by an app.

JoAnn29 Aug 2022
Its been over 5 yrs ago since Mom had a life alert. Back then the box was connected thru the phone lines. So, if the phone lines went out the alert did not work. So if someone pulled the landline out, the alert may not have worked. But times have changed.
PeggySue2020 Aug 2022
Interesting as this episode is widely believed to be set in 2010.
Slartibartfast Aug 2022
Yes it works as the other answers detailed. There is also an upgraded pendant with cellular service which I believe has gps tracking so you can use it "on the go". You wouldn't need to be within hearing distance of the main unit. Great service if your person isn't using it to call EMS to the freaking rehab every five minutes.

I've also found the fall monitor part of the pendant to be pretty reliable. A couple false alarms over the years but detected all her falls (at least that I know about).

Midkid58 Aug 2022
I don't watch TV much, so haven't watched this show (my family tells me not to...must be either very foul or very violent?)..but in a nutshell, yes, when the life alert pendant is 'triggered' by either a fall or manually...you get a human on the other end. Mother's will first send out a screeching alarm and someone starts to talk to her. Then the dialing of emergency contacts begin.

I'm unsure whether ALL of them are like that, but it would make sense that they all function on some level like that.

The only problem with mom's is that when the person comes on the line, mother is usually nowhere near the monitor and she can't raise her voice loud enough to be heard. And then the 5 people she 'calls' are usually asleep and have their phones off. She mostly gets the FD, which is fine, but fairly embarrassing that there are 5 people in her HOUSE who don't answer the call and they are awakened by firefighters breaking in the window.

An interesting plot twist, though.
PeggySue2020 Aug 2022
Mid kid, this show is more a slow paced legal drama, and kudos to this show, one that has prominent legal arcs involving elder law. I think your family was thinking about Breaking Bad, which preceded it.

The current season won’t be on Netflix until 2023, but the finale will be on next Monday at 9 pm on amc. I am almost thinking the protagonist will end up penniless and in a county nursing home far less nice than the luxury options depicted.

They were always seen as depressing, but as I learned more stuff here, it’s like whoa, dude has a staff speech aide who comes instantly and a private room in a facility. It’s actually more high end, which is interesting, because until you’re confronted with your parent potentially needing one of these, you don’t know that you might have to be the head of a drug dealer family to get that level of service.
babsjvd Aug 2022
yes… when the pendant is pushed, there is a receiver box at residence that you can communicate with a real person. They will contact EMS if there is no response, or ask you if you need help. I lived in a different state , they call me as well. Google for different companies… research…get one that covers distance in yard as well…
PeggySue2020 Aug 2022
Thanks! Yes the receiver box came on loud and clear, and I’m like what’s that Alexa?

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