I’m looking for a Medical Alert device. I’d appreciate any suggestions from anyone who has had experience and can recommend one that’s effective and not expensive. Thanks.
I got this service for my father, after doing research on various companies that provided life alert service in our area. I had a list of questions which I asked. Ones that just wanted to send me a brochure were immediately crossed off my list. Ones that took a few days to return my call also were eliminated.
The company I chose also provides whole house security; the medical alert branch was a good compliment, and the 24/7 staffing was already established.
When we used this service, the cost was $40/monthly for the pendant. It's likely more now, but to me it was worth it b/c I had confidence in the company, and that was proven repeatedly.
Dad's device was position sensitive, so if he bent over, it could have been construed as a fall, and the company called immediately. That can be annoying to some people, but to me it was comforting.
And they continued to call until they reached someone. Once when I took my father to the ER, he must have removed the device and left it at home. When I got home about 2 or 3 am., there were multiple calls on my phone; they had repeatedly called b/c the pendant apparently wasn't upright and could have indicated a fall. They definitely were diligent.
You can also indicate who to call first, i.e., you, or first responders.
What I would seriously consider as well is a lockbox fastened to the exterior studs next to the front door. A key in the box allowed first responders to get in. I don't recall if the life alert company knew the combination, but I always gave it to first responders when I called, as it would generally be 45 min. plus before I could get out my father's house.
I just P'M'ed some specific information on the company we used.
My mom was in regular Assisted Living prior to moving to Memory Care and they had pendants with buttons they could push if they needed assistance. Most of the time she took it off and it was in her purse. Or the bedside table, bc she " didnt need it when she slept" nevermind she fell coming back to bed from the bathroom. Or in the bathroom when she took it off to shower.
They dont use them in memory care bc if the use problem.
Personal opinion here but In many cases I think they have limited use. A person with Dementia will or may not remember how to use it when necessary. A person without dementia would probably have a phone that they could use to call 911 Chances are a person will not wear the device in the house so a fall in the house would probably not be responded to. And good possibility that a fall in the house where a person has a cell phone would also not be responded to because the phone is by the recliner and they got up to get a drink or go to the bathroom...leaving the phone by the recliner. Unless you have a feature where if there is no movement for X number of hours an automatic call would be placed. But that would not help in the case where the device is left on the bedroom dresser because "I don't need to wear it in the house" If you are monitoring someone I think the cameras that are installed in the house would be more effective. A feature on the phone were you can locate the person (or the phone) would be good.
But if you are looking I would just compare features and price. Know that chances are if this person has dementia there will come a time when the device will not be effective.
The company I chose also provides whole house security; the medical alert branch was a good compliment, and the 24/7 staffing was already established.
When we used this service, the cost was $40/monthly for the pendant. It's likely more now, but to me it was worth it b/c I had confidence in the company, and that was proven repeatedly.
Dad's device was position sensitive, so if he bent over, it could have been construed as a fall, and the company called immediately. That can be annoying to some people, but to me it was comforting.
And they continued to call until they reached someone. Once when I took my father to the ER, he must have removed the device and left it at home. When I got home about 2 or 3 am., there were multiple calls on my phone; they had repeatedly called b/c the pendant apparently wasn't upright and could have indicated a fall. They definitely were diligent.
You can also indicate who to call first, i.e., you, or first responders.
What I would seriously consider as well is a lockbox fastened to the exterior studs next to the front door. A key in the box allowed first responders to get in. I don't recall if the life alert company knew the combination, but I always gave it to first responders when I called, as it would generally be 45 min. plus before I could get out my father's house.
I just P'M'ed some specific information on the company we used.
My mom was in regular Assisted Living prior to moving to Memory Care and they had pendants with buttons they could push if they needed assistance. Most of the time she took it off and it was in her purse. Or the bedside table, bc she " didnt need it when she slept" nevermind she fell coming back to bed from the bathroom. Or in the bathroom when she took it off to shower.
They dont use them in memory care bc if the use problem.
A person with Dementia will or may not remember how to use it when necessary.
A person without dementia would probably have a phone that they could use to call 911
Chances are a person will not wear the device in the house so a fall in the house would probably not be responded to. And good possibility that a fall in the house where a person has a cell phone would also not be responded to because the phone is by the recliner and they got up to get a drink or go to the bathroom...leaving the phone by the recliner.
Unless you have a feature where if there is no movement for X number of hours an automatic call would be placed. But that would not help in the case where the device is left on the bedroom dresser because "I don't need to wear it in the house"
If you are monitoring someone I think the cameras that are installed in the house would be more effective.
A feature on the phone were you can locate the person (or the phone) would be good.
But if you are looking I would just compare features and price. Know that chances are if this person has dementia there will come a time when the device will not be effective.