Can calls from Medical Alerts Systems be directed to a family member rather than 911?

We had the Lifeline medical alert system for my parents. When Dad or Mom pressed the button, the operator would attempt to reach a family member first before calling 911. We furnished Lifeline with a list of names and numbers and I was the number 1 contact on the list.

Actually, we have two, one that my mom uses when we are gone and one that I got at Radio Shack for less than $30 that is not monitored. Same concept...she presses the button, an alarm sounds and it dials all the numbers on the list. She actually lives in my home and has her cell phone with her but my fear was that if she fell, she might drop the phone, so I wanted something around her neck at all times. I sleep better knowing she has this, before I was always listening to see if she needed help. :)

One mobile phone in particular, comes with an SOS button which when pressed during emergency call will send emergency SMS to 5 listed phone numbers in the SOS list, after sending those messages the phone will automatically dial the 5 pre-programmed recipients until one of them respond. You can put you sister’s number as the first on the list of the five pre-programmed recipients. You can strap it on or you can use lanyard to work just like a necklace. The talking keypad is also great for visually impaired individual.

monthly charge

my mother has a pendant system called FreedomAlert, by a company named LogicMark. This calls up to 4 phone numbers that you program in, and then calls 911 if none of the programmed numbers answers. There is no monthly charge, no contract and no activation fee for this system. I think it's worked great and yes she has used it. The trick is making sure they have it on or with them, even in the bathroom, because a lot of falls and emergencies seem to happen there. The base plugs into the electric outlet and the house phone, but it has backup batteries and is supposed to operate for 24 hours in a power outage (plenty of time to notify someone and get help). I have to maintain the system for my mother (troubleshoot blinking light that notifies you if the batteries need replacing or if the pendant goes out of range of the base) - my mother can't do it. I also had to program in my phone number and my sisters' and keep them updated. Altogether though it's pretty low maintenance and again, no monthly charge makes it quite cost effective. I recommend this one for your parents' situation.

The medical alert system doesn't call 911. First, one of the system operators makes contact. Then, the system operator tries to ascertain what the person needs. Might be 911; might be call a listed name, etc.

You could use the system this way: dad trips the button; system operator answers; dad tells operator to call your sister and ask her to call your dad per his request.

re what Maggie said above: with the FreedomAlert system that my mom has there is no system operator. That's why there's no monthly charge. Call is directly to the phone numbers programmed into the system, or to 911 if nobody picks up. The sound is good - if the caller is close enough to press the button on the pendant, the person picking up on the other end can hear the caller fine. I believe you have the option of not having the system call 911 at all (only the programmed numbers) be we have 911 as the last resort because when my mother uses hers, it's usually a fall or other emergency and somebody needs to show up, even if it's 911.