I need help with home care for my Dad but he doesn't want it. I'm looking at an alternative, any advice?

Cost of $45/month seems pretty high. I have had good experiences with the Freedom Alert brand that is less than $300 (one time cost). Hooks into a landline and you can program up to four numbers into it (neighbors, relatives, friends) first before the emergency number. If no one answers a number it just goes to the next one- and finally calls your local 911 (or you can have it call 911 first). It acts as a small cellphone with two way communication. A second pendant is about $95 so an elderly couple can each have a pendant for a total cost of less than $400. Google "Freedom Alert".

MMC- can I go back to your comment of the physical issues of your father? Getting a medical alert of some sort is great but please consider assistive products that may help him avoid the reason for the alert. It sounds like he has mobility problems and I would be glad to offer suggestions if you want to contact me- I see items at national tradeshows most people don't know exist. I am 100% behind keeping people at home as long as it can be done safely.

Have you considered a lifeline alert system? We pay $45/month. Mom has to wear a pendant. She's had it for 4-5 years and has had to use it 3-4 times to request the help of folks on her call list (neighbor, me, my sister). The lifeline company knows where the spare key is (hidden outside somewhere), so they would give that info to emergency services so nobody would have to break the door down.

The lifeline company initiates a monthly check to ensure her lifeline system is working. As a bonus, when there is an incoming phone call, Mom can answer the call with her pendant after the 2nd ring, so she does not have to try to rush to the phone.

Perhaps this would be an easy first step for your Dad especially since he is mentally sharp. I believe the alert button comes in bracelet or pendant form. There is also an emergency button on the lifeline device next to the phone. Of course, he'd have to wear it 24/7.

As Zdarov pointed out, it would be good to have a neighbor on his call list. But if the lifeline company can't reach anyone on the call list, they will send emergency services to at least do a 'health check'.

My mom would not agree to a remote monitoring system since she thought that was intrusive, but she was very happy to agree to the lifeline alert. And even though I live with her now, we still keep it here. It's some peace of mind.

Whatever system you use, you can buy a lockbox at the hardware store, put a key in it, and give the combination code to the local police and the alarm company.

These answers are a great help. The system that I've looked at was suggested by a home caregiver company. They suggested it because they don't have the staff to do a "go by and check" service. I love the ideas for the lockbox. I think that is a great idea. My dad has already agreed to the activity monitoring; he likes that better than a person. I do have a neighbor that checks on him but she also said it would be great to be notified if something happened. The system that was suggested to me is called GeronIQ. It's a new company. The question about the power outage is very valid too. Thank you. I'll post more here as I learn more about the system. The system does not have a contract term and the reporting examples that the company showed me were pretty informative. They showed how a person who lived alone had activity patterns that helped their families with how much they moved about. I LOVE THIS FORUM!!!!!!!!

I noticed some alert systems is only for falls and sudden illnesses. Others systems include fire and CO gas alerts. And home break-in alerts. That could be where there is a price difference per month.

I also noticed some of the emergency alert base stations and pendants/watches take 4 rechargeable batteries, and the pendant/watch also needs battery replacement. If the elder is living on their own, how often do these batteries need to be recharged? Why I am asking is that I have a EMT/fire hand held scanner that uses rechargeable batteries and I am recharging those batteries once a week. Just curious.

The Freedom Alert one has a rechargeable battery in the pendant plus one that is being charged in the base unit. About every three months the pendant says "battery getting low" so you have to "flip-flop" them. The base unit also have four batteries that allow it to remain working (for a day or two) in event of power outage (phone lines still work during power outages).

My parents have Lifeline at about $50/month, and I want to change it. Because, they got snookered into a yearly contract, and if they die they are locked into a whole year's payments, and to top off all that, they (me) will have to mail the eqipment back to Lifeline or be liable for hundreds of dollars (lifeline owns the devices and pendants).
Freedom Alert sounds like the way to go --no contracts, and no need to mail it back. In fact, some other senior could make use of the device in a few years. Plus, I would rather have my folks talking directly to our 911 operator (which is a good one, not overburdened) than to a "call center". IMNSVO the contract pendants are like a toll highway on the way to help. Why not just get to help, and save the toll?

Great answers here. I wanted to suggest taking a trip to your Dads house and having security cameras installed. We have them in every room and outside (not the bathroom of course) When I am out, I can use my cell phone to check on my LNA who is taking care of my Mom. She knows and is fine with it, if she wasnt fine, somethings wrong, lol. You could peek in on your dad whenever you wanted to on your phone or computer. Security companies have smoke alarms and thermometers that will alert you if his house gets too cold, or hot, and if there is a fire also. Good luck

So what happens if the monitoring system has a power outage? I have no idea what system this is, but for $100/mth, hire someone to either check on him in person or exchange room and board + $100 to live with him. With his mind still being okay he has a right to accept or deny any help. Men of this age usually think they can still do it all. Good luck!