Can anyone recommend a personal emergency response system?

How about Life Alert or Phillips Lifeline?

You may wish to consider the cell phone called Jitterbug. It has a 5 Star call button that connects the user with an agent in California who contacts your local 911 and family member. The Jitterbug serves me well as a 87 y.o. caregiver.

Thank you for all of your responses. They still are very valuable.

lmb1234 try checking out this video, I think they already released the product and can be bought online :)

website: xandem/tmd-demo-kit

I think $400-$600 per year is a rip-off. My mother still has her Freedom Alert from about 4 years ago. They run about $300 (one time fee). One I sold 4 years ago to a local customer finally died and she called to have us deliver one to her right away. She loved it and didn't want to take a shower without it- it looked well worn with about 4 years of food on it.................

Thanks for asking this question I am looking into one (two) of these for my parents.
But I was surprised to read that there are many false alarms with the new "Fall Detection". If you take a nap the system might think you've fallen.
It would be nice to see the actual data from these companies on how many users have pushed their button, etc. Like a controlled study between 10,000 users of a system compared to 10,000 non-users, and was there a statistical advantage to having spent $400 to $600 per year on the system, after a few years it really adds up and I'm wondering if it's worth it (for people on limited incomes).

The system karenlorenzo speaks of sounds great but, unfortunately, it looks from the link that it won't be on the market for 3 years. I agree with her, though, that dementia related issues can prevent the wearer from either being able to, or remembering, to push the button on the more common devices. But, they are still better than nothing at all at this point.

Phillips lifeline my mom used, and she had to use it when she fell last December in her parking lot. They are very good.

There is a new device that does not need to be worn nor require you to push a button to be able to call for help. It can be concealed in the walls of your house or long term care facility and it can detect not only falls but also slips, and the device can also pinpoint the exact location where the accident happened. There are cases where long term care dementia patients forgot to wear their sensor device, and other seniors often do not push the button in their alarm so their alert system will not be of great help. You may want to check the details of this device which is a breakthrough for seniors and long term care dependent at infolongtermcare.org ( http://www.infolongtermcare.org/iltc-news/newly-developed-sensors-allow-convenient-detection-falls/ ). I believe that the device is distributed by xandem technology.

Zdarov- saw your e-mail on Freedom Alerts- LogicMark is the manufacturer and I could find them online. They had some early problems when I first bought them about 4 years ago but my customers have been very happy with them.

Personal Emergency Response System will depend on what type of needs. A pendant is really too small to remember but if it means of locating her in case she's lost, it's helpful though! You can create a helpful ERS but you should know first what would really suit and best for her.

We got a Life Guardian system for my mother - it's been very reliable (she has used it multiple times) and is very reasonable at about $30 per month.

I got great call for my mom. Because the others are only good if you are at home and close to your base unit. So if they go work in the yard or drive to the store you're out of range. The one thing I wish great call had was being waterproof, so they can use it in the shower. I like the idea of the Phillips lifeline, fall detection but it needs the base unit as well. Five star is a wireless unit that even has GPS, so they can locate the wearer so if they wonder away they can be located. I have not heard of the perfect one yet.

We got the Great Call Alert for my 95 YO mom who lives alone a couple of blocks from me. It is $49.95 at Walmart, etc., and does not attach to a phone line - goes anywhere with her, and i have the monthly charge of $18.25 auto deducted from my credit card. It is so simple to use - a large one-button push that will alert the team --- they will first determine if it's an emergency 911 situration, then start calling the names you have set up in their system. (The only drawback is that you can't take it into the shower, but Mom hangs it just outside the shower door.) Mom fortunately has never had to use it, but accidentally hit it against a table one day & they immediately responded with "Mrs. xx, do you need help?" I was glad to know that they responded so quickly. And, i placed her charger on her nitestand, so it is in hands-reach for her at nite -- that's one thing you have to remember - to keep it charged. I highly recommend it.

Wow, thanks SO much LRon for asking this question! and all of you for your replies. I have been researching these, and couldn't find friends or associates who use one (well, one friend, who's said twice now she'd let me know which hers is and hasn't :) My Mom can't cope with a cell phone, and is unlikely to wear any device on her person, and seemingly we each choose based on the functions. I liked the sound of the code thing on the front door... except my mother has a lock on her storm door, too :/ FriendlyBed, I think Freedom Alert is the one my Mom saw in an ad, but when I tried to look it up I couldn't find it. Really like the sound of a two-way conversation such as with Lifeline.

My dad was living alone and woke up with a severely swollen tongue due to a drug allergy. He could hardly speak. The Great Call button and the person who responded and assisted in getting the paramedics to his house were fantastic. Worth every penny...

I second the usefulness of Great Call.

mobilehelpnow-has a no phoneline required and wireless mobile unit they can take outside w/them anywhere that you can track them if needed on your own computer if they take it w/them-size of a cell phone-runs around 45/month. ask for a lockbox for house key. no fall detection

Phillips Lifeline, because the fall detection signal will quickly send help to the victim.

In attending national trade shows for my mobility products I found a great medical alert for my parents and in-laws. Anyone can find Freedom Alert online- I loved it as it is a one time inexpensive cost- needs a landline but can be programmed to call up to 4 numbers before the local 911. Less chance for elderly to panic as it can call neighbors, relatives, friends first- unfortunately the mindset for many is that they don't want to "bother" the 911 folks even in a true emergency. I see lots of innovative products (especially along mobility lines) and would be glad to offer advice to anyone.

Life alert saved my Moms life at least 3 times. Worth every penny!

We use a company called Vivint. It starts with a home alarm. My parents had the basic plan for years, so when my dad was placed into memory care and mom was home alone, because I live out of town and she didn't want a caregiver coming anymore, even part time, I insisted we upgrade her system to include the panic necklace, which is like lifeline. Then, discovered she would not wear that. She had fractured her back, and already had one hip repair and still insists on climbing on chairs rather than use the nice small sized ladder we got her....so then I added the video system. Now I can alarm her in at night and see if she is OK from video camera all from my computer or smart phone. For my well being, it is wonderful because she is going to be non compliant and has early dementia. She could not figure out how to set the alarms or use the key fob to lock her doors. The big issue we STILL have is that the lock system is not working well. When I alarm her to stay and she locks her doors at night, should we need emts or fire or police to get in, they cannot because there are security bars on all doors and windows. So the locks were to allow them to punch in a code and unlock the door. Something is not working right with that and we're still working on it. Company is responsive and has great customer service....if you want a total system and you have cable service in the house to hook up internet. There are new, similar systems out that don't require any wired installations nor big set up fees too. You can buy and install yourself they say.....I've heard them advertised on talk radio. I just built off their system because it was all paid for in terms of the set up fees.

We have had good success with Phillips Lifeline. We upgraded to the new model which offers rapid deceleration detection in case the client falls and does not push the button themselves. We also added a speaker unit in the bedroom so that my mother could talk to them from where she has repeatedly fallen (out of the bed at night).
As well, I suggest that you consider practicing using the button so that your elder can gain familiarity with how it works and who will respond. This can reduce unfounded fear that EMS will break down a door and take her to the hospital when you may have set up for a family member to be first responder. It may take more than one practice session or review on a monthly basis for some elders to grasp the usefulness. And it is best to prime the practice when all is calm so that in an emergency they have practiced the steps.

call Life Alert-look into it all-Google it-you will find it better that way & make an educated choice.

I have the Great Call system for my Dad, it does not require a phone and he can call them for any reason.

I use Lifeline for my folks. They have needed it several times. The response has been very good. Lifeline has followed through with contacting the appropriate people, and then, as instructed, have left messages for my brother and me that the contact was made and that everything was taken care of. The one time my dad needed emergency care, they called me on my emergency contact number to let me know what hospital he was taken to. I am able to pay for the service with a direct pay from my parents' checking account, so I don't have to worry about a bill being missed when I'm traveling. You do need a landline to make this work, and the contact device that is attached to the landline was installed by a person who also tested it with my folks and helped them practice so they could do it themselves. I am very satisfied with their service.