“Life Alert” device

[Vacation4us]

Mom will be 81 yo in June. Had a stroke in her twenties ( from birth control pills ) and a second stroke 10 months after Dad died when she was 60. A miracle she lived since the bleed was at her brain stem.

Her mother died at 83 from a stroke. Her younger brother also had a stroke several years ago from which he recovered.

Mom’s not as steady as she used to be. Her equilibrium has been effected since the last stroke but as she ages it seems more pronounced.

She lives alone.

She has mentioned it’s time to get a device to wear in case she falls and can’t get up. A friend got an I watch with an app which costs an extra $10 to have cell service while apparently “ life alert” runs $50 a month. Mom’s frugal but can afford the best option.

The question is what is the best option? Does anyone have experience with any of these devices?

What if she has another stroke and is incapable of calling for help? Will an I watch work for this? Mom is not tech savvy and her vision is poor without her glasses. My sister is against the I watch for these reasons. Mom was insulted when DS mentioned she wouldn’t be able to work the watch.

I have an I watch and the battery is a joke. I have to charge it every night. What good will any device do if you have to take it off every night to charge it.

Mom won’t use a cane to walk during the day but has admitted she uses a walker at night to get to the bathroom since a friend fell doing just that.

Any advice?

 

[Teacher Terry]

I think the life alert devices are also waterproof so she won’t have to take it off. The watch sounds like a lot of trouble.

 

[HarveyS]

I'd get both if you feel she 1) already has the iPhone and 2) is cognitive and nimble enough to work putting the watch on and off, setting it up with the charger, etc.. You may need to get a velcro watch band. The life alert will be primary. The watch will allow her to feel like she is keeping up with the times. The watch is also waterproof. Not sure if you need the extra app or not to call in the event of a fall. I think that you can program it to dial automatically.

My DM had life alert a few years ago. She was in cognitive decline. Worked fine until she started taking the necklace off at night since she didn't want to roll over on it. Then she'd forget to put it back on.....

 

[Mark1]

MIL had a life alert device several years ago when she lived alone in an apartment. She fell twice and couldn't get up, but forgot to push the alert button both times and ended up waiting for her daily visit by my SIL

Hers device also had a motion detector that was very difficult to avoid in her apartment and if they was no activity from 5AM-10AM or 5PM-10PM, then an alert would be set out.

 

[bellneice]

My aunt had a device several years ago. I think it was life alert. She was in an independent living apartment, in a place that had continuing levels of care. She had a stroke, but the device did not register the fall. My understanding is that you really have to fall for the motion sensor to detect it. If you slide down, or go to your knees before losing consciousness, it detects nothing. She wasn't discovered until the next morning. I don't know the specifics about these devices, but ask hard questions about how falls are detected

 

[JoeWras]

Dad kept "forgetting" to wear it. It was therefore useless.

Since your mom *wants* to wear one, that's over half the battle of making it work. So I say go for it. Otherwise, if it were your idea, I'd tell you think twice.

Technology has come a long way in 10 years since dad tried one so I'll leave it to others as to what is best.

 

[bobandsherry]

Just throwing this out as another option. Less expensive than the Life Alert with similar features available, more full features than a iWatch, plus an option for other fall detection sensors and also includes ability for voice activated call for help.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/07/a...ogether-elder-care-subscription-for-families/

 

[bobandsherry]

^^^^Link to product listing on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=sxts_s...cd-00c024ab2a13&pd_rd_wg=yPNU9&qid=1653310512

 

[Aerides]

Is Mom in some kind of supported/assisted living or having a daily care giver visit? Otherwise it seems perhaps a device is a bandaid approach that would offer limited help, in only the right situation.

 

[PatrickA5]

Bought dad one years ago. He said he'd wear it, but didn't. Once the battery went dead, it would activate a voice response telling him it's time to change the battery. Since it stayed on his dresser, I'd get a call every few months in the middle of the night saying someone was in his room talking about a battery.

He fell numerous times, but was always able to craw to the phone and call me. At least until his last fall. The phone was next to him when I found him on the floor. Unlikely he could have even remembered to hit the life alert button during his last fall.

 

[Sunset]

Of those choices I'd get the life alert.

I'd also get a wyze.com camera (the V3) to put in the common areas (living room , kitchen) with permission from her. That way if you don't get alerts each day as she moves in each room, you know something is wrong if she doesn't come out of bedroom/bathroom at normal time.

You could even talk to her over the camera, but I've never tried that so don't know how well it works.

 

[MBAustin]

We've had one from Bay Alarm Medical for several years now. Reasonably priced and has been very reliable (we test it monthly; have never used in a real emergency).

 

[orchid55]

I would go for the iPhone/watch combo. Several elderly relatives have these and they have already proved useful. The watch automatically alerts when there is a fall/disturbance - the wearer doesn't need to do anything. One relative was in a minor car accident and the watch alerted all of the family members automatically that the wearer had had a fall( even though it was a jolt not a fall).

 

[braumeister]

You may not realize it, but the Apple Watch charges very quickly. As in about the time it takes to prepare and eat a meal.

 

[Dash man]

I wear an Apple Watch mainly because it will call 911 and notify family if I fall. It gives 60 seconds to cancel the call if it was not serious, but it’s nice to have the security with heart disease and back issues.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

We've had one from Bay Alarm Medical for several years now. Reasonably priced and has been very reliable (we test it monthly; have never used in a real emergency).

That's actually the one I used for my dad, I got him a pendant with a fall alert sensor, and they seemed reliable and helpful for the short time I used them.

 

[pacergal]

We had one for Dad last few years of his life. It worked well. He utilized it a few times when he was unable to get up due to weakness after dialysis or if he fell. The company contacted either a family member or 911, depending on how Dad answered their questions. The audio was hooked to his phone and they could converse fairly well in the main part of the house. 911 was called if he didn't respond. He had a lockbox with house key by the door and Life Alert knew the combo to tell the paramedics so they didn't have to break into the front door!
He kept the necklace on all the time.

 

[Vacation4us]

Mom does not have any in home care. She is independent and healthy for her age. The issue is her age and the fact that she lives alone.

The Amazon device is interesting. Having everyone look into it. Since this is moms idea I am sure she will use whatever device she gets.

She did say she has a friend that has SCAN Medicare and they provide a free device if that applies to anyone reading this. Mom has Kaiser and they don’t offer it.

 

[Vacation4us]

I wear an Apple Watch mainly because it will call 911 and notify family if I fall. It gives 60 seconds to cancel the call if it was not serious, but it’s nice to have the security with heart disease and back issues.

What app do you use on your iPhone?

 

[Dash man]

What app do you use on your iPhone?

There’s a Watch app on the iPhone that you set up your Apple Watch with.

 

[foxcreek9]

I wear an Apple Watch mainly because it will call 911 and notify family if I fall. It gives 60 seconds to cancel the call if it was not serious, but it’s nice to have the security with heart disease and back issues.

Just tested it this past week on my bicycle, hit a raccoon who popped out of the weeds. Laying on the pavement, my watch said it appeared I had fallen - so it works, at least in that situation

 

[Dash man]

Just tested it this past week on my bicycle, hit a raccoon who popped out of the weeds. Laying on the pavement, my watch said it appeared I had fallen - so it works, at least in that situation

I hope you weren’t hurt!

 

[foxcreek9]

I hope you weren’t hurt!

Not too bad, flagged a car down and asked for kleenex to try and stop the bleeding on my elbow and knee (they did offer to take me into town). Once I got home, I realized how much I was bruised and scrapped up. Looks worse than I feel.

 

[Dash man]

Not too bad, flagged a car down and asked for kleenex to try and stop the bleeding on my elbow and knee (they did offer to take me into town). Once I got home, I realized how much I was bruised and scrapped up. Looks worse than I feel.

Ouch! Sounds like an experience I had back in 1983 in Albuquerque when I was riding a bike and got clipped by a car’s mirror. I got pretty scraped up, but nobody stopped. [emoji20]

 

[braumeister]

Just tested it this past week on my bicycle, hit a raccoon who popped out of the weeds. Laying on the pavement, my watch said it appeared I had fallen - so it works, at least in that situation

It works almost too well. I've had it think I'd fallen many times just due to heavy vibration on that wrist -- using power tools or hammering on something for example.

Fortunately, I've always caught it in time before it called 911, but a few times it has been close. Still, it's a great feature and I like it a lot.