looking for recommendations re. Emergency alert necklace or bracelet?

[erash]

my balance has worsened and I have multiple near falls (occasional falls) especially when doing my home exercises. Recently, I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and my fear of fractures has escalated. I looked into the life alert jewelry. Crazy expensive! And I don’t want something that senses and calls for help if I’m down (because I’m up/down frequently as I exercise). I just want a button I can push if I actually fall and can’t get up. I guess I could carry my iPhone at all times. Any other suggestions? Thank you 😊

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

IDK what would be good for you, but make sure you tell the person who you put on the call list. 😐🤣😂🤣🤗💕🌠

[erash in reply to Jesmcd2]

9-1-1 (L0L)

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to erash]

I got the call saying "your neighbor fell down, my mother's name) I'm just looking at my phone going wtf? 🫣🤣😂🤣 I had no clue she put me on the list 😐🤗💕🌠

[hopeandgrace]

I don’t have an Apple Watch but I think there is a fall detection in it? My sister got one for my dad for the same purpose as the life alert jewelry

[stepsforNeeC]

The bracelet or the necklace sounds like a great idea. My IPhone can be annoying with “Facial Recognition “ at times and sometimes I still have to use my pin. As long as you stay safe my friend!

[BettysMom]

Yes, the Apple watch does have fall detection and it has worked very well for a couple of my friends. I was amazed.

[Greentime]

I like my Apple Watch for this, but they are costly.

[GreatDanekids]

The Apple Watch does have fall recognition and will call your contacts and 911. I got mine from Amazon reconditioned for a reduced price. It looked brand new and they warranty for awhile, I’m sorry, I can’t remember how long. I’ve had mine for 2 years and no troubles at all.

[CatsandCars]

It sounds like the Apple watch is great for this. I seem to recall seeing systems on Amazon that would cost less than an Apple watch, though. My grandmother refused to wear one, so that was the end of my research. Since Amazon reviews can be a little manipulated, I like to also filter to look at negative results that might otherwise be buried depending on the number of reviews. You have to go to the end of the first page of reviews, click the "more reviews" button, and on the second page there's a "Filter" option along the right edge. You can choose "critical reviews".

This usually isn't necessary if there aren't a lot of reviews.

[erash in reply to CatsandCars]

Thanks for those insights 👍

[Kitsey]

I have used Medical Guardian for about 4 years. It’s much more reasonably priced than Life Alert. I’ve needed to use it more than I would have liked. The response time has been great and, if needed, the responder will stay connected until help arrives. The GPS feature is really helpful. I suggest speaking with them. Good luck and please let us know who you choose. It’s always nice to have options.

[erash in reply to Kitsey]

Thank you 😊

[bxrmom]

I just read somewhere that AARP will help cover medical alert systems if this is something you have. Something to look into if you have it.

[erash in reply to bxrmom]

Wow! Very helpful. I’ll check.

[Ontheroadagain4now]

When I began to have problems with gait and balance, I started researching different alert systems. Life Alert is what I ended using. One week after it was set up I fell and Life Alert detected a fall and notified EMS and people on the notification list. I was glad to have it. I had device to wear, on my arm or around the neck, and a central unit in the house. I didn’t use it again for a couple of years and when I did it took over 30 minutes for help to arrive!

What I found out was Life Alert makes the call to a rep in California and the rep calls EMS in your vicinity! I live in a rural area in Michigan and getting the right 911 area isn’t as easy as if you live in the city.

Another problem I discovered with the device is that it does not have a speaker. If the unit is not close enough to where you fall , you can’t talk to a rep. They call 911 but all they can say is a fall has been detected. Other people on the list are also notified too but they may not be close to where you live to provide help.

I ended up stopping Life Alert and buying a watch. I’ve had falls wearing the watch and they were detected. It would’ve called 911 if I had not turned turned it off. I don’t know if you talk to someone or not but there is a microphone and a speaker on the watch.

I bought my wife an Echo 8 for Christmas and learned it can call 911 too. I had an earlier version of the Echo so I put it near my bed. It can hear me when I call and dial 911 if needed.

Everyone’s situation is different, just like MS.

[erash in reply to Ontheroadagain4now]

Thank you 😊

[Tazmanian]

I have no suggestions but good luck

[agate]

This is a problem I have wrestled with too. In the last few years I've used Medical Guardian. I've had some falls but luckily didn't need to press that button. I also wear a Medic Alert bracelet.

I was thinking seriously about getting rid of Medical Guardian and just getting a smartphone I could carry around in my pocket at all times and press its power button 5 times so that 9-1-1 would be called automatically.

The smartphone I have now (it's an Android device, Samsung Galaxy) will do that supposedly. I've never tried it.

That phone (and many cellphones) are so heavy in my pocket that I feel very off balance though. And I doubt that pressing that button 5 times would come easily to me. So for now I'm sticking with Medical Guardian.

Medical Guardian has been offering two types of system--one runs on WiFi and the other hooks up to the phone line. I've tried both types. I had to give up on the WiFi because the signal was too weak in my area and Medical Guardian kept failing.

[erash]

oh my! I checked AARP, it routed me to medical guardian. The guy on the phone was so high pressure sales. He negotiated a lower price but insisted I make a decision right then. I asked him to send me the info. He refused. 🤨😖 I think I’ll stick with my iPhone or get an I watch . Thank you everyone for your replies.