Darlene Costner, who blogs at Darlene’s Hodgepodge, has recently returned home after a few weeks in rehab following a hospital stay. At Thanksgiving, she broke her hip when she fell in her home where she lives alone. Deeply in pain, it took her several hours to reach the telephone to call for help.
Most single elders prefer to remain in their homes as they get older, but it is a hard fact of life that more than a third of people 65 and older suffer a fall or injury at home each year. For many, like Darlene, the telephone is not nearby.
Undoubtedly you have seen the ubiquitous television commercials for a medical alert product featuring former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Koop. Until Darlene’s accident, I hadn’t given the service much thought. Now, I realize any one of us, no matter how active and vital we think we are, could find ourselves in need of emergency help with no telephone within reach.
With the tradition of resolutions upon us as the new year approaches, perhaps this is a good time to consider a medical alert service. It could save your life.
Below are links and some notes to several of these services. I am making no recommendations of one over another and if you decide to purchase a service, please do your due diligence in researching them. I don’t know why, but I feel like this is a service that is ripe for rip-offs. Here is a good page of questions to consider before purchasing a medical alert system.
Life Alert
This is the service Dr. Koop promotes. The equipment, similar in all of these services, is a pendant worn around the neck which communicates with a base unit in the house that calls the service when a button is pushed. There is no pricing listed on the website.
1.800.360.0329 for more information.
LifeStation
This works similarly to Life Alert and the equipment can be worn as a pendant, wristband or on a belt clip. It is priced from $27.95 to $29.95 depending on whether you choose to pay monthly, quarterly or annually.
1.800.884.8888 for more information.
MedicalAlert
Like the two above, this is equipment you wear and can contact the service with a single push of the button. Cost is $29.96 per month.
1.800.800.ALERT for more information.
MedicalHomeAlert
This appears to be the same company as MedicalAlert directly above and although the telephone number is different, the webpages are nearly identical.
1.800.800.0213 for more information.
LifeGuardian
Same service as the others with a wider variety of payment plans, rental and purchase, ranging from $19.95 per month to $39.95 per month. This service is top-rated by AARP if that means anything – I’m not sure. There is no phone number, but you can request an information kit here.
RescueAlert
Pricing plans range from $18.95 to $28.95 or a lifetime subscription for $749.95 which sounds like a lot but is really only 25 months at the highest monthly price and 39 months at the lowest monthly price.
1.800.688.9576 for more information.
There are others, but these appear to be the major services in the U.S. I’m sorry I’ve not included any for Canada, Europe, Australia, etc. but I’m sure if you Google around, you’ll find some.
For so many years, we are young and certain (or overconfident) of our physical capabilities that, for me anyway, it is a hard to come to terms with the possibility of being helpless. But all it takes, as Darlene found out, is one mis-step and a fall. Do consider this kind of service, particularly if you live alone.
And do stop by Darlene's blog to give her some encouragement. Her recovery is coming along, but it's taking awhile and she tires quickly.
[ At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Susan Gulliford explains The DIY Painting Miracle.]
Most single elders prefer to remain in their homes as they get older, but it is a hard fact of life that more than a third of people 65 and older suffer a fall or injury at home each year. For many, like Darlene, the telephone is not nearby.
Undoubtedly you have seen the ubiquitous television commercials for a medical alert product featuring former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Koop. Until Darlene’s accident, I hadn’t given the service much thought. Now, I realize any one of us, no matter how active and vital we think we are, could find ourselves in need of emergency help with no telephone within reach.
With the tradition of resolutions upon us as the new year approaches, perhaps this is a good time to consider a medical alert service. It could save your life.
Below are links and some notes to several of these services. I am making no recommendations of one over another and if you decide to purchase a service, please do your due diligence in researching them. I don’t know why, but I feel like this is a service that is ripe for rip-offs. Here is a good page of questions to consider before purchasing a medical alert system.
Life Alert
This is the service Dr. Koop promotes. The equipment, similar in all of these services, is a pendant worn around the neck which communicates with a base unit in the house that calls the service when a button is pushed. There is no pricing listed on the website.
1.800.360.0329 for more information.
LifeStation
This works similarly to Life Alert and the equipment can be worn as a pendant, wristband or on a belt clip. It is priced from $27.95 to $29.95 depending on whether you choose to pay monthly, quarterly or annually.
1.800.884.8888 for more information.
MedicalAlert
Like the two above, this is equipment you wear and can contact the service with a single push of the button. Cost is $29.96 per month.
1.800.800.ALERT for more information.
MedicalHomeAlert
This appears to be the same company as MedicalAlert directly above and although the telephone number is different, the webpages are nearly identical.
1.800.800.0213 for more information.
LifeGuardian
Same service as the others with a wider variety of payment plans, rental and purchase, ranging from $19.95 per month to $39.95 per month. This service is top-rated by AARP if that means anything – I’m not sure. There is no phone number, but you can request an information kit here.
RescueAlert
Pricing plans range from $18.95 to $28.95 or a lifetime subscription for $749.95 which sounds like a lot but is really only 25 months at the highest monthly price and 39 months at the lowest monthly price.
1.800.688.9576 for more information.
There are others, but these appear to be the major services in the U.S. I’m sorry I’ve not included any for Canada, Europe, Australia, etc. but I’m sure if you Google around, you’ll find some.
For so many years, we are young and certain (or overconfident) of our physical capabilities that, for me anyway, it is a hard to come to terms with the possibility of being helpless. But all it takes, as Darlene found out, is one mis-step and a fall. Do consider this kind of service, particularly if you live alone.
And do stop by Darlene's blog to give her some encouragement. Her recovery is coming along, but it's taking awhile and she tires quickly.
[ At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Susan Gulliford explains The DIY Painting Miracle.]