# I've fallen and I... Recommend an alert system **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-fallen-and-i-recommend-an-alert-system/266386 "2004-09-28T00:08:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-fallen-and-i-recommend-an-alert-system/266386/1 "2004-09-28T00:08:54Z")
My 86-year old aunt is losing her eyesight, but still lives alone in New York, hundreds of miles from the rest of us in her family. She recently fell, and while not seriously hurt, couldn’t get herself up for several hours until a neighbor heard her yelling and came in to help. So we’re looking for an alert system that she can wear all the time and use to call for help if she falls again. I’ve looked around, and there seem to be several systems, but Alert One seems as good as any and less expensive than many. Does anyone have any experience with these systems and have any recommendations, or warnings of systems to stay away from? Obviously, I’m looking for comments not only on hardware but also on the call center service these companies offer. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-fallen-and-i-recommend-an-alert-system/266386/2 "2004-09-28T23:57:56Z")
What, no one has any advice? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-fallen-and-i-recommend-an-alert-system/266386/3 "2004-09-29T00:19:30Z")
How about a nice little cell phone? My understanding is that even if you don’t have a service, all cell phones can dial 911. Your Aunt would have to make sure the batteries stay charged and keep it with her. I’m 43. And live in a remote area. I do a lot of work on my house. Plenty of stuff where I could break a leg or get trapped under equipment. When ever my wife is not home, and I’m working, I wear my cell. The coverage where I live is spotty, but it is better than nothing. In fact, the same goes for my Wife. When she walks the dog by herself, she takes her cell (mostly). That’s pretty much the only reason we own cell phones. We don’t turn them on except to call out. I don’t even know my number. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-fallen-and-i-recommend-an-alert-system/266386/4 "2004-09-29T02:28:48Z")
Thanks, but not what we’re looking for, for various reasons. Any one with experience with medical alert systems? ---
**Author:** ![Daftbugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Daftbugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daftbugger)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-fallen-and-i-recommend-an-alert-system/266386/5 "2004-09-29T10:50:54Z")
One that goes around the neck does the business. My Grandfather had a stroke and remained alert enough to press the button. He also had the remote to his garage door in his pocket so he could even let the emergency services in. My Grandmother (on the other side of the family) kept setting hers off by accident when she was asleep and got scared when she got rung up in the middle of the night to see if she was OK! ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-fallen-and-i-recommend-an-alert-system/266386/6 "2004-09-29T14:27:29Z")
**Daftbugger** , do you happen to remember the brand name of either of those systems? Would you say that Grandfather’s worked better than Grandmother’s? ---
**Author:** ![Daftbugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Daftbugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daftbugger)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-fallen-and-i-recommend-an-alert-system/266386/7 "2004-10-06T14:18:41Z")
I have no idea what make they were. I think they have both have been the same!