# My mother is looking for a medical alert service... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 5, 2015, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-is-looking-for-a-medical-alert-service/727025 "2015-08-05T01:31:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-is-looking-for-a-medical-alert-service/727025/1 "2015-08-05T01:31:29Z")
You know, a la the “I’ve fallen and can’t get up!” ads from years ago… She is looking into something called “Mobile Help”, whose main advantage is it (as the name indicates) is a mobile service, has GPS capability which means if something happens to her outside her home she can still call for aid. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-is-looking-for-a-medical-alert-service/727025/2 "2015-08-05T01:37:35Z")
I would check with any organization in her area that provides services for seniors. They can probably provide insight about what’s available and works well. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-is-looking-for-a-medical-alert-service/727025/3 "2015-08-05T01:58:44Z")
Yes, If there’s a Jewish Family Service in your city, or a Council on Aging. Definitely start there before you go with a commercial company right off the bat. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-is-looking-for-a-medical-alert-service/727025/4 "2015-08-05T01:59:03Z")
Looked at lot’s of them and ended up buying my Mom - [http://www.bayalarmmedical.com/](http://www.bayalarmmedical.com/) The web site looks a little corny, but they are well recommended from reviews found online. So far, my Mom has not had to use it, but it does have the GPS availability. Note though, you may not need the GPS. If your Mom is just outside and has the button, it has I think 100 foot range to the receiver in the house. Test it. I did. And works well. Also you want a waterproof for showers and such. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-is-looking-for-a-medical-alert-service/727025/5 "2015-08-05T03:54:46Z")
My dad is 91 and still drives but is not able to figure out how to use a real cellphone so I got him [one of these.](http://www.greatcall.com/) Simple to use, GPS enabled, coverage wherever there’s cell coverage, and very good customer service. $19 a month though… ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-is-looking-for-a-medical-alert-service/727025/6 "2015-08-05T12:00:26Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > My dad is 91 and still drives but is not able to figure out how to use a real cellphone so I got him [one of these.](http://www.greatcall.com/) Simple to use, GPS enabled, coverage wherever there’s cell coverage, and very good customer service. $19 a month though… Also check out Consumer Cellular. They have several “basic” phones at cheap rates. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-is-looking-for-a-medical-alert-service/727025/7 "2015-08-05T21:49:58Z")
Something good about the \*\*[GreatCall](http://www.greatcall.com/)\*\*service I linked to above: They really emphasize customer service. IOW the small pager-sized unit (the Splash) has just one button to press when needed, but it isn’t merely a one-way pager, it’s a full two-way cellphone (just always on speakerphone). And it doesn’t have to be an emergency. You don’t have to be in an accident or having a heart attack etc. You can merely be lost, or even just scared to walk out into a parking lot to your car. They will be happy to help you in any way, from notifying authorities (police) or contacting a loved one (they have the numbers linked to your account) or even merely staying on the line with you as you attempt to do it yourself. It isn’t just an emergency cellphone, it’s almost like a cellular concierge service\*!\* ---
**Author:** ![DavidGot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@DavidGot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidGot)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-is-looking-for-a-medical-alert-service/727025/8 "2015-11-05T01:13:31Z")
I know this is a little late, but if you haven’t found a medical alarm for your mom here’s a no contract/no fee version: > **[Amazon.com: NextAlert ONE Button Emergency 911 Only Mobile Cell Phone NO...](https://www.amazon.com/NextAlert-Emergency-CONTRACTS-Medical-Alert/dp/B010GOUUR2)** > > Buy NextAlert ONE Button Emergency 911 Only Mobile Cell Phone NO Contracts, NO FEES Cellular Medical Alert System …: Cell Phones & Accessories - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases It’s made by: [https://www.primemedicalalert.com](https://www.primemedicalalert.com). It’s definitely mobile, but not sure if it has GPS capability like you want. Either way though, no contracts for any product are preferable to me.