I am interested but I cannot get a dial tone at my address so we use cell phones. What can we do to get a medical alarm system?

David M

Hi David,

I’m sorry to say that our system does not work with cell phones. You really do need a dial tone. I have heard of some systems willing to use a cell phone connection for their medical alert system…but for us, we consider this way to unsafe.

Cell phones simply are not dependable during an emergency.

Jeff

It’s always assumed that caretakers and those they care for inhabit separate realities.

Lately, it’s occurred to me that this is untrue. In fact, the respective psychological states of the caretaker and the cared for have a lot in common.

Both the caretaker and the cared for are isolated by circumstance. Often, both are lonely.

Often, neither feels understood. Often, both live in dread of calamity. Often, neither feels free to express what they are experiencing.

I wonder if, in their isolation, both are missing an opportunity. Perhaps they both would feel more grounded, less anxious and alone if they recognized that they share these conditions.

As summer ends I think back on previous summers when family trips were occasions more for anxiety than for pleasure. Let me explain: my mother lives with me, my husband and our three children. She’s fairly active for her age but she’s elderly nonetheless and not up to travelling with us when we set out on a week-long driving adventure.

So, in the past,  we’ve left her at home. But sometimes I would think that trying to vacation was pointless because her welfare, or lack of it, were always on my mind. I would call once, twice, three times a day. Our vacations were not what I would call relaxing.

This summer was different simply because I got my mother a medical alarm, something that all seniors should be given by their loved ones or caretakers.

Now, if anything should happen to her, she need only push the button on her medical alarm to summon immediate help and have us notified.

Funny thing is, my mother is more relaxed now too. As we planned this summer’s wonderful and relaxing trip, my husband and I kept asking each other… “Why didn’t we think of this sooner?”

What makes us different? Usually, that’s the first thing a caller wants to know.

The answer is: we’re different because, for us,  its not enough to simply provide a service.

Look at it this way: we know, and you know, that you can obtain a medical alert service quite similar to ours from another company. Maybe it won’t be as attentive or as dedicated as ours, but it’ll be service nonetheless.

Don’t get us wrong, we’re proud of the service we offer, but for us, service is not where we stop. It’s where we begin.

And that’s what sets us apart: the fact that we offer something you can’t put a price on. We offer connection,  a connection to people who are committed to respond to your needs, your fears, your concerns. Throughout the decades we’ve been in business, we’ve noted that it’s connection that the families and users of medical alarm systems need and crave the most.

We really do care.

Contact us by email by letter or by phone. Remember that there are no stupid questions.

We know that our job isn’t to simply sell you things. Our job is to help put your mind at ease, to make life less stressful for you, to share our experience, to let you see that you’re not alone.

We don’t just say we care. We prove it. Time and again.

Jeffery:

you mentioned many reasons why a senior should have medic alert alarm system in their home. You forgot to mention one particular one a laryngectomee, you know no voice box and vocal cords. they also would have a major problem during a medical problem.

Dominick

Hi Dominick,

You are correct indeed, a medical alarm system is important for all ailments…indeed, a medical alarm system is important even if you have no illness. It brings safety and peace of mind both to the senior citizen using it and their loved ones.

It’s not that I forgot to mention laryngectomee, that leaves a person unable to speak during an emergency. It’s just difficult to mention every reason possible.

I thank you for bringing this to the attention of others.

Thanks,

Jeff

Do you service Naples, Florida with your medical alert systems? I know it said, Ft. Myers, which isn’t far from Naples, but I want to check for sure.

Lauren

Hi Lauren,

Yes we service Naples as well as every nook and cranny in the United States.

Jeff Miller

For many proud seniors, living alone is their way of maintaining the independence that means so much to them. A quality Medical Alarm System offers a sure and simple way to protect this cherished lifestyle. Why? Because one push of the medical alert button allows your loved one to summon immediate help whenever it’s needed.

To help your loved one help themselves, Get Help Now for them with a medical alarm.

And you will have piece of mind knowing your mom, dad, uncle, aunt, grandfather or grandmother can live protected in time of an emergency.

Anyone who has an elder loved one knows the fear of leaving them alone. You fear that your loved one will fall and be unable to get up; you fear that they will have a medical emergency and no way to dial 911.

The surest route to peace of mind is to provide your loved one with a quality Medical Alert System. Imagine how much better you’ll feel knowing that your loved one can garner immediate help with a simple push of a medical alert button.

And know that help is on the way.

What is the useful range of this Medical Alert system? I need something that can be used outside in the garden and outside areas around the house. The use radius would be about 100 feet. Maybe up to 130 feet in rare cases.

Thanks in advance.

Dale

Cleveland, Ohio

Hi Dale,

Our medical alert works approximately 300′ from where you place our speaker box. However, when the senior citizen is outside the walls of the house we won’t be able to speak to them…but, we will know they are in trouble and send 911 to the rescue.

Hope this helps,

Jeff Miller

Jeff,

Is the medical alert system monitoring base box included with the service fee?

Sally

Dallas, Texas

Hi Sally,

Yes the box for the Get Help Now medical alert system is included in all three price plans.

Jeff

My phone line is used for the transmission of data for my DSL modem high speed computer connection. It does not interfer with phone usage. Will this work with your medical alert unit?

Thanks in advance.

Dale

Jacksonville, FL

REPLY

Hi Dale,

Yes our medical alert system works fine with DSL modems…you just need to use the DSL filter that comes with your system.

Jeff

Hi,

We recently secured a Lifelink alarm system at an auction.  It is model EM-300Voice, FCC ID:CNA300PERS.  We have no instructions as to how to operate it.  What can you tell us?

I am a antique telephone collector and this was wrapped some with the transformer and modular cord and looked interesting so I bid 3.00 on it just to see what is was.

Thanks for the information.

Bill

REPLY
Hi Bill,

It was not a good move to buy a non supported piece of equipment. But I do understand your curiousity. I’ve never known of an antique telephone collector…sounds like an interesting hobby.

You could call us and for as little as $24.95 per month and be hooked up with our medical alarm service, and a service contract. We provide the equipment for your use at no charge. I’m not familiar with the LifeLink alarm system that you mention…I suggest you call them and see what they would charge you for usage. But honestly, I don’t think anyone would hook you up without checking the system over again for safety.

Good Luck,

Jeff

Yes,

I need some kind of paging system so my mother can beep.. ME. She is to the point where she can’t walk,,, and i need some way for her to notify me that she needs to go to the bathroom…or whatever she needs.

I do NOT need a medical alarm system that call medical people,,, only me.

can you help???

Bill

Chicago, Illinois

REPLY

Hi Bill,

If you don’t want a medical alarm system for your mom, I would suggest hooking up a bell that she could ring you with, or a baby monitor would work…given you both live in the same house.

But, if I were you, I would give strong consideration to a traditional medical alert…she may have something more serious happening to her one time…and at that time, fast response within minutes is extremely important. Try Radio Shack or another electronics store for some simple electronic device that you may be able to use.

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

My grandmother fell the other day and broke a rib, I suggested to her that she get a home medical alert security system thinger and she told me to research it and well discuss it later.

But we’re all in a situation where we probably couldn’t afford the service, would medicare cover the expenses?

Sean

Louisville, Kentucky (KY)

Hi Sean,

I hope she is feeling better. A broken rib hurts at any age, but as a senior citizen it’s much slower healing.

As far as I know, Medicare does not cover medical alert services, however, Medicaide often does. Try calling your local Medicaide office and see if they can help you out. We don’t happen to be a Medicaide provider…but there will be many other alarm companies hooked up with your local county that will.

Good Luck,

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

My grandmother had a medical alarm. She never wore it. She said it felt uncomfortable around her neck.

Once, she fell and hours passed before she could get to the phone for help. It was a traumatic event and I’ve always viewed it as the start of her gradual decline.

My grandmother died ten years ago. How I wish that she had had the advantage of today’s medical alarms which are lighter, more compact, easy to wear.

Mary

New York, NY

I wonder if every caregiver to an elderly person seems to harbor the same concern: that no matter how steadfastly they safeguard their elderly charge, they cannot constantly protect them for there will always be of necessity, those moments when they’re preoccupied, or busy, or simply looking the other way?

I find it terrifying to picture yourself as an elderly person. Of all the nightmare scenarios the imagination can produce, the one that causes me the greatest alarm is the image of yourself lying helpless on the bathroom or kitchen floor, confused and panicked, unable to summon aid.

I think your medical alarm system is the perfect answer to my fears.

Thank you,

Sarah

Phoenix, Arizona

JEFF ‘

WHAT IS THE RANGE OF TRANSMISSION OF YOUR GET HELP NOW MEDICAL ALARM SYSTEM???

MY MOTHER IS VERY ACTIVE AND WORKS OUT IN THE YARDS A LOT.

BERRY

Atlanta, Georgia (GA)

REPLY

Hi Berry,

There are two ranges to consider.

One is the distance we can hear your mom’s voice through our speaker box. That works inside the house up to about 3000 square feet. It varies with the houses construction, so you need to test the medical alarm system once you’ve plugged it in. You just walk around the home while testing the system and say, “can you hear me, I’m in the bedroom, etc.”

And this depends alot on the strength of the senior citizens voice. However, we can pick up soft voices.

Two, is the distance outside the house that our pendant button works…this is appoximately 300 feet, once again, you need to walk around your property and see if there are any spots it doesn’t work. Sometimes it can even reach 500 feet depending on the placement of our speaker box. Beyond that kind of distance makes it difficult for the fire department or 911 services to locate the senior.

It should work just fine for your mom in the yard.

Hope this helps,

Jeff

Hi,

I don’t know what UL listed and FM approved monitoring centers mean.

Cleo

Ann Arbor, Michican (MI)

Hi Cleo,

UL means Underwriters Laboratory’s and FM approved means Factory Mutual approved.

The UL approval is a standards and testing organization that makes sure you life up to their high standars (most electrial devices require this) and FM approved is mainly for fire and smoke detection standards (this means we are approved to monitor large complex fire systems.

Hope this helps,

Jeff

Hi,

I want to get a home medical alarm system for my 78 year old mom. I am somewhat “technology challenged”, and don’t really understand what those phrases in the upper subject line of this e-mail are referring to.

My mom’s phone system is hooked up via Time Warner Cable and if the electricity/ power goes out, the phone does not work. I would like to get a medical alarm system that works in the event of an emergency power outage. Is there such a thing and what do I look for?

Any help or suggestions would be helpful.

Thank you

Lois

Lexington, Kentucky (KY)

REPLY

Hi Lois,

Wireless jacks, splitters and voice over IP (VOIP) are all devices that give most medical alert systems problems.

Particularly VOIP we consider unsafe to use with any personal emergency response system.

Our GET HELP NOW medical alarm system has a battery back-up that will work for approximately 24 hours without electricity, and then when the power comes back on our battery will quickly charge back up again. It will work with your Time Warner Cable phone system.

Don’t feel badly about being technology challenged…many are…I sometimes can’t program my cell phone with it’s new features

Hope this helps,

Jeff Miller

Hello,

I’m confused about your medical alert monitoring system. What exactly does your monitoring box connect TO? Obviously we plug it into an electrical outlet to run power to it, but does it also need to be plugged into a telephone jack? If NOT, then how is the communication transmitted?

Many thanks,

Brady B.

REPLY

Hi Brady,

Let me see if I can help clear your thought about or medical alert monitoring system.

The monitoring box, we call it a speaker box, is connected directly to your home phone system…into your telephone jack.

That’s how it works.

Hope that helps,

Jeff Miller

Hi Lela,

We don’t consider that a safe way to go, however, I completely understand your situation. We used to do that, and found that a father died in this bed during a fire while his son drove the 5 minutes to his home.

That said, there is a good company called Vital-Link, who will accept your information the way you want.

Her response:

Jeff,

Wow, well I am going to print out your response and show it to my mom!   Thank you very much for the quick response to my question and for the information you provided.  Maybe with your eye opening response, however, I can get her to sign up for something a little more full proof as far as safety goes. 

Wish me luck!  

Thanks again,

Lela

Hello Jeff,

I am John and my mother has dimentia.

She is living at my sister’s house and my sister called me telling me my mother is getting up at night with illusions of living in another house with some other people and she needs to find them.

My mother lives with my father in my sister’s house and he’s fine. The problem is when he goes to sleep he doesn’t hear my mother getting up and traveling. She goes upstairs to my sisters bedroom and tells my sister stories. My sister takes her back to her room where my father is sleeping and tells her to go back to sleep. After my sister leaves my mother goes out the door and out into the night.

So far she has just gone next door or up the stairs to the front door where my sister catches her and talks her into going back to bed. My sister is afraid this will get worse.

What I’m looking for is some type of a bracelet my mom could wear that would sound an alarm upstairs to my sister’s room to let her know that my mother has gone on the move. Are there products such as this available?

John

REPLY:

Hi John,

This is a growing problem for senior citizens in our society.

Dimentia is the beginning of a huge caregiver problem as you are becoming quite aware. You are not alone, this problem causes great heartache for all caregivers.

My heart goes out to you and your sister.

What’s generally used in this situation is a wander alert not a medical alert system. The alert basically sounds a loud noise when the wanderer passes through an electronic perimeter set by you.

There are also systems that sound an alert anytime the senior citizen with dimentia gets out of bed.

Hope this helps,

Jeff

My parents live together at their home (94 and 97 years old), they need an alert system. Should they each have a separate system?

How are they covered when they leave the house–take a walk, go to the store by themselves? (Someone should probably go with them)

Rich

REPLY:

Hi Rich,

There is no need for two medical alert systems for your parents. They simply each need a pendant transmitter (button) to communicate with the speaker box.

When they are off on a walk the system will only work within about 300 feet.

If your parents have a problem at the store one would suspect that a patron of the store or it’s employees would call 911.

Hope this helps,

Jeff Miller

Many senior citizens have difficult feet for common shoe sizes.

There is a great solution to this problem. Otabo shoes makes a custom made, laser fitted shoe that is made in the USA. They can fit any size foot, any width and any length…and the good part is they can accommodate bunyons, hammer toes or an other foot problem.

They can even incorporate orthotics into the shoe fitting.

You can find out more about this at Jeffrey Zig’s shoe site…I know these guys are great, because they are one of our companies

Hi, I would like some info on your personal alarm, as well as all your info.
I live in a remote area in Imperial County Ca. aprox. 1 hr. from Palm Springs. There are many single seniors and aprox. 70-75 live here alone in the summer in 110* weather. Many are in their 80’s and going strong!! But, I worry about them. As one of my friends 83 yrs. recently fell outside in a 105 day and couldn’t get herself up.
No wonder I live in a place called the Founain Of Youth Spa and Rv resort !! Please if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you send me more than 1 brochure- like 10 or so if they are not too big. I’d gladly pay some.
Thank You, Susan

REPLY:

Hi Susan,

It’s nice to see that you are looking out for the senior citizens in your community. We would be most happy to send all the literature you need.

We also think you should advise the seniors to use the Vial of Life program…it’s free, and it could save their life when they can’t speak for themselves during an emergency.

You are to be commended for caring for our senior citizens.

Thank you,

Jeffrey Miller

Did you know…

That the number of caregivers in the US is estimated at one in every six Americans (46 million).

That 30% of those caregivers are elderly themselves?

That new studies confirm that while few caretakers will regret the time they’ve devoted to an elderly loved one, that devotion will extract a high price, costing many a caregiver dearly in terms of their own health, both physical and mental?

Caregiving is rewarding and often essential, but you shouldn’t underestimate its inherent perils:

Caregiving often precludes taking care of oneself.

Caregivers rarely get enough rest or relaxed time.

More than half of family caregivers are subject to chronic exposure to stress which results in significant symptoms of depression.

More than half appear to suffer from depressive symptoms.

The ongoing depression experienced by caregivers can result in chronic stress-related diseases among them diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease.

A recent survey of caretakers who described themselves as being in poor or fair health revealed that 91% of them suffer from clinical depression.

Please take the time to give yourself some relief!

Hi Jeff,  Does Meciare pay for any of this medical alert equipment. We were told that we would pay for a year up front and then medicare would reimburse us for part of that yr and also each year after. Do you know anything about this?

Diane

REPLY:

Sorry Diane…I think they only do it on rare occassions for medical alert systems.

Jeff Miller

Several Seniors in my community are interested in the ADT personal alarms that can be worn around the neck to be used in a medical emergency.  Would you please send some info to me at my e mail address.  I will print some up and pass them on to people here.

I am looking for something dad can wear on his wrist or (if small) around his neck that has a button to push if he needs help…  then we need multiple (3-4) receivers that can be plugged in next to our beds, the garage or wherever that will alarm/chime should he push the button.  The kicker is…. It needs to work within 120+ foot or more radius….Wireless door bells use the same technology…..  the only thing I’ve found is this cheap little nothing that only works within 50 ft…and it works well when the folks are in bed but doesn’t do squat for normal day-to-day stuff.  Won’t even chime when mom is out at the garden. What I DON”T want is a system you have to subscribe to a monitoring service where they call the house to see what the problem is and if no answer they send out the cops…  if dad were inside alone with mom in the garage or garden - he would not answer the phone anyways….  Plus, I want him to use it if he needs something - not just for emergency….Because dad’s stubborn sometimes - and the LAST thing we need is for him to fall and lay there.
Someone is at the house 24/7 so calling 911 or his doc is able to be done if necessary but we need a quick way for him to beep us when he needs any non-emergency assistance. Any suggestions.
Judith

REPLY:

Hi Judith,

I don’t know of such a medical alert device. Our Get Help Now medical alert system is a traditional medical alarm that will do what you want, however, if not responded to by someone in the house, we do dispatch 911.

It saves lives this way, you can lose a life without dispatch and without communication.

Good Luck,

Jeff

Does your firm call back after the alarm is activated? Does this call back consist of a dialog with the person wearing the alarm and, if so, how does that person respond if away from the base unit? What action is taken if there is no response? Will you directly contact the local emergency (911) operator after an alarm or must the contracting individual provide a friend/family number for you to call?

REPLY

Hi there,

Sure we try to talk to the person through our speaker box first. If we don’t hear from the person, we call on the phone. If we still don’t hear we dispatch their local 911 service. And then we contact that persons list of responders.

Hope this helps,

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

I am looking for a monitor for my mom.  She works in her garden a lot and I am looking for one that will cover outside and in her greenhouse.  What is the range on your monitor?  Would this work for her?

Thanks, 

Marla

REPLY

Hi Marla,

The medical alarm system works approximately 300-400 linear feet from the speaker box. However, we would not be able to speak to your mom outside…but we would know that she is in trouble and send help.

Hope this helps,

Jeff

What exactly is a splitter?

Do you have any customer comments on your web site I could look at?

Debora

REPLY

Hi Debora,

A splitter is a device that you plug into your telephone jack that then gives you two outlets to plug your phone into. In other words, one phone jack is split so that they are now two.

Hope this helps,

Jeff

I have been to your internet site and have some questions.

My Mother is 87 and has decided that she wants an alert system.

What does it take to install the alert system box? Can an answering machine be used on the same line and where does that box go – between the wall plug and the answering machine? (Mother has a cordless phone system that has an answering machine built into the base unit.) Is the alert phone number a local or long-distance call and is it preprogrammed into the alert box (Mother lives in Oklahoma City)? What is the range of the alert button? If she were outside and had a problem, would the alert box pick-up the alert button signal?

How are the billings done? Are they by check or automatic bank draft? When mother passes, how do I stop the service and does the equipment have to be returned?

Thanks,

David

REPLY:

Hi David,

You just plug the box into the electrical outlet and the telephone jack, in the back of our box there is an additional phone jack. Treat the additional phone jack the same as you would a wall jack…here you can add, split, or chain your other devices.

The number dialed is an 800 number.

The range of the button is approximately 300′, you need to test it in the local surroundings.

If she were within that range inside the house we could talk to her, outside we would know that she is in trouble and send help.

The billing can be done my mail, email, credit card, or bank draft.

When you need to end service, you must return our equipment so that we stop billing.

Hope this helps,

Jeff

   I had an amazing experience today that I’d like to share with everyone who has an elderly person in their life.

   My neighbor, Joe, is a good friend of mine. Recently, we celebrated his 82nd birthday. I often call him and see if he’s interested in taking a walk, or just sitting together in his backyard, taking in the day. Yesterday I called him and suggested I come by at noon — our usual time to get together.

   I arrived at his house and knocked on the door. There was no answer. I knew he was there so I knocked again. No answer. Panic began to well up in me. I pictured Joe alone in his house, suddenly unable to get up from his chair or lying helplessly at the foot of his stairs.

   I didn’t know what to do. Then I noticed a red and white sticker on his door. It read Vial of Life. There was a phone number on the sticker as well as the words See Refrigerator Door for Complete Medical Information. Clearly, Vial of Life was some sort of emergency center. I had my cell phone with me. With my heart pounding, I called their number.

    After a single ring, a young woman answered. Her voice was calm, reassuring. I told her that I was desperate to get into Joe’s house. She explained that for security reasons she couldn’t give me the location of his lockbox. She also said that she would contact the paramedics immediately and tell them where the lockbox is. She also said that she would call Joe’s son whose number she had on file.

   The paramedics arrived moments later. Thanks to the young woman they were able to get the key and let themselves in. One went searching for Joe. He found him on the bathroom floor. Apparently, he’d fallen down and hit his head on the bathroom sink. Meanwhile, another paramedic went to the refrigerator and took from its door a bag that contained Joe’s medical information. With that in hand, they whisked Joe off to the hospital where he’s now getting the care he needs.

   I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the Vial of Life. I can’t recommend it enough. As it turns out, its distributed for free by a Senior Safety.com, a company that’s been making Medical Alarms for Seniors for 25 years. Senior Safety saved my dear friend on a day when the only alarm sounding was the one in my mind.

Bless you,

Jean J.

Atlanta, GA

Our national monitoring center is certified by UL, FM and is Department of Defense approved.

Most medical alert monitoring centers work just to get UL approved, our center is one of the few monitoring centers in the country that has received all three of these approvals.

All three certifications are not necessary…but it lets you know…we are a well experienced and trained monitoring center.

We’ve gone the extra mile!