Widows & Widowers Support Group
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I read about an old lady who fell in her backyard the other day. She died of exposure because no one knew to check on her.
Over 40 years ago I made the decision not to have kids. Didn't want to marry either, so I knew a day would come when being alone and older may present problems. At the time I figured technology would save me. I'd been a big fan of Star Trek(still am) and I figured we would have 21st century gadgets that would erase any future problems of a woman living alone. So here we are, 21st century, and even Star Trek seems outdated.
Here's what I found so far:
1. A ready-response unit that detects falls. I'm not sure if it's 100 percent accurate, but the brochure says that if you fall an emergency response service would be called.
2. The old fashioned, "I've fallen and can't get up" has gotten better. One company has a unit that works outside--a sort of GPS system that can detect where you are. You wear a wristban with this one. Press a button and help is on it's way. There's a simpler one where you carry a sort of cell phone device with you everywhere you go. Push the button and 911 is activated. You just tell them where you are.
For the car there's Onstar. It has a GPS so they know exactly where you are. I'd love to get one for my father.
3. I've got ADT. They have a button that can be pushed from any room in the house. Unlike the older versions of this technolgy, I get a person who speaks through the speaker in my house. No more waiting for a phone call asking if I'm alright. I can tell them right away how I accidentally pushed that button.
4. There's a service that will call you each day to make sure you're okay. It's low tech, but I read that technology is already being developed to create smart-houses. It will be able to detect medical conditions and even determine if there is water on the floor. A heart attack would be detected and someone dispatched right away. This house would be capable of seeing your daily routine too. If you're not in a certain spot at a certain time, then someone would check on you.
The skys the limit on all of this stuff. Right now I use email to communicate with my step-daughter. If she hasn't heard from me in a few days, she'll send one asking if I'm okay. She'll call too, but email is so easy, can be done anywhere. I read a lot of elderlywho live alone are relying on it.
I've got ADT and the walgreen service. The walgreen service includes a bathroom monitor. It's a little button you put in the shower. It's completly waterproof. If I push it, my father and step-daughter would be called as well as an emergency response unit. It has a wristwatch and necklace you can wear around the house to contact them too. Like ADT, you can talk to them directly thorugh a large central device.
I have a weather alert radio too. It's programmed for the county I live in. It comes on during bad weather to warn me and give instructions as to what to do. I bought one after hearing about a town ravaged in the middle of the night by a tornado. The siren never went off and who's watching television that late, so many didn't even know what was coming.
I'm an ex-techie and just love all the stuff coming. It's erasing all the fears I've ever had of facing old-age alone. Now If I can only figure out how to pay for all this stuff.
Over 40 years ago I made the decision not to have kids. Didn't want to marry either, so I knew a day would come when being alone and older may present problems. At the time I figured technology would save me. I'd been a big fan of Star Trek(still am) and I figured we would have 21st century gadgets that would erase any future problems of a woman living alone. So here we are, 21st century, and even Star Trek seems outdated.
Here's what I found so far:
1. A ready-response unit that detects falls. I'm not sure if it's 100 percent accurate, but the brochure says that if you fall an emergency response service would be called.
2. The old fashioned, "I've fallen and can't get up" has gotten better. One company has a unit that works outside--a sort of GPS system that can detect where you are. You wear a wristban with this one. Press a button and help is on it's way. There's a simpler one where you carry a sort of cell phone device with you everywhere you go. Push the button and 911 is activated. You just tell them where you are.
For the car there's Onstar. It has a GPS so they know exactly where you are. I'd love to get one for my father.
3. I've got ADT. They have a button that can be pushed from any room in the house. Unlike the older versions of this technolgy, I get a person who speaks through the speaker in my house. No more waiting for a phone call asking if I'm alright. I can tell them right away how I accidentally pushed that button.
4. There's a service that will call you each day to make sure you're okay. It's low tech, but I read that technology is already being developed to create smart-houses. It will be able to detect medical conditions and even determine if there is water on the floor. A heart attack would be detected and someone dispatched right away. This house would be capable of seeing your daily routine too. If you're not in a certain spot at a certain time, then someone would check on you.
The skys the limit on all of this stuff. Right now I use email to communicate with my step-daughter. If she hasn't heard from me in a few days, she'll send one asking if I'm okay. She'll call too, but email is so easy, can be done anywhere. I read a lot of elderlywho live alone are relying on it.
I've got ADT and the walgreen service. The walgreen service includes a bathroom monitor. It's a little button you put in the shower. It's completly waterproof. If I push it, my father and step-daughter would be called as well as an emergency response unit. It has a wristwatch and necklace you can wear around the house to contact them too. Like ADT, you can talk to them directly thorugh a large central device.
I have a weather alert radio too. It's programmed for the county I live in. It comes on during bad weather to warn me and give instructions as to what to do. I bought one after hearing about a town ravaged in the middle of the night by a tornado. The siren never went off and who's watching television that late, so many didn't even know what was coming.
I'm an ex-techie and just love all the stuff coming. It's erasing all the fears I've ever had of facing old-age alone. Now If I can only figure out how to pay for all this stuff.
Keep us posted on the latest and greatest
I live alone in a somewhat rural area and have very few neighbors. Since I'm gone quite a bit, its no big deal if the lights don't come on every night or my mail & newspapers stack up. My family only worries about me if it takes me more than a couple of days to return a call or text.
Sometimes you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but I'm glad to know there are tech toys help a gal feel more secure.
Thanks again, Cathy
She did on occassion start it accidentally but she could stop the calls by pressing a second button on the pendant.
SInce we were concerned about night trips to the bathroom (she kept the pendant by her bed) and a fall when she did not have the pendant we got a separate pendant for the bath.
To me it was very cost effective peace of mind, and again, no monthly fee.
I found it cheapest to get the unit on Amazon but they can also be bought from the tele-emergency co. They do try to be as helpful in setting the unit up as it is confusing at times so the few extra dollars it would cost from them could well be justified.
I remember that you were having health issues,...hope all has improved.
Yes, this lastest techie stuff is great.
Even having a simple cell phone.
That has always been a fear of mine too, facing old age alone.
My mom has Alzheimers, and alone, wouldn't be able to utilize most services. But, the years I took care of her, I wished that I had known about the tracking bracelets. Even with locked doors & precautions, there still was that fear of her wandering.
My county has a service for anyone who needs it, elderly or infirm. The sheriff dept. calls you each day, and checks on you.
That is wonderful thing, and free, since so many have a very limited income.
It is comforting to know, that will be there for me,(budget cuts willing) should I need it in the future.
Your first line, is so very sad about the woman who died in her backyard of exposure. My backyard is a jungle of trees, that I am trying to clear by myself. I always leave the gate open, just in case. Figure someone may find me quicker if anything happens, and I always keep my cell in my pocket.
Thank you for all your info, I bet it will help some keep safe.
(Hugs)
Debi