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My mother has a medical alert button which she wears around her neck. It uses her landline. Her phone line has been out for over 24 hours and we are managing, but it has raised a question about these systems. She is legally blind and can no longer reliably use a cell phone, She has an Alexa, but really is missing being able to rely on the medical alert pendant. I am looking for something that will avoid the current situation. There have been major storms which have knocked out cellular service in her area in the past, so don't want to completely rely on that. I am thinking one of the systems which operates without a monthly fee. These systems are designed to be cheaper, but I am just looking as something that word work as a back up in case we have problem with land line again. Any EXPERIENCE with any of these systems?

My friend has a SIL that uses FASTHELP from what I understand it is a 1 time purchase and no monthly fee
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Suzy23 Aug 7, 2024
thanks! Just fyi, I searched for fasthelp online. It looks fasthelp is a single button that leads to a two-way connection with 911. No way to call someone else instead.
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My mom is in a similar situation although not blind and doesn’t have or want Alexa. She became a widow about 3 months ago. At her request, I got her set up with a medical alert (we chose Bay Alarm because it was highly rated.) she also has really poor cell reception in her house, so we originally hooked it to the land line. First big storm after that, we learn that even her Verizon landline phone goes out if the electric power is cut! So then we switched her land line phone to Community something, which is supposedly not affected by power outages.

My mom also sets off the Bay Alarm medallion like three times a week by accident. She now hates it and rarely wears it. Now she keeps her cell phone in a holster and says she will just call if she falls. I realize there are many issues with this (what if she can’t get to her cell phone, what if service is interrupted at the time, what if she is knocked unconscious, what if she is in the shower which is a big fall risk area). The only other solution I have thought of is putting cameras and maybe motion detectors all around her home, but she is not enthused about this idea.

Good luck! I hope someone has a good solution for all this. Obviously a full time live in aide or assisted living would be options.
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I am not sure if there is any system that won't go down in a storm.

I also want to make people aware that if you use a cordless phone or even a wall one that needs to be plugged in so your VM works, they don't work when the electricity goes out.
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