My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Bill

Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Bill


This any use?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ARTFONE-But...ergency+button

On 15/12/2018 19:11, Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Sounds like the sort of thing that Age UK should be able to advise on.


--
--

Colin Bignell

On 15/12/2018 19:27, Tweed wrote:
Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Bill


This any use?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ARTFONE-But...ergency+button


That looks very promising. I see no problem with it.

Bill

On 15/12/2018 19:39, Pamela wrote:
On 19:11 15 Dec 2018, Bill Wright wrote in
news
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Bill

I'm sorry to hear that.

Really, an occupational therapist should visit your friend and recommend
the council or NHS provides whatever sort of equipment they consider
necessary and also to make other adaptations in the home such as handrails,
etc. The council will sometimes fund a walk-in shower if climbing over the
old bathtub is potentially dangerous.

Some councils have a department providing various gadgets (such as mobile
phones, alarms, adapted tv remore controls, etc) for those living in their
area and can be approached direct by residents but an OT's recommendation
would help make a strong case.


I'll act on these suggestions. Thank you.

Bill

On 15/12/2018 19:11, Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?


The ones I've known were linked to a landline with what was essentially
a speaker phone. The calls were taken by a monitoring service who took
action such as calling a relative/friend/neighbour, sending agent (at a
cost), or calling ambulance. Some were LA staffed but latterly private
sector. Usually involved key box (so check insurers happy with that).
See e.g.

https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/housing/home-alarm/

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/products/mo...rsonal-alarms/

But, as others have suggested, best start with a needs assessment by a
professional.


--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On Sat 15/12/2018 19:11, Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Bill

It was in the paper today that a 4yo called 999 by using his Mum's Siri
when she collapsed - Alexa will do the same if broadband is available.
The downside of course is that the phone has to be used to stop it being
cut off.
Local authorities usually do a response service for older people. The
user presses a dongle on a lanyard or wrist strap which makes a base
unit call home. The operator can then use the box to call out to see if
the caller needs help. If they get no reply someone is sent out to
investigate. It usually means a small outdoor key safe for access. As
suggested a recommendation by an OT will get things moving.

--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

On 15/12/2018 19:11, Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Bill

I have one - my late father's - but it plugs into a landline. It's
wireless, it works around the house, two lanyard type things, calls up
to three numbers.

https://www.lifemaxuk.co.uk/friends-...dial-plus.html

It's led me a merry dance many a time when he's set it off accidentally,
but also has alerted me when he needed lifting off the floor.

I've tried to sell it on eBay, but no takers for £20, so if you want it
you can have it for postage. Let me know here.

Cheers
--
Clive

Well, I believe Cobolt did something like this, but do not know how usable
it is. The services I know about do use cell phones but the issue is that
you need to be near the host cellphone when you set it off I think.


The other route is a rented device which is not cheap. I would imagine the
best people to ask would be the local councils Rehab team for sensory
impairment. Every council is supposed to have them, but she may not be
actually registered with them yet. If its really recent somebody really
needs to get her benefits sorted out as well.

The services are a bit of a post code lottery around the country, sadly.
Some are run on contract by charities, while other councils do it in house.


You might look also at Doro phones as they do have easy to use emergency
button types, but the problem is people never have the phone on them or
charged when they fall or whatever do they?
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Bill Wright" wrote in message
news
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she can
have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency. Presumably
this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if it will only
work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Bill

As I say, the problem is often the charged state of the devices.
I don't have anything like that but I guess I should
One big issue recently is that I bought a new phone and the damn thing
keeps dialling the emergency number by accident I have had to turn it off!
Apple nice idea but a little too easy to trigger by accident!
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Tweed" wrote in message
news
Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Bill


This any use?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ARTFONE-But...ergency+button

On 15/12/2018 23:50, Clive Arthur wrote:
On 15/12/2018 19:11, Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely
blind. Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget
that she can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an
emergency. Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be
any good if it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone?
Brian?

Bill

I have one - my late father's - but it plugs into a landline.Â* It's
wireless, it works around the house, two lanyard type things, calls up
to three numbers.

https://www.lifemaxuk.co.uk/friends-...dial-plus.html

It's led me a merry dance many a time when he's set it off accidentally,
but also has alerted me when he needed lifting off the floor.

I've tried to sell it on eBay, but no takers for £20, so if you want it
you can have it for postage.Â* Let me know here.

Cheers

Thanks for that. I'll talk to her and I might come back to you.
I should mention that her husband is still around but he's out of the
house a lot. He still works, despite being eighty.
Also, as a matter of interest, the lady in question was born with a
heart defect. Her parents were told she would have a short life but she
had pioneering heart surgery as a child (surgeon was Judson Tyndale
Chesterman), has had several operations since, and is still around sixty
years later.

Bill

Bill Wright wrote

My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that
she can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good
if it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone?

The usual thing is a mobile phone worn in a case with a thing
around your neck. That way if she has a fall she can call for help.

On 2018-12-15 5:36 p.m., Rod Speed wrote:
Bill Wright wrote
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely
blind. Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget
that she can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an
emergency. Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be
any good if it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone?

The usual thing is a mobile phone worn in a case with a thing around
your neck. That way if she has a fall she can call for help.

good idea nothing like smashing your face into a phone

"Nightjar" wrote in message
...
On 15/12/2018 19:11, Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Sounds like the sort of thing that Age UK should be able to advise on.

Dont need any operation like that with something as basic as that.

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
news
On 15/12/2018 19:27, Tweed wrote:
Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Bill


This any use?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ARTFONE-But...ergency+button


That looks very promising. I see no problem with it.

My dad wasnt blind. We never could get the bugger
to wear one. He appeared to see it as evidence that
he was further gone than he liked to admit.

He did get a mobile for himself that he did take
with him when out for exercise, but wouldnt
keep it in his pocket around the flat.

Brian Gaff wrote

As I say, the problem is often the charged state of the devices.
I don't have anything like that but I guess I should
One big issue recently is that I bought a new phone and the damn thing
keeps dialling the emergency number by accident I have had to turn it off!
Apple nice idea but a little too easy to trigger by accident!

You need to get someone to set it up properly. Mine
never ever dials the emergency number by accident.

Not perfect tho, siri doesn’t work with it in your pocket
and too easy to fall on the phone and smash it too.

The echo dots have a much better microphone system
so a few scattered around the house will be able to
call the emergency number as long as you can still talk.

The apple watch will work out for itself when you have
fallen and are unconscious, but arent cheap and need
to be charged every day. Not ideal if you wear your
watch to bed normally.

Some of the fitness bands will in theory work out when
you have fallen too but its not clear how reliable they are.

"Tweed" wrote in message
news
Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Bill


This any use?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ARTFONE-But...ergency+button

% wrote in message ...
On 2018-12-15 5:36 p.m., Rod Speed wrote:
Bill Wright wrote
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone?

The usual thing is a mobile phone worn in a case with a thing around your
neck. That way if she has a fall she can call for help.

good idea nothing like smashing your face into a phone

It goes in your shirt, so you dont smash your face on it.

On Sat 15/12/2018 23:56, Brian Gaff wrote:
Well, I believe Cobolt did something like this, but do not know how usable
it is. The services I know about do use cell phones but the issue is that
you need to be near the host cellphone when you set it off I think.


The other route is a rented device which is not cheap. I would imagine the
best people to ask would be the local councils Rehab team for sensory
impairment. Every council is supposed to have them, but she may not be
actually registered with them yet. If its really recent somebody really
needs to get her benefits sorted out as well.

The services are a bit of a post code lottery around the country, sadly.
Some are run on contract by charities, while other councils do it in house.


You might look also at Doro phones as they do have easy to use emergency
button types, but the problem is people never have the phone on them or
charged when they fall or whatever do they?

I missed that - and my wife has a Doro! The emergency button works
well-ish. Pressing it for a couple of seconds or three times quite
quickly (depending how it is set) makes it sound a siren. At the same
time it will sequentially call up to five numbers three times each as it
were in a circle. If the call is answered it invites the recipient to
press a digit to continue; if they do then the siren stops (if it hasn't
stopped already) and the phone works in high level handsfree mode so the
caller doesn't even have to open it up (clamshell phone.) If no digit is
pressed because of a TAM or voicemail it will drop the call and go on to
the next. The phone also sends a (user defined) text message to each of
the numbers in the emergency memory.

The good bit? If the phone is not used much the battery lasts as long
(or longer) than a Nokia 6310i - and we all remember them, don't we?


--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

On Sun, 16 Dec 2018 12:20:54 +1100, cantankerous trolling geezer Rot Speed,
the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

That looks very promising. I see no problem with it.

My dad wasn¢t blind.

FLUSH the rest of the usual irrelevant senile drivel

He WAS responsible for producing an obnoxious senile pest like you, senile
Rot!

--
Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp addressing Rot Speed:
"You really are a clueless pillock."
MID:

On Sun, 16 Dec 2018 13:59:02 +1100, cantankerous trolling geezer Rot Speed,
the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:


You need to get someone to set it up properly.

****! YOU need to get someone in REAL life to talk to, you obnoxious
forsaken senile psychotic troll!

--
Cursitor Doom about Rot Speed:
"I'm not the least surprised. The man is a conspicuous and unashamed
ignoramus."
MID:

On 15/12/2018 22:27, Robin wrote:

The ones I've known were linked to a landline with what was essentially
a speaker phone. The calls were taken by a monitoring service who took
action such as calling a relative/friend/neighbour, sending agent (at a
cost), or calling ambulance.

I have a neighbour who was kitted out (at her daughter's insistence)
with an emergency pendant that links to a box that connects to her
landline. It has a maximum range of about 100 yards, so it works
anywhere in the house and garden, but is out of range if she goes to the
shops. I am her emergency contact because I have a key to her house and
can let myself in if necessary.

There was a false alarm earlier this year. She was pruning in her
garden and managed to accidentally press her pendant. That is how I
found out the modus operandi. Her pendant notified the box in the house
which dialled the support centre. The support centre called back to her
telephone to check whether it was a false alarm, only the lady was in
the garden and didn't hear the phone ring. So then the support centre
phoned me to say that she hadn't answered the phone on their call back,
so would I please check. They told me that if there was a genuine
problem, I was to press her pendant and that would give them another
emergency call and then they would know that they had to call an
ambulance. If I found that there wasn't a problem, I need do nothing
and they would know by that inaction that it had been a false alarm.

I went over with the key and let myself in and found the back door wide
open and saw her in the garden pruning, so I went out and told her what
had happened, checked that it was accidental and that she was OK, then
went back home.

Clearly, by being tied to a landline it doesn't meet the OP's original
expectation. But if the assumption is made that someone going out is
likely to be within sight of other people who could react to an
emergency, so it is only in the privacy of one's home that emergency
coverage is required, then the system does work provided there is a
helpful neighbour who is prepared to be the local contact for the person
with the pendant.

Jim

On 16/12/2018 12:30, Indy Jess John wrote:
On 15/12/2018 22:27, Robin wrote:

The ones I've known were linked to a landline with what was essentially
a speaker phone.Â* The calls were taken by a monitoring service who took
action such as calling a relative/friend/neighbour, sending agent (at a
cost), or calling ambulance.

I have a neighbour who was kitted out (at her daughter's insistence)
with an emergency pendant that links to a box that connects to her
landline.Â* It has a maximum range of about 100 yards, so it works
anywhere in the house and garden, but is out of range if she goes to the
shops. I am her emergency contact because I have a key to her house and
can let myself in if necessary.

There was a false alarm earlier this year.Â* She was pruning in her
garden and managed to accidentally press her pendant.Â* That is how I
found out the modus operandi.Â* Her pendant notified the box in the house
which dialled the support centre.Â* The support centre called back to her
telephone to check whether it was a false alarm, only the lady was in
the garden and didn't hear the phone ring.Â* So then the support centre
phoned me to say that she hadn't answered the phone on their call back,
so would I please check.Â* They told me that if there was a genuine
problem, I was to press her pendant and that would give them another
emergency call and then they would know that they had to call an
ambulance.Â* If I found that there wasn't a problem, I need do nothing
and they would know by that inaction that it had been a false alarm.

I went over with the key and let myself in and found the back door wide
open and saw her in the garden pruning, so I went out and told her what
had happened, checked that it was accidental and that she was OK, then
went back home.

Clearly, by being tied to a landline it doesn't meet the OP's original
expectation.Â* But if the assumption is made that someone going out is
likely to be within sight of other people who could react to an
emergency, so it is only in the privacy of one's home that emergency
coverage is required, then the system does work provided there is a
helpful neighbour who is prepared to be the local contact for the person
with the pendant.

Jim

Thanks for that. Interesting.

Bill

Bill Wright wrote:
On 16/12/2018 12:30, Indy Jess John wrote:
On 15/12/2018 22:27, Robin wrote:

The ones I've known were linked to a landline with what was essentially
a speaker phone.Â* The calls were taken by a monitoring service who took
action such as calling a relative/friend/neighbour, sending agent (at a
cost), or calling ambulance.

I have a neighbour who was kitted out (at her daughter's insistence)
with an emergency pendant that links to a box that connects to her
landline.Â* It has a maximum range of about 100 yards, so it works
anywhere in the house and garden, but is out of range if she goes to the
shops. I am her emergency contact because I have a key to her house and
can let myself in if necessary.

There was a false alarm earlier this year.Â* She was pruning in her
garden and managed to accidentally press her pendant.Â* That is how I
found out the modus operandi.Â* Her pendant notified the box in the house
which dialled the support centre.Â* The support centre called back to her
telephone to check whether it was a false alarm, only the lady was in
the garden and didn't hear the phone ring.Â* So then the support centre
phoned me to say that she hadn't answered the phone on their call back,
so would I please check.Â* They told me that if there was a genuine
problem, I was to press her pendant and that would give them another
emergency call and then they would know that they had to call an
ambulance.Â* If I found that there wasn't a problem, I need do nothing
and they would know by that inaction that it had been a false alarm.

I went over with the key and let myself in and found the back door wide
open and saw her in the garden pruning, so I went out and told her what
had happened, checked that it was accidental and that she was OK, then
went back home.

Clearly, by being tied to a landline it doesn't meet the OP's original
expectation.Â* But if the assumption is made that someone going out is
likely to be within sight of other people who could react to an
emergency, so it is only in the privacy of one's home that emergency
coverage is required, then the system does work provided there is a
helpful neighbour who is prepared to be the local contact for the person
with the pendant.

Jim

Thanks for that. Interesting.

Bill


Not directly an answer to Bills query, but something that those with an
elderly relative might find helpful. I have a camera from Netamo installed
in my elderly mothers lounge, with her permission. It connects via WiFi to
her home Broadband. So what you may say. The clever bit is the camera
performs stunningly accurate face recognition. When she gets up on the
morning and enters the lounge I get an alert on my iPhone. This means I
dont have to proactively monitor the camera. I can get a live video feed
on my phone, useful for when she has pushed all the wrong phone buttons by
mistake and given me a silent phone call. Means I dont have to rush round
there. It also recognises when the daily help turns up, so I know that she
has been. Best thing is there is no ongoing subscription. She also has an
emergency call button on a neck pendant, that summons help from a box
connected to her phone and then to Age UK (as described by another poster).
This has literally (correct use of literally, not the modern use) saved her
life on one occasion. For Bills friend, Id recommended this as a priority
over a mobile phone based system. Not to say you can have the mobile one as
well, but the majority of life threatening incidents happen in the home,
and you dont have to mess around charging batteries.

On 16/12/2018 12:30, Indy Jess John wrote:
On 15/12/2018 22:27, Robin wrote:

snip


Clearly, by being tied to a landline it doesn't meet the OP's original
expectation.Â* But if the assumption is made that someone going out is
likely to be within sight of other people who could react to an
emergency, so it is only in the privacy of one's home that emergency
coverage is required, then the system does work provided there is a
helpful neighbour who is prepared to be the local contact for the person
with the pendant.



Yes. My apologies to Bill et al for not declaring I was not meeting the
remit ("It won't be any good if it will only work in and around the
house"). I just wanted to point out what was a very easy to use,
lightweight system for use around the home (simple and light compared
with mobile phones, personal locator beacons and the like).



--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On Sat, 15 Dec 2018 19:11:27 +0000, Bill Wright
wrote:

My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

You probably need two devices. The common fixed line Telecare
pendant/wristband sort which call a call centre who listen to the
phone microphone and try to get a response from the caller. If they
fail they can call the emergency services. Usually work well around
the house and garden but no more. Pendant battery life is usually 2
to 7 years and the system is checked monthly and low battery detected
then.

The GSM variety are rather limited but the only option for away from
home. Although they have world wide coverage they rely upon the user
always taking the phone or fairly bulky call pendant with them
(which rarely happens) plus they call a fixed list of recipients and
rely upon one of them having a phone with them and answering. Some
will send a Google maps link by SMS which will show the location. None
will call the emergency services directly as 999 operators cannot
respond to text messages or make use of Google maps. Mindme does have
a call centre but knowing the alarm has been activated in a busy high
street and you can't speak to the user isn't very useful by itself.

They are mainly used to locate people who have wondered off or to keep
an eye on their location.

Around the house and gardens the Telecare system is significantly
better than GSM based solutions.

https://www.trackingcentre.co.uk/Per...erlyGPSTracker
https://skyguard.co.uk/mysos/
http://www.mindme.care/mindme-personal-alarm.html

Are a few UK sources for GSM devices. Mindme was developed for lone
worker protection and incorporates two way speech.

Typically these devices have a battery life between charges of 24 to
48 hours.

For wide coverage GSM is the only option but it is significantly less
useful than Telecare around the house. Ideally you would have
Telecare for home and garden use and GSM for away from home use.

https://www.telecare24.co.uk/plans/

(there are other suppliers of similar systems, not just Telecare)

On 15/12/2018 19:11, Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Check with your local Council: ours had a service which we subscribed to
for my father.

A box was installed in his house which connected to the BT landline
master socket and which would automatically call a 24/7 call centre to
alert them if he pressed a big red button*, or a button on a cord round
his neck, or if a sensor under his mattress didn't register he had gone
to bed.

*He eventually discovered that if he pressed the big red button he could
hold a very pleasant conversation with a (usually) female voice at any
time of day or night! Not that we were neglecting him, more he preferred
her voice to ours!

--
F

On 16/12/2018 16:16, F wrote:
On 15/12/2018 19:11, Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Check with your local Council: ours had a service which we subscribed to
for my father.

A box was installed in his house which connected to the BT landline
master socket and which would automatically call a 24/7 call centre to
alert them if he pressed a big red button*, or a button on a cord round
his neck, or if a sensor under his mattress didn't register he had gone
to bed.

*He eventually discovered that if he pressed the big red button he could
hold a very pleasant conversation with a (usually) female voice at any
time of day or night! Not that we were neglecting him, more he preferred
her voice to ours!

Bugger, I just noticed the need to work away from the house! Sorry, this
only worked in the house and in the garden.

--
F

On 16/12/18 12:30, Indy Jess John wrote:
On 15/12/2018 22:27, Robin wrote:

The ones I've known were linked to a landline with what was essentially
a speaker phone. The calls were taken by a monitoring service who took
action such as calling a relative/friend/neighbour, sending agent (at a
cost), or calling ambulance.

I have a neighbour who was kitted out (at her daughter's insistence)
with an emergency pendant that links to a box that connects to her
landline. It has a maximum range of about 100 yards, so it works
anywhere in the house and garden, but is out of range if she goes to the
shops. I am her emergency contact because I have a key to her house and
can let myself in if necessary.

There was a false alarm earlier this year. She was pruning in her
garden and managed to accidentally press her pendant. That is how I
found out the modus operandi. Her pendant notified the box in the house
which dialled the support centre. The support centre called back to her
telephone to check whether it was a false alarm, only the lady was in
the garden and didn't hear the phone ring. So then the support centre
phoned me to say that she hadn't answered the phone on their call back,
so would I please check. They told me that if there was a genuine
problem, I was to press her pendant and that would give them another
emergency call and then they would know that they had to call an
ambulance. If I found that there wasn't a problem, I need do nothing
and they would know by that inaction that it had been a false alarm.

I went over with the key and let myself in and found the back door wide
open and saw her in the garden pruning, so I went out and told her what
had happened, checked that it was accidental and that she was OK, then
went back home.

Clearly, by being tied to a landline it doesn't meet the OP's original
expectation. But if the assumption is made that someone going out is
likely to be within sight of other people who could react to an
emergency, so it is only in the privacy of one's home that emergency
coverage is required, then the system does work provided there is a
helpful neighbour who is prepared to be the local contact for the person
with the pendant.

Jim

The same thing happened to us, the main difference was that we got the
call at 2am! It seems father-in-law took our instruction to wear the
pendant at all times quite seriously, and even wore it in bed.
Unfortunately, he must have rolled over in his sleep and pressed the
button, which set the alarm off. Being upstairs, no doubt with his
bedroom door closed, he didn't hear the phone ring and the support
centre operator ask if anything was wrong. So we had to drive over and
check what was going on. He was most surprised (and somewhat annoyed to
be woken up), when we arrived to ask if he was ok.

Well, at least we knew the system worked outside of a test.

--

Jeff

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
news
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she can
have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency. Presumably
this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if it will only
work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Bill

Bill

Take a look at Doro 6520 phone. It, and some other Doro I think have an
alarm function where if you press a certain button (which feels different to
all the others) it starts calling round pre-programmed contacts.

I use one as my main mobile as I'm a very heavy talker, and it's light and
robust with good battery life.

James

"Indy Jess John" wrote in message
...
On 15/12/2018 22:27, Robin wrote:

The ones I've known were linked to a landline with what was essentially
a speaker phone. The calls were taken by a monitoring service who took
action such as calling a relative/friend/neighbour, sending agent (at a
cost), or calling ambulance.

I have a neighbour who was kitted out (at her daughter's insistence) with
an emergency pendant that links to a box that connects to her landline.
It has a maximum range of about 100 yards, so it works anywhere in the
house and garden, but is out of range if she goes to the shops. I am her
emergency contact because I have a key to her house and can let myself in
if necessary.

There was a false alarm earlier this year. She was pruning in her garden
and managed to accidentally press her pendant. That is how I found out
the modus operandi. Her pendant notified the box in the house which
dialled the support centre. The support centre called back to her
telephone to check whether it was a false alarm, only the lady was in the
garden and didn't hear the phone ring. So then the support centre phoned
me to say that she hadn't answered the phone on their call back, so would
I please check. They told me that if there was a genuine problem, I was
to press her pendant and that would give them another emergency call and
then they would know that they had to call an ambulance. If I found that
there wasn't a problem, I need do nothing and they would know by that
inaction that it had been a false alarm.

I went over with the key and let myself in and found the back door wide
open and saw her in the garden pruning, so I went out and told her what
had happened, checked that it was accidental and that she was OK, then
went back home.

Clearly, by being tied to a landline it doesn't meet the OP's original
expectation. But if the assumption is made that someone going out is
likely to be within sight of other people who could react to an emergency,
so it is only in the privacy of one's home that emergency coverage is
required, then the system does work provided there is a helpful neighbour
who is prepared to be the local contact for the person with the pendant.

I used to work answering one of those many years ago! A very worthwhile
job, albeit with challenging hours and moderate pay.

James

"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
...
On 15/12/2018 19:11, Bill Wright wrote:
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely blind.
Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget that she
can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an emergency.
Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be any good if
it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone? Brian?

Check with your local Council: ours had a service which we subscribed to
for my father.

A box was installed in his house which connected to the BT landline master
socket and which would automatically call a 24/7 call centre to alert them
if he pressed a big red button*, or a button on a cord round his neck, or
if a sensor under his mattress didn't register he had gone to bed.

*He eventually discovered that if he pressed the big red button he could
hold a very pleasant conversation with a (usually) female voice at any
time of day or night! Not that we were neglecting him, more he preferred
her voice to ours!

Yes we had a few of those on the service I worked for...

One big advantage of those is that the base unit - which does the dialing -
is mains connected and self charges, with battery back up for about 12hrs.

The radio trigger worn around the neck has a battery that lasts for bloody
ever - and sends an alert when it gets to 2wks life left. The downside when
I was doing it, was the signal for low battery was indistinguishable from
the one for deliberate activation. Bit of a bugger when it's 2am and you
have to wake the service user up to check they are ok... but better the odd
false positive than otherwise.

James

On Mon 17/12/2018 21:48, James Heaton wrote:

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
news
My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely
blind. Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget
that she can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an
emergency. Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't be
any good if it will only work in and around the house. Ideas anyone?
Brian?

Bill

Bill

Take a look at Doro 6520 phone.Â* It, and some other Doro I think have an
alarm function where if you press a certain button (which feels
different to all the others) it starts calling round pre-programmed
contacts.

I use one as my main mobile as I'm a very heavy talker, and it's light
and robust with good battery life.


The other and I think still available model is the 612. However the 6520
has the advantage that it does 3G as well which means you can use 3-2-1
on 3 and they don't cut you off as a rule.

The panic button is on the back and needs either three quick presses or
one longer press depending on setting. That sets off a siren that runs
for a defined time to attract attention as well as ringing up to five
different numbers it also sends them a text that you have entered. If a
line is answered the recipient is asked to press a button to continue
(to overcome TAMs etc) and if the phone does not hear DTMF within a
predetermined time it drops the call and goes on the the next number. It
will go round the five numbers three times before it gives up. If a call
is answered by a human and it gets the DTMF it switches to a loud
handsfree and the user doesn't even have to hold the phone - just talk
at it.

The display is not only quite large (for a clamshell phone) but the text
size can be adjusted (bigger) so that it can be read by someone with
impaired vision.

It comes complete with charging rest and lanyard.

Finally, as it does not have to do much background work - it isn't smart
- the battery life is akin to that of the infamous Nokia 6310i.

Didn't I write this all up in an earlier post?


--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

"Pamela" wrote in message
...
On 22:28 17 Dec 2018, Woody wrote in
news
On Mon 17/12/2018 21:48, James Heaton wrote:

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
news My friend has had a stroke and it has left her almost completely
blind. Cognitively she seems unaffected. We need some sort of gadget
that she can have on a lanyard to call for someone if she has an
emergency. Presumably this will use the cellphone network. It won't
be any good if it will only work in and around the house. Ideas
anyone? Brian?

Bill

Bill

Take a look at Doro 6520 phone. It, and some other Doro I think
have an alarm function where if you press a certain button (which
feels different to all the others) it starts calling round
pre-programmed contacts.

I use one as my main mobile as I'm a very heavy talker, and it's
light and robust with good battery life.


The other and I think still available model is the 612. However the
6520 has the advantage that it does 3G as well which means you can use
3-2-1 on 3 and they don't cut you off as a rule.

The panic button is on the back and needs either three quick presses
or one longer press depending on setting. That sets off a siren that
runs for a defined time to attract attention as well as ringing up to
five different numbers it also sends them a text that you have
entered. If a line is answered the recipient is asked to press a
button to continue (to overcome TAMs etc) and if the phone does not
hear DTMF within a predetermined time it drops the call and goes on
the the next number. It will go round the five numbers three times
before it gives up. If a call is answered by a human and it gets the
DTMF it switches to a loud handsfree and the user doesn't even have to
hold the phone - just talk at it.

The display is not only quite large (for a clamshell phone) but the
text size can be adjusted (bigger) so that it can be read by someone
with impaired vision.

It comes complete with charging rest and lanyard.

Finally, as it does not have to do much background work - it isn't
smart - the battery life is akin to that of the infamous Nokia 6310i.

Didn't I write this all up in an earlier post?

I found you have to be pretty switched-on to work these "easy to use"
Doro phones. We had the one below and it was full of little extra
fiddly features which detracted from its simplicity and could get a user
tangled up.

https://www.doro.co.uk/doro-secure-580.html


That's nothing like the one I use, it looks a very odd one.

Apparently there's now a 6530 as well with more features.

I think I replied before reading Woody's 1st post.

James