What are some good devices to help seniors who live alone?
When my 80-something-year-old grandmother was living independently in her apartment, I looked for such devices. I looked into the Life Alert, I guess that’s what it’s called, and best I could tell, it was more of a racket than anything else. My grandma had an alarm system, and I looked into upgrading that with the varied features they presented. Here’s what I eventually found out the best appliance was for her: the TELEPHONE. She had both a landline and a cell phone. Some older adults have difficulty keeping their cell phones charged.
So you may need to check on that, perhaps daily. And if you can get them to do it, it’s nice if they keep it in their pocket all the time, in case they fall. With telephones, someone can call them once or twice a day. If there is no answer for a specific amount of time, then it’s time for someone to go to their home and check on them.
I know it’s pricey, but I believe a live-alone senior should have both a landline and a cell phone if feasible. If not, you only have to ensure that they keep a cell phone charged. Plus, don’t forget to put the best contact number on the older person’s phone on speed dial.