My mom fell down last month and broke her shoulder. She fell down again the other night (she's fine, didnt get hurt, just couldnt get up without help because of the broken shoulder) We were home, and I had to call my aunt to help my dad pick up my mom with a belt.

I'm just worried that she'll fall down again when she's home alone, since there are times when I have to leave and cant take her with me. My dad still works. (he's thinking of retiring soon tho) I want to go back to school, I'm just scared to leave her home alone, and dont think it would be very fun for her to go to school with me.

I've seen commercials for Life Alert, and I'm wondering if they're a good company. Or, if there are other similar companies out there. Does anyone here use Life Alert or similar companies?? Is it worth the money??

I want to do the research on companies like that before I suggest it to my dad.

Anyone here know anything about companies like Life Alert??

I'd sooner have her carry a cell phone on her person at all times and have her call 911. The cost of a subscription for one of those button thingies along with another gadget seem a little much to me.

There is also elder care, a sort of babysitter for the elderly or infirm.

Hi Erin,
I'd consider getting a sitter because if I understand it correctly those monitoring companies only send assistance after someone has a misshap.

If you have a sitter that can help your Mom transfer, get what it is she's looking for, orient her or assist with ambulation that might be a safer way to prevent a fall.

She can walk, she just falls down very easily.

Right now, I'm the sitter. Since she's currently "lefty" for the duration, I've been trying to help her a lot.

Since she broke her shoulder, and that's an uncomfortable break, very painful, she's been having to sleep in her recliner (luckily she has one that lifts her up and out electronically) Her recliner is just outside my parents bedroom door, so my dad sleeps with the door open so he can hear her if she needs something.

The past few mornings, I've been getting up at 5am and going upstairs to sleep on the couch in the living room so that my mom wont be alone and I can help her get comfortable and keep her company while we both sleep. (strangely enough, I think this is actually helping me with the insomnia. I'm actually getting sleep for once!)

I'm starting to get a serious complex about her falling. I watched her fall the other night (she's ok, didnt hurt herself) and now it's driving me nuts if I have to leave her alone for any reason.

She wont carry the cellphone with her (she's always "hot" when we're at home and wont wear anything that would be convenient to carry a phone in her pocket) I'm also not sure if she would remember how to open her cellphone, turn it on and remember the phone numbers to call for help.

I asked my dad about it today, he told me to keep researching. At least my sister is moving back to town next month, so maybe we can take turns with my mom then.

I know they mentioned getting a sitter, there are some companies out there such as care angels that are not medically based and are just there to fill in for times when you need to run errands, etc. Here is their website if you are interested: http://www.visitingangels.com/default.asp

You might want to look into your local community, I know a lot of the churches in my area offer things like Bingo, or knitting and reading clubs for different ages and scheduled at different times. Maybe she would be interested in attending some of these social things while you are out running errands?

Just a thought. Also maybe check with your local volunteer rescue squads, they are usually great sources for community help and may be able to point you in the right direction for finding some help.

Do you have Verizon service by chance? They have a phone called the "Knack" that has easy to use features and a button just for 911. If you do have their service then she could have a line for about $10 per month for emergency use. Or you could get a prepay phone with them similarly if you don't have service with them currently.

How long is she supposed to be out of commission with the broken shoulder? Could you sign up for classes and be ready to start by the time she has use of her broken shoulder again?

Another suggestion is online college. They have some very good ones out there and you do it all from the convenience of your home computer or laptop.

She has a phone, (we use sprint) it's a flip phone that she's had since 2002, and I'm just not all that sure at how well she can flip it open and remember my phone number. (she's been using the house phone to call my cell when she needs me upstairs...easier than yelling)

The shoulder is estimated to take about four months to heal (she's a month into the break...and she had the surgery about two weeks ago to pin and plate the bones)

For the schooling that I want to do, I might just do the online school. At least for some of it, if they have the classes I want. I'm just hoping that the MS doesnt pop up again as soon as I sign up for classes (like it usually does...the MS doesnt want me to go to school)...or even worse, get a few weeks into the classes.

My neighbor used to have an emergency service (wore the button necklace). They have a call list. I'd get the first call, then the next neighbor and so forth. (She didn't have any family to help her). So you could put yourself as #1 on your Mom's call list if you wanted.

The button device my Dad had only dialed 911 (automatically when pushed), but there was no monthly service fee. You just bought the thing and hooked it up. You did need to do a trial run so that 911 knew what was going on and who they should send for help.

Good luck to you and your dear Mom. Hope she gets healed up quickly.

I'm just so freaked out by how easily she was hurt, and how easily she falls down now. I've had a lot of anxiety the past month now just living in fear she's going to take a worse fall.

I'm about to get out the bubblewrap and turn my mommy into a mummy of bubblewrap.

It is weird tho, that my insomnia seems to have finally let up a little bit with all the anxiety going on. I sleep in my room for a few hours at night, and then sleep upstairs on the couch in the same room as my mom starting when my dad leaves for work. I havent been falling asleep at my computer desk in the middle of the afternoon. Very strange. I'm sleeping better.

which reminds me...I think I'll go lay down now since it's almost 2am and I've got to be upstairs at 530. (I could sleep up there, but I want to fall asleep watching Redeye on Foxnews. Havent been able to watch that for a few days)

CVS has a call button that costs about $30 a month. We considered it for mom but she never knows when a seizure is coming on and if she did, she wouldn't push the darn things anyway. BUT, they call the house first and then the family and paramedics from what I understand.

http://www.medicalalertsystem.com/index.html