A SAFETY message for The Villages folks
 

We are both in our upper 70s, in OK health, but who knows?

A main health concern for folks our age is falling. I decided to get a warning system if anyone falls in the bedroom or bathroom. I put several of these small air horns near the floor of rooms in our home. IF we fall, and the other one is in another room - especially at night - press the horn and it emits a shrieking sound. Easy to hear in the house, and perhaps nearby outside.

2 are about $9 on Amazon. I bought 6.

It's simply a tool in case of a fall and we are conscious. Cheap money - hope to never use, but....

Sort of unrelated, but related. I'll add this as a PSA.

I'm in my younger 70's. I play golf 4-5 times a week and when I'm up North, I walk those 18 holes (6 miles), at least 3 times per week.

2 Weeks ago, I fell at the golf course (tripped). My Apple Watch did NOT detect my fall for some reason. I spent about 10 minutes lying on the ground. Finally got up and played 7 more holes (1 over for those 7).

Within 3 hours I was on my way to Urgent Care, who transferred me a hospital ... who then sent me by ambulance, to Boston's top hospital. Luckily it's only 3 broken ribs.

My point is, falling is no joke when you get up there in age. I wasn't prepared for this one. Apparently our bones aren't as strong as they were, when we were flying over the handlebars of our bicycles going down hills ... picking up the bike and trying it again.

Thankfully, in 6-8 weeks I'll be back to golf and have less time for ToTV.

So, is it safe to assume the new rock climbing wall in Eastport isn’t high on your “to do list”? You already made the best decision to protect yourselves against falling by moving away from the wintery snow and ice to a place where you shovel sunshine during the winter.

Maybe Apple didn’t detect because of soft landing? Fracture ribs puncture, and the reason for bus ride to hospital?

Did you tell them you finished 7 more holes with one over and definitely drive yourself to a facility? I have tripped in house ceramic floors, apple watch didn’t respond, but the Alexa in the room did. Sent SOS to the kids and my spouse.

Refereeing hockey in my late 60’s few years ago, ended up with couple of bruise and one questionable rib. Apple responded immediately, but it was all medical personnel on site, just taped up, so I continued the game. Didn’t bother with X-ray until i went to the office on Monday. So much for non checking leagues :1rotfl:

Check your Apple app settings maybe fall might be turned off.

Good idea.

Damn Apple Watch "Fall Detection" goes off almost every time I make a Bunker shot at the golf course ... not sure why. So it is properly set. I was shocked it didn't go off.

Complication they're worried about, is an aortic aneurism that's lurking around in there. On my 4th CT Scan in the last 12 days, but so far, so good.

Trust me, the "7 more holes thing" was a subject of laughter from every medical professional I dealt with. I had 1 Dr come just to ask me, if I really was only "+1" for those 7 holes ... he wants a golf lesson ������

This getting old crap, isn't for sissies.

If you have ALEXA devices, they can be used to call someone's phone. "Alexa, call Fred Flintstone" or "Alexa, cal 911".
You can also tell it to make an announcement, or to drop into (chat with) another room's device.
I'd spend money to have one in every room.

A good idea, but be sure to put one near the bath/shower as that is a common "fall point"

Be very careful; my aortic aneurysm measured 4.6 cm, which was being closely monitored by B&W/MG. They run in my family. Both brothers and other relatives have had them. Mine let go and I spent 16 days in B&W. I now have Ultrasounds and CT scans every year. At the time I walked and carried my bag for 18 holes; now use a push cart up north, and golf cart in TV. Seven year anniversary come November, and several years older than you. :thumbup:

Bone builders has specific exercises developed by Tufts University to strengthen bones, help with balance and prevent falls.

I'm 4.6, with 2 other lower ones at 4.2 Yours let go at 4.6? My Vascular guy (at B&W) tells me he won't go near it, until it hits 6.

Apparently not many make it through, depending on where it is. You're lucky.

YES...burst at 4.6. My cardiologist (B&W) indicated they would wait until 5.0 before considering corrective surgery. My younger brother's was smaller and they performed corrective surgery (in Cincinnati). He was in and out in three days. I lost use of, most of my left kidney, and my aorta remains "fluted" for a substantial length. To beat all, they hit my ulna nerve in my right arm after taking me out of the ambulance while preparing for intravenous. My pinky and ring finger are still numb after nearly 7 years. I know I am very lucky and walk 5 to 7 miles a day. Good luck!

Believe it or not, there are classes for senior to learn HOW to fall properly. My wife took a bad fall when the two large dogs she was walking pulled her down backwards and she broke her hip. In this case, it would of been very difficult to fall correctly.

I myself fell in the bathroom and slipped on the wet floor and fell backwards and hit my head and broke my toe. I was lucky I didn't get a concussion. However, if I could of trained myself to learn how to fall correctly, I could of avoided a major injury.

Do the Villages offer such courses? They are somewhat similar to Jujitsu or other self defense classes.

My cellphone is voice activated. I carry it with me everywhere, though when I'm wearing my hearing aids I can leave it anywhere in the house, if I'm anywhere in the house, and it'll hear me if I need it (my microphone is in my hearing aides and they're bluetoothed to the phone).

That's the usual for intervention I'm told, 5.0. Mine's in a tough place, so I guess we're gambling!

Thanks!

I can fall just fine. Landing is where I could use some help? 🤕

Please get a real medical alert device. After extensive research we got mom the Medical Guardian system. It can be warn in shower and taken anywhere. No extra devices to carry in pocket. It has fall detection that works. Everything is in the necklace or bracelet. You don’t have to be next to a monitor to be heard. If you pass out in upright position someone comes upon you they can push button and get instant help by pushing button for you. They will have all your medical info and medication and emergency numbers along with preferred hospital. If you want your love ones can see where you are at anytime. Only $275 for entire year! Those of you who think EMT will look at phone for medical info. They don’t. Medical Guardian even called me when my mom’s battery needed recharging and she didn’t do it. She fell a few times and worked every time. Her pushing button also worked. Think if you are having medical emergency and can’t speak! Think what if you fall and can’t speak or move while going to bathroom in middle of night or taking a shower? You may laugh, but my friend found her father dead and her mother almost dead laying on top of him because her mother had tripped trying to get him up. They had been laying there three days.

nyfd story. A relative responding to an emergency call found a woman wedged between the toilet and the tub. Please treat the bathroom as the dangerous place it is for us. If your alone especially let someone responsible know when your going to shower or bathe. Your loved ones and friends wont mind. Just text them back your okay after you exit. Always make sure your cell phone and or home phone accompanies you in the bathroom also and importantly is within reach not on the other side by the light switches. Do be careful.

I would recommend an Apple Watch for every senior because it does alert the authorities if you fall and don’t respond to the watch warnings in a few seconds. My watch will detect I fell if a shake a salad dressing bottle or I run into PB partner, and my friends Apple Watches do the same for them.

I would suggest an Apple Watch over any of the other methods of alerting if you fall (sirens on the floor, the push button necklaces) because you might fall and hit your head and might be passed out, which you can’t hit a button or siren. Apple Watch will detect this fall and when you don’t respond to the watches warning: “did you fall” it automatically calls for help. Pus you can do a thousand things more things with the watch like: ECG, sleep habits, heart arrhythmias/afib, check mail, ask Siri to do something, on and on

Great idea. Especially for those of us who live with a partner who's hard of hearing.

Yes, Alexa can call a number but, I looked into the 911 calling....$7.95/mo charge if you want it to call 911 😔
However, Siri will call 911 for free....

If you read my Post, you'll see that my brand new Apple Watch Series 11, didn't detect my fall.

Up until 2 weeks ago, I would have agreed with everything you typed and have depended on that safety factor, since Apple Watch Series 4.

That's no longer the case. I fell hard enough to break 3 ribs and not a peep from my Apple Watch.

Alexa will NOT call 911
 

Alexa will NOT call 911. You need to put emergency services in your contact list with the phone number being 911. This I know from experience.

I have Alexa in our bedrooms, family room and kitchen. If someone falls, all they have to do is say "Alexa call...." that can be a family member or 911. My husband actually used this once when he was sick to ask Alexa to call me from another room. My husband also wears an android watch that will call 911 in the event of a hard fall. One thing we did learn is that if you fall and then move in any way, the watch won't call for help. It has to be a hard fall and you not moving.

Alexa will call 911 if you subscribe to their paid service.
Siri will call 911 just with your voice command. Even if your Apple Watch fall detection didn’t activate you could have pushed in the crown and said, “hey siri call 911.”
At home I always make sure my phone is close enough that I can tell SIRI to call 911 , if necessary

LOL.
I am 86 shortly, and I agree falling is easy, but as you say, landing is a problem. Getting up is not that simple either!
Fortunately I have landed fairly softly with the few falls I have had. Just a few bruises and grazes.
My wife and kids have now banned me from ladders, after falling from one last year.
What pees me off most is you know you are going to fall, but are to slow to react.
"You got to be tough to get old!"

Why not just purchase a fall alert you wear around your neck? I got one at Costco online when I had knee surgery and it worked great! I got the alert that follows you out of the house and has a fall alert. Not only do you get a live person if you fall but they will also call others you specify or 911. Yes you do pay for a monthly monitoring service. At the time the device and 3 mos. Monitoring was around $100.

Elderly people, and people living alone should have an Alexa-like device, so in case of need, they can say "Alexa, call the police"... if they can talk... which usually is the case.

Soon, I expect AI-enabled devices that watch you and detect when you are in distress and do not respond.

Apple Watch did not detect fall.
 

Don’t depend on your Apple Watch to detect a fall. My husband had a very bad fall while wearing his watch. The watch did nothing! I won’t go into his injuries. But, they were serious. Both our watches detect a fall when we move our arm quickly. I love my watch. But, you can’t depend on them in an emergency.

I'm in my younger 70's. I play golf 4-5 times a week and when I'm up North, I walk those 18 holes (6 miles), at least 3 times per week.

2 Weeks ago, I fell at the golf course (tripped). My Apple Watch did NOT detect my fall for some reason. I spent about 10 minutes lying on the ground. Finally got up and played 7 more holes (1 over for those 7).

Within 3 hours I was on my way to Urgent Care, who transferred me a hospital ... who then sent me by ambulance, to Boston's top hospital. Luckily it's only 3 broken ribs.

My point is, falling is no joke when you get up there in age. I wasn't prepared for this one. Apparently our bones aren't as strong as they were, when we were flying over the handlebars of our bicycles going down hills ... picking up the bike and trying it again.

Thankfully, in 6-8 weeks I'll be back to golf and have less time for ToTV.[/QUOTE]

Once in the middle of the night, I was coming from the bathroom and tripped over my full-size Springbok and face planted against the corner of my dresser.
I think I passed out and don't know for how long. I just remember waking up and going what the hell. I went to bed & when I got up in the morning I could see I put a gash 1/4 inch above my upper teeth.
Little bit lower and I would've knocked out all my upper front teeth. I got some motion sensor lights that I have at the foot of the bed and in the bathroom so when I get up at night, it lights the room up a little bit. I thought about getting a first alert or something since I live alone. The motion lights are a lifesaver and they're real cheap.

What about the "I've fallen and I can't get up" lanyard?

Problem is when you can’t speak. Get real medical device with fall detection. We got mom Medical Guardian device after researching all the features and convenience compared to others. We also had lock box in with key put on property (not front door) so EMT can get in door.

We got mom Medical Guardian with fall detection. We considered it much better than one you mentioned. It was one device nothing extra to take with you when leave home and waterproof and speaker in device. We also got lockbox that Medical Guardian knew location (not on front door) so they could get in house. Added bonus much less expensive. It worked great on several occasions.

If you're that concerned about falling and can afford it purchase a "panic button necklace, or bracelet." There's a monthly subscription.

If you're that concerned about falling and can afford it, purchase a "panic button necklace or bracelet." There's a monthly subscription.

Air Horns can be used as self defense as well as a non-lethal safety tool i.e.; ward off would be attackers in your car, golf cart, bicycle, walking etc.

Actually if the concern is within the house one could buy professional referee whistle. Wear around neck, instead of carrying a can. You can hear that whistle even outside the home.

Springbok?
 

:confused: