Amazon Alexa Together for Safety Elder Care -- Aging in Place

[Anonymous]

Has anyone used the Alexa Together system instead of getting a senior emergency alert button for elders who are aging in place? If so, can you share your experience? Trying to find something that is suitable and affordable. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I don't know if what you're referencing is a different service or not, but I have used Amazon echoes all throughout my house for years and find it super helpful to reach my family members - husband and kids. I actually am moving my mom into a senior independent living apartment soon which comes with the medical alert button, but I was planning on also giving her two of my echoes for her 1 bedroom apartment since she will be in another state. This will allow me (if tied to my own Amazon account) to drop in on her and make sure she's okay when/if she doesn't answer her phone.

My mom loves the current echo she is borrowing from a different family member (she loves to listen to music on it), but because it's tied to their Amazon account, I can't use it to "drop in" and reach her currently like I would like to.

Also, if your parent is bad with technology you might need to leave some index card reminders on how to use the Echo. I did this for my mom in the beginning when she couldn't remember "Alexa".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone used the Alexa Together system instead of getting a senior emergency alert button for elders who are aging in place? If so, can you share your experience? Trying to find something that is suitable and affordable. Thanks!

I would not use it 'instead' of an emergency alert button/necklace. My parents had a devastating fall last summer (disabled Dad fell and knocked down Mom who was helping him remove his shoes. They laid on the bathroom floor for 7 hours and Mom had a badly broken hip. No button then although me and brother had pressed for it, they have it now!) and I'm certain that an Alexa would not have heard them. Or if the senior fell in the garage or on the back deck. I think an Alexa could be helpful for dropping in and I'm following this thread to learn about it.

[Anonymous]

My mom recently mentioned wanting an Alexa and I was looking up whether we should hook them up to our account or get them their own. Alexa Together might be what we need, but I'm interested to see if people think it's worth the extra subscription cost. I'm worried that if they were on our account they might send reminders to our echo and vice versa. I need to keep it simple for them.