Our elders and Philips LifeLine

[Alejandro Concolor]

Just a fair warning if anyone is considering getting one of the senior citizens in their life a WIRELESS LifeLine unit. After we got my Grandmother all set up we found out that the box wouldn’t work. It had two bars of signal, which is the minimum requirement for them to give it the OK. But when we tested it and pushed the button for an emergency, it would attempt the call for about 3 minutes, then the signal bars would drop completely out. Then after another couple minutes the box would say, “your call cannot be completed. Please move your unit to another location in the home.” —-how the heck would a person be able to do that if they had just fallen. Or if they were having a heart attack... and had already been waiting for 5 minutes just to hear that.
The Reason Being: Philips runs their equipment off of AT&T cell towers. But they neglected to inform us of that little fact when convincing us to get this machine. Yet when we called to ask why the machine wasn’t working, they Stupervisor was quick to point out that that was our problem- as if we should have already known. And after talking to the technician in our area, come to find out he knows nothing about that little fact either.
Something to consider if you have a senior in your life. Check the AT&T signal strength in that area/home.
Thanks for listening.
There’s also a video of exactly how it goes down in an emergency call. There’s a little down time in the middle of the video, but imagine if you were hurt and waiting for a response.

 

[oakwilt]

Thank you for the heads-up. Corporate America has been enjoying a free ride on blatant abuses of power and by us exposing the truths to each other, we may have a chance to alter these deadly abuses.
I also depend on reliability of technology in order to live. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The St. Jude defibrillator implant is a prime example of the race to market without oversight or regulation. Over 600,000 devices were implanted worldwide for over 8 years. Now all in recall but surgeons informed to "downplay" the fear as remedial costs far exceed the profits first realized. I have hard copy of the internal memos sent to district reps. The end game is sudden death.
There are sensible reasons Europe refuses to allow market-driven untested products from U.S. companies into the EU yet we condemn these policies and aggressively pursue political gamesmanship to muscle into and destroy other's rights to life and determination. By talking we can change this. By educating ourselves we can restore respect for life over the "more jobs" bullshit. That certainly includes religious brainwashing and right-wing profit entitlements.
Cancer caused by tech or faulty science can be successfully addressed, but swimming farther into the deep end of marketing mania only accelerates the tragedy.
It's time consumers call home the roosting turkeys and demand change.

 

[oakwilt]

By the way...
Taping the antenna of the transmitter unit to a window closest to the cell tower, even if it's over 5 miles away will allow enough signal to get the data thru. Like a repeater works. The only problem is she'll need to stay in the room the transmitter is located. Move her bed and entertainment there. It will increase her chances to live a bit.

 

[oakwilt]

Or you can also lobby the owner of the tower to increase signal strength..they go by population numbers. Inform her neighbors to enjoin this effort.

 

[JD3000]

The only folks I trust less than the government are many large corporations. Time and time again they show that profitability is their only concern.

 

[oakwilt]

They have both become the same. Look at who every agency head comes from. Agencies created democratically to enforce protections now permitting violations from.

You can located cell towers and the owners online. Inquire and maybe change the adjustments needed to insure she gets her paid due from the services claimed but more importantly, her life can continue relatively protected as expected and hoped for.

 

[JeffGu]

I have the version of the device designed for old drunks.
It calls them up and says, "Help! I've fallen and I can't reach my beer!"

Really, those services prey on the elderly. Few of them work as claimed.

 

[JD3000]

And to think all this time I thought it was you preying on the elderly.

Lesson learned I guess.

 

[oakwilt]

It's also a necessity to lawyer-up when necessary. If that doesn't work, your lawyer can lawyer-up too.

 

[JeffGu]

And, you can aways claim the first guy wasn't actually your lawyer.

 

[adaycj]

I really pushed my parents into a smart phone a few years back. They were mostly still using a land line.

I know the specific "life line" devices have advantages in the way they are (supposed) to work that a phone cannot replicate. On the other hand, once my parents got addicted to the phone they have in on them or near them all the time. With "hold buttons to call 911" type of systems it is still a piece of mind of sorts. They can also setup emergency contacts to call me in the event they need me. Since they are mainstream devices the basic functionality is usually sorted.

While I don't usually agree with conspiracy theories, in this case I agree that there are many businesses that take advantage of senior citizens. Hearing aids, home alarm systems, and some financial services are a few I have direct experience with.

 

[oakwilt]

It's no "theory" that Scott Pruitt is head of the EPA. Or why.
Every single other Agency as well.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

AARP has a reputation of looking out for the interests of plus 50's

Worth using them in a 'consumers report' sort of way