Hi Erin,
Call chimes and alerting systems are so essential for patients with ALS.   I wrote quite a few blogs on Alerting Systems and Call Chimes last year.  They might be helpful.
 
Here is the specific entry that addresses alerting systems like Life Alert, that function when patients are "Home Alone"
http://www.voiceforliving.com/2010/06/home-alone-ideas-for-emergency-alerting-systems/
 
I am currently recommending Philip's Life Alert for my ambulatory patients since it has Auto Alert Fall Detection.  I have already had one report from a family that it did work when a their mom fell. 
 
 
Below is another entry that gives ideas for Call Chimes (and call chimes with alternative access)  for calling to a caregiver in another room.  
http://www.voiceforliving.com/2010/05/call-chimes-when-a-handbell-won%e2%80%99t-do-the-trick/
 
Since I wrote the above entry I have started using the MedLab Portable alarm more and more often. http://www.medlabsinc.com/Med_Labs/PA-1_ALARM.html
It  is not wireless but I do trust it more than the wireless ones (which can be a bit

finicky).  FYI- To adapt the Portable Alarm to work with the 1/8" switches that we all use, just get a $3 adapter at Radio Shack (1'4" mono male to 1/8" mono female)

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A third entry I wrote gives instructions for sending text messages from your DynaVox system as a form of a call chime.
http://www.voiceforliving.com/2010/09/wouldn%e2%80%99t-it-be-nice/
 
And a 4th tell about ways to use call chimes on your SGD.  This is an important SGD strategy I like to teach patients. 
 
http://www.voiceforliving.com/2010/08/how-to-use-your-speech-generating-device-as-a-multi-purpose-alerting-system-part-one/
 

Sincerely,

Amy Roman, MS, CCC-SLP
Augmentative Communication Specialist

Forbes Norris ALS Research Center
2324 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
P (415)600-1263
F (415)673-5184



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--- On Thu, 8/25/11, Erin Singleton <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Erin Singleton <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Life Alert
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thursday, August 25, 2011, 10:07 AM

Good morning everyone,
 
I was asked recently by a patient which âLife Alertâ type of service I suggested. It got me thinking that I am not all that sure what the various options are. Does anyone have a good list of options of all the various alerting systems there are for patients out there to wear in case of emergencies? Any information on this would be helpful. If there is not already a list out there I wouldnât mind compiling one on my own with everyoneâs ideas.
 
Thanks in advance!
 
Erin Singleton M.A., CCC-SLP
Neuroscience Outpatient Rehabilitation Center
2335 East Kashian Lane, Suite 301
Fresno, California 93701
Office: (559) 459-6056
Fax: (559) 459-2957
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
 
 

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