Dementia, 911 calls, & programmable phones - HELP!

[Chuck Dye]

With contributions from a variety of medical issues, my mother is in her end stage.  The newest problem is dementia and the use of 911 when she should use the nurses' call button.  The sledgehammer cure proposed by the care facility is to have her phone service provider set the service to incoming only, a solution I dislike for a number of reasons.  Does anyone know if a programmable phone exists that can be programmed to translate 911 into the appropriate in house number?  Not an ideal solution, I know, but better than incoming only.  My search skills are not turning up anything useful.

[vaskidmark]

Need more info on the type of phone being used and they system it is working on.

Some phones with "favorites" can be worked to that high a number, and then you can set it to actually dial whatever number you want.

There are "emergency" phones http://assistivetechnologyservices.com/seniorsecuritysystem.html (OK, it has lots of other gizmos you may not want/need) that dial preselected numbers instead of 9-1-1.

Contact your local Agency on Aging to see if they have no- or low-cost stuff to loan out.

stay safe.

[roo_ster]

With contributions from a variety of medical issues, my mother is in her end stage.  The newest problem is dementia and the use of 911 when she should use the nurses' call button.  The sledgehammer cure proposed by the care facility is to have her phone service provider set the service to incoming only, a solution I dislike for a number of reasons.  Does anyone know if a programmable phone exists that can be programmed to translate 911 into the appropriate in house number?  Not an ideal solution, I know, but better than incoming only.  My search skills are not turning up anything useful.

I recall a "kid's" cell phone that had something like three buttons on it: one that looked like a man, another that looked like a woman, and another that looked like a fireman's hat.  They corresponded with Dad, Mom, and Emergency (911).

I would imagine one could either progrma the kid phone to not allow 911 or to physically disable the button.

Here is one, without the 911 button:
http://www.fireflymobile.com/store/glowphone/

[roo_ster]

More options:

http://www.amazon.com/LG-Verizon-VX1000-battery-DOWNLOAD/dp/B002DWXW58/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1340734771&sr=1-2&keywords=kid+cell+phone

http://www.amazon.com/LifeGuardian-Senior-Phone-Detector-Button/dp/B008BSZ70G/ref=sr_1_20?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1340734940&sr=1-20&keywords=simple+kid+cell+phone

[Hutch]

May God give you strength and grace, and your mother a peaceful and dignified exit.

[Chuck Dye]

Thanks, folks!  We are spiraling in on a solution.  It appears that Obihai Technologies  gadgetry will do the job of converting 911 into a call to the nurses' station.  E-mail to Obihai has been sent.  The issue, if the gadget performs as required, will then be to get it installed and set up.  As the nearest family member, I am 920 miles away.  As has been said, not for sissies.

[MrsSmith]

Could you set the 9 as a speed dial number to you?

I have no idea how these things work. I just know I used to be able to set numbers as speed dials, but I guess I probably still had to hit send. I don't recall.

[Chuck Dye]

That will require some testing, difficult to do from 920 miles away.  On my cellular phone, speed dialing requires holding down the speed dial number:  nine-one-one risks a big fine if there is no real emergency, speed dialing demands niiiiiiine (-one-one or anything else.)  I am hoping that an Obihai Technologies gadget, or similar, will work in the absence of the VoIP hookup.  The current alternatives call for disabling outgoing calls, bad, or hospice staff unplugging Mom's phone each night before they depart, potentially worse.  I am still hoping for a diversion gadget.

[Doggy Daddy]

Where is your mom?  Perhaps we have a member nearby that could help with setting up a solution.

[vaskidmark]

http://assistivetechnologyservices.com/twowaytalkthroughalertsystemwithnomonthlyfees.html dials 9-1-1 only but lets you answer incoming calls as well

http://assistivetechnologyservices.com/guardianmedicalalert.html  dials 9-1-1 only.  After my last scare I got one because it was a real struggle to get to the real phone that was about 5 feet away.  I wear it "just in case".

All you need to do is have someone plug them in between the phone jack and her existing phone.  (Or, take away her existing phone and plug directly to the jack so all she has is 9-1-1 access -- don't know how much you want to consider doing that).

stay safe.

[MrsSmith]

I think he's trying to AVOID her calling 911.

[Chuck Dye]

And the fines threatened.

We have hospice care which may be extended to 24 hours and solve the 911 problem in passing.  Meanwhile we are still hunting for a gadgetry solution.

[gunsmith]

 good luck with everything, maybe a facility with more experience with dementia can offer some advice.

[vaskidmark]

I think he's trying to AVOID her calling 911.

Oh, yeah.  Heat's gotten to me.  Sorry.

stay safe.

[Chuck Dye]

Obihai says their gadget will divert a call in a strictly land line setup, no VOIP:  Mom dials 911, the call goes to the nurses' station.  That and heavy daily reinforcement of the call button drill should do the trick.

Thanks for the help and encouragement.