Page 16 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 25, 2023 avavvyvy avvy S iorn oreniioor a avvy iori by Jim Miller Best Medical Alert Systems You Don’t Have to Wear Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any monitored medical alert devices that you know of that don’t require pushing a wearable help button? My 82-year-old father, who lives alone, has fallen twice during the past year but doesn’t like wearing an SOS pendant button. Searching Daughter Dear Searching, Yes, there are actually several monitored medical alert systems and other technologies on the market today that have voice-activated capabilities that let seniors call for help using voice commands, without pushing a wearable help button. These new technologies are very helpful for elderly seniors that live alone who forget, or prefer not to wear a help button, as well as for those who have physical challenges that makes using a help button diffi cult. By simply speaking the “wake words” these devices will connect your dad to a trained dispatcher at a 24/7 monitoring center who will fi nd out what the problem is, and get him the help he needs, whether it’s calling emergency services, or contacting a family member, friend or neighbor to come and help him. All of these technologies also off er family/caregiver smartphone apps that will help you keep tabs on your dad from afar and notify you know if a problem occurs. Hands-Free Medical Alerts Some of the best voice-focused medical alert systems available today are GetSafe, Aloe Care Health and HandsFree Health. Rated by U.S. News & World Report as their No. 1 medical alert system for 2023, GetSafe (GetSafe.com) comes with a cellular base console, voice-activated and push wall buttons, an optional personal help button and fall detection sensors. To call for help your dad would simply say “Call 911” twice and he would be connected to GetSafe’s 24/7 monitoring service. Prices for GetSafe start at $79 plus a $30 monthly monitoring fee. Another highly rated system is Aloe Care Health (AloeCare.com), which comes with a voice-activated Smart Hub and optional wearable help button with fall detection capabilities. This system would connect your dad to the Aloe Care 24/7 monitoring center by simply saying “Emergency” repeatedly until connected. It can also make voice command nonemergency calls to preassigned contacts. Prices start at $150 plus a monthly fee of $30. The WellBe by HandsFree Health (HandsFreeHealth.com) is a nice third option to consider. This comes with the WellBe Medical Alert Speaker that would let your dad call for help by saying “OK WellBe Call Emergency.” WellBe also off ers hands-free calling and messaging to contacts, will answer health questions, and provide reminders for medications and doctor appointments. It also off ers a medical alert watch and pendant (sold separately) with fall detection capabilities. WellBe starts at $100 plus $20/month. Smart Home Solution Instead of a traditional medical alert system, another terrifi c hands-free way to call for help is to get your dad an Amazon Echo device (prices range from $50 to $250) and sign him up for Alexa Together (Amazon.com/AlexaTogether). This is remote caregiving service that will turn his Echo into a medical alert system. To get help your dad would say “Alexa, call for help” to be connected to their 24/7 Urgent Response center. Alexa Together, which costs $20/month, also works with compatible third-party fall detection devices like Vayyar and AltumView. If a fall is detected, Alexa can ask your dad if he needs help, then connect him to the Urgent Response line and alert his emergency contacts. Amazon Echo devices also provide a bevy of other features your dad may fi nd useful. For example, Echo’s will let your dad make hands-free calls, receive reminders, set timers and alarms, control smart home devices, check the weather, play his favorite music and much more. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma INSPECTIONAL SERVICES 215 Pleasant Street, Room 330 Malden, Massachusetts 02148 (781) 397-7000 ext. 2044 City of Malden Massachusetts MALDEN PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING The Malden Planning Board will hold a public hearing in the Herbert L. Jackson Council Chamber, Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 on the petition of James Motzkin, Trustee of the Saratoga Trust and the Malden Realty Trust seeking consent under Title 12, Chapter 32 of the Code of the City of Malden and Section 16 of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, to file a petition seeking a special permit under Title 12, Chapter 28, Section 010(D)(1) of the Code of the City of Malden (Permit Application #CMID 059793-2023) to alter, extend and structurally change a preexisting nonconforming property and use in the Residence A zoning district for continued four-family dwelling use, at a proposed development site to be comprised of two existing parcels to be combined, at the property known as and numbered, 76 Granville Avenue, Malden, MA and by City Assessor’s Parcel ID# 104 712 208 and the property known as Granville Place (no number), Malden, MA and by City Assessor’s Parcel ID #104 712 206. Petition and plans are available for public review in the Inspectional Services Department, City Hall, 215 Pleasant Street, Room 330, Malden, MA and on the City website under Permit Application # CMID-059793-2023 at https://maldenma-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/SelfService#/home By: Diane M. Chuha Clerk August 25, September 1, 2023 INSPECTIONAL SERVICES 215 Pleasant Street, Room 330 Malden, Massachusetts 02148 (781) 397-7000 ext. 2044 City of Malden Massachusetts MALDEN PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING The Malden Planning Board will hold a public hearing in the Herbert L. Jackson Council Chamber, Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 on the petition of Massachusetts Electric Company, doing business as National Grid, (Permit Application # CMID 0566762023) seeking a special permit under Title 12, Chapter 28, Section 090 of the Code of the City of Malden, to allow a utilities facility and substation structure, namely, to construct a new control house, containing 2,232 square feet and to install and/or replace various substation-related equipment, at the property known as and numbered, 0 Broadway and also known as 235 Broadway and by City Assessor’s Parcel ID# 153 501 102. Petition and plans are available for public review in Malden City Hall, Inspectional Services Department, Room 330, 215 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA and on the City website under Permit Application # CMID -056676-2023 at https://maldenma-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/SelfService#/home By: Diane M. Chuha Clerk August 25, September 1, 2023
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