Can You Use Alexa as a Medical Alert for Elders?

If you have an elderly parent who lives alone, you might worry about them a lot. An emergency could happen at any time, and it can be challenging for them to get to their phone. Can you use Alexa as a medical alert for elders?

You can use Alexa as a medical alert for the elderly. With Alexa's voice assistant technology, you can rest assured that your parents are safe at home. From reminding them to take their medicines, detecting when they fall, and answering their commands, Alexa is the real deal.

In this article, I'll provide an in-depth explanation of how Alexa works for the elderly. I'll also explain how to set it up, what medical alert features it has, and if it's good for the visually impaired. Let's dive right in!

How Does Alexa Work for the Elderly?

Alexa is a handy voice-activated assistant you can use to manage several devices in your home. She can make life a breeze for your elderly parent through the following ways:

1. Alexa Notifies a Buddy When You Need Help

One of the most crucial components of Amazon Alexa is its ability to notify a friend when you need help. This is through the 'askmybuddy' feature, where you can set up a friend to contact during an emergency. The great thing about this program is that it can alert several friends simultaneously.

Before using it you can activate it by saying something along the lines of "Alexa, I need help from my buddy."

Here's how to set up Buddy on your Alexa:

1. Open askmybuddy.net and register your free account.
2. Go to the Alexa app on your phone, where you'll see a menu icon on the far left side.
3. Click on the horizontal lines.
4. Scroll to the dropdown box and select Skills and Games.
5. There's a glass icon in the right corner. Click on it and type "buddy."
6. Select The Ask My Buddy skills.
7. Complete your registration by following the prompts.

Ask My Buddy is free if you have fewer than five contacts and use fewer than 10 notifications in a month. After that, you'll incur some additional charges. With its premium edition, however, you can have five more contacts on your list and even call 911 during emergencies, making it well worth the additional money.

2. Alexa Provides Reminders

If your elderly parent struggles with memory retention, Alexa can help. Here's how she can add value:

• Reminding them where they left their phone
• Reminding them about a doctor's appointment
• Reminding them about a family gathering
• Reminding them to replace the air filter in the furnace

You can use Alexa to track important days using the Echo Show, which displays the calendar, making it easy for the elder to use. With this program, you can also video call your parents as long as you mutually connect it to your devices.

Using the Alexa Calendar

Alexa's calendar is easy to use, and all you need to do is ask her what's on it. With a simple voice command, you can even delete or add events to your calendar and invite various contacts to the events you have on your calendar.

After that, Alexa will ask you for the details about the event, such as the time and the event's name. After telling her, she'll reschedule and email the concerned persons.

Alexa can also send the elderly reminders and notifications, like alerting them when they should take their medicine.

For some seniors, forgetting where they put their phones can be a hassle. Thanks to Alexa, they can just ask her, "Alexa, where did I put my phone?" and she will tell them exactly where they left it.

3. Alexa Helps with Transportation

If your elderly parent no longer drives, it doesn't mean they can't run errands or meet up with friends. With the help of Alexa, the elder can use the Amazon Echo Medical Alert (through the SOS My Family app) to request an Uber or Lyft Ride.

1. Ask Alexa to request an Uber or Lyft Ride.
2. As a first-timer, you'll need to give your default pick-up address. Alexa will then retain this address for future rides.
3. You can also ask Alexa for the type of car you want to ride in, whether small, medium or big.
4. You can also ask Alexa how far away the Uber is.
5. If you'd like to, you can tell Alexa to cancel your Uber ride.

4. Alexa Has the Lifepod Caregiving Feature

Lifepod is one of Alexa's most interactive features and goes a step further than Ask My Buddy. It will definitely enhance your elderly parent's life.

For example, if the senior is in intense pain, they can tell Alexa. Lifepod will immediately pick it up, text the caregiver, and alert them that something's wrong. It is also a one-stop program for news, reminders, and calendar notifications.

5. Alexa Manages a Shopping List

Alexa can allow your elderly parent to share their shopping list with you. Whenever they need groceries, toiletries, medicine, and other household items, they can put that on their list.

1. Navigate to the Alexa app on your device.
2. Scroll to the bottom. In the right corner, click on the three horizontal lines.
3. Select the Notes and Lists.
4. Enter the list's name, and then confirm.
5. Open the list and type your items.
6. If you want to remove anything, tick the box near that item.

6. Alexa Eases Boredom

Thanks to Alexa, seniors don't have to stay bored with the caregivers at their house. The elderly person can still connect to the outside world from the comfort of their couch. All they have to do is to command Alexa to call or send someone a text message.

According to recent studies, this can allow them to still have an active social life, which is great for memory.

7. Alexa Has a Drop-In Feature

Alexa has a drop-in feature that remotely links a user to an Alexa-enabled device. Thanks to this feature, the elderly person can stay safe by monitoring what may be happening in other rooms of their house.

8. Alexa Can Detect Falls

The Alexa Together program has various safety features that are ideal for elderly people:

• Emergency responsive services
• Monitoring
• Fall detection

This program was created in September 2021 and partners with Vayyar and SkyAngel Care to provide the best services to your elderly.

Nevertheless, it's critical to employ a safety-first approach by ensuring your senior has a sturdy walker that reduces their fall risk. If you are looking for a walker that is worth the money, I recommend checking out the Able Life Space Saver Rollator on Amazon.

How Do You Activate Alexa for Medical Alerts?

To activate Alexa for medical alerts, you'll need a smartwatch, tablet or cell phone, and an Alexa Echo device. You should install the SOS My Family Application.

1. Download the Alexa app from the Apple app store or Google play store.
2. You'll see three distinct lines. Tap on them, and you'll see "More." Click "Add Device"
3. Now you can see features like the Echo and Echo dot plus. Scroll until you see the Amazon Echo, and then click on it.
4. Connect to the Amazon Echo. You'll know that the device is linked once you see an orange dot.
5. Move to the settings of the echo dot of your phone.
6. Put your Wi-Fi on. Then locate where the Alexa speaker room is.

Can You Make Phone Calls With Alexa to a Landline?

You can make phone calls with Alexa to a landline. This is a very handy feature. You can also use this voice-over technology to order pizza, book appointments, or call various companies.

What Medical Alert Features Does Alexa Have?

Alexa has excellent medical and emergency alert features for your elderly parent to use.

You'll need to set up some people on their emergency contact list. When there is an emergency, and they say something like, "Alexa, call my emergency contact," it will immediately bring that person's name up.

Is Alexa Good for the Elderly?

Alexa is good for the elderly. However, her suitability for the elderly depends on how well they can use the device.

If they have speech or hearing problems or are experiencing memory challenges, it would be best to simplify tasks for them. You can achieve this by using Amazon's Echo Show to keep in touch with your elderly parent.

To get the most out of your Alexa device, check out my article detailing essential tips for using Alexa to care for elders. 11 Essential Tips for Using Alexa for Elderly Parents

Can Alexa Help the Visually Impaired?

Alexa can help the visually impaired. Since you only need to use your voice to activate it, visually impaired seniors only need to instruct it for it to work.

Conclusion

Instead of making the difficult decision to move your elderly parents out of their home, consider using Alexa to improve their quality of life and safety. Alexa can help them to remain as independent as possible, while still giving you the peace of mind that they are safe.

About Chip Mitchell

Chip Mitchell is the founder of Growing Gray USA. With over a decade of experience owning a home care company, he has helped hundreds of families navigate the complexities of caring for aging parents.