I just discovered a new use for my Amazon Alexa. I live alone and have wondered what would happen if I fell and couldn’t get up. Yes, they sell devices which will summon help for you but you have to have them with you all the time and it would be my luck I wouldn’t have it on. They generally charge about $49 monthly. Here’s where my Amazon Alexa comes in. I just went about 25 feet from one of my Alexa devices and asked Alexa to call a number for me. (I had her dial my house phone). She put the call through easily. And I if I feel it’s necessary, I can buy another couple Echo Dots for about $30 each. I can locate them around the condo and even in the garage. Unlike the commercial help services, there’s no monthly fee. If I ever need to call 911 for help, I’m sure I can yell loud enough for one of my units to hear me and follow my command.

Obviously this was “my solution” and I never suggested that it was better than subscribing to a monitored security system but for me it’s cheaper and the likelihood that it would “be there” if needed is greater for me. (I’m surprised at the number of folks who were critical of my plan and said things like “What if you were unconscious?”)