Help at Hand Emergency Telephone Dialer

This is a wonderful product. We got it for my mother-in-law who is ill and needs to summon us throughout the day. It has three alarm levels, so we can hear it wherever we are in the house. (We have a very large house.) I was able to set up the phone numbers quite easily. We tested it out and it called the numbers I programmed into it. I would recommend this product.

I purchased this for my mother but I sent it back. The instructions were hard to understand; it said one thing in the instructions but the practical application was reversed. I had to record an emergency recording but when played back the static was terrible and it was hard to understand. I actually gave it two stars because there was a return policy and when I called the company for help they actually called me back. Maybe I got a defective unit but there were too many problems to warrant trying it again.

Alright, here are the honest pros: The package arrived four days after ordering. It was reasonably well-packaged. Like another reviewer here, I tested it out- not with an emergency number- but my own home phone number; it worked. I took the pendant a considerable distance from the base and tested the call and panic buttons; it worked as well. My Mother has arthritis, but was able to pull the emergency ring (the method by which one activates the emergency call feature of the device) without much difficulty, while it seemed to me that the ring was secured firmly enough to prevent it's being pulled accidentally. The device did not seem to impart any static or interference to normal phone use. Finally, the instructions did not seem overly complicated to me and the proper jacks were reasonably well-indicated.The Cons: I arrived at my Mother's two days after the package arrived. I opened it, and immediately noticed that the label was peeling off (the label that says "Helping Hand" in the picture of the device) I wouldn't normally be concerned by a mere label, but the casing of the device has open holes underneath the label, exposing the inner circuitry. I was half-tempted to return the device, but as I would be leaving my Mom's house shortly, there isn't anyone else to set it up for her and she lives a considerable distance away, I decided to keep it. My concern for the long-term operation of this device was compounded by the fact that it only comes with a 90-day warranty.As noted by another reviewer, the message you record can end up quite static-y and difficult to understand. The person I had help me testing the device could not quite understand my message until I recorded it very slowly and enunciated very carefully. The method by which you set the emergency numbers to call would most likely be moderately difficult for the average senior, as it involves repeated use of a very tiny switch (And is somewhat confusing, especially when setting up multiple numbers, as another reviewer mentioned).Among other devices of similar nature available here on Amazon, this one is among the least expensive. Price was not a consideration when I selected this device. I figure if my Mom ever needs help she's gonna need it in a hurry, with as few complications as possible. I think the fundamental design of this product best fits those needs: You don't need to hold a button for a certain length of time like you do with others- what if she's on the verge of passing out? You don't need to speak if you're already unconscious- being able to play a pre-recorded message is about the best way, I think.I just can't get over that receding label exposing the electronics ( I had to secure it with tape; it wouldn't stay down) and that 90 day warranty.

If you live in Iowa and program this device to dial 911 you are violating Iowa State law. I do not know if it is legal in other states.

Great for elderly people. Saved my Mother twice.

Seemed nicely put together and instructions were good but I returned solely on the basis of pendant with it's ring that you actually pull out being 1) too difficult for my Mom to pull out and 2) concern that the ring would get lost