Medic Alert via Smartphone App

Established services may be taken by a smartphone app/service.  The monthly fee could subsidize a smartphone, or subsidize the dongle that would communicate via bluetooth to a smartphone.

http://www.lifestation.com
Annual  $26.95/month
Quarterly  $27.95/month
Monthly  $28.95/month

http://www.medicalalert.com
29.95/month

http://philips.lifelinesystems.com
monthly fee
2 services:
"The standard Lifeline Service provides quick access to help at the push of a button."
"All the benefits of our standard medical alert service plus the only medical alert pendant that can call for help if it detects a fall."
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This hardware starts at $275.  Built on home DIY monitoring system.
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Free smartphone pedometer app:
http://www.amazon.com/Tiger-SmartExercise/dp/B004VSHFI2

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Kyocera, a Japanese company, is manufacturing this device in hardware with an easy-use phone.  In the USA, there is a non-smart phone targeted at elderly that is a stripped-down flip phone with big buttons.

1) Basic cell phone with a simple 2-inch QVGA display, three large buttons (and hardly any other bells and whistles).

2) Pedometer that tracks how many steps the user has taken and sends this data to a caretaker automatically via e-mail.
With GPS module, caretaker can monitor the location of the user and which routes they have taken.
[ Reports from: Pedometer + GPS ]

Sensor into the cradle of the phone which counts the number of times the user passes by the cradle  and emails this data to caretaker.
[ RFID or Bluetooth.  Seems worthless, if Pedometer + GPS is working. ]

3) Alarm function. In the case of an emergency, users can pull strap attached to phone to trigger an alarm sound and send an email to caretaker.
[ Make an RFID pendant to wear around neck that communicates with smartphone and/or charging base. ]
Early earthquake warning function and shortcuts to certain emergency numbers.
[ Add-on features ]