When the person is left alone, access to a telephone is important. Land lines in some geographical areas are connected with emergency services with the address of the caller posted on each service's screen. Dialling 911, 000 or 999 will bring help if the person can reach the phone.
Portable alarm buttons that people can wear and notify services if the person is unconscious are currently available but expensive. Portable buttons that require being conscious to push the button are not as expensive.
Non-emergency telephone use depends on what telephone technology the person is accustomed to using. Familiar phones and numbers are often used within the person's habitual pattern of performance. When they are functioning in ACL 4 High, they may be taught how to use a new device through rote learning.
The rare person develops a habit of making nuisance calls that can be blocked by answering services or modern technology. The few people who have established a set pattern of placing these calls can be nearly impossible to stop and usually function between ACL 4.6 and 5.4. Recommend an answering service or an answering machine.
Within ACL 4 High, the person might be able to learn to use a new cell or smart phone with repetitive training. These phones could protect them if they get lost in the community when they are able to recognise that they are lost and can initiate a call for help.