@Karen- well, I do appreciate the 'relatively young' part. If an elderly person has a stroke or a fall, chances are good they aren't standing up, walking 30 feet to the land line and placing a call to 911. A cell phone would be a much better bet, it is small, portable and easy to use.

Its 2011, most of us don't live in the wild boonies of no cell service. Most of us don't fall or have a stroke, and if we do, well...we aren't getting up to call 911. I would still kick the land line to the curb. I did, and haven't ever looked back. I am also pretty eager and open to change. For my age.