The invention provides personal emergency response systems (PERS) with expanded life-saving capabilities. One embodiment of the invention provides a wearable PERS pendant that incorporates a cell phone transmitter or transceiver, a GPS location system, an accelerometer-based fall detector that automatically triggers an alert, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) recorder permitting a remote service center or medical personnel to receive and respond to transmitted alerts and electrocardiographic data.