Seniors want to know they can send a call for help and receive it, especially when there is the Covid‐19 epidemic. Some elderly people find their independence very important. They want to continue living in their own homes instead of going in a nursing home or another care facility. Medical alert systems can help elderly people stay safe and continue living in their houses. These systems are recommended for those who have health problems and live alone. Whether it’s a medical issue, a fall, a fire, or another emergency that requires an instant response, the click of a panic button will provide help.

What Is a Medical Alert System?

A medical alert system is designed to detect an emergency requiring an urgent reaction and to summon medical personnel. Generally, these systems have 2 components:
● a portable device (a necklace pendant, a bracelet, or a belt clip) with a help button;
● a base station that uses either a telephone line or a cellular connection and has a
microphone/speaker unit.

It works like this. If urgent assistance is needed, a person pushes the button and signals to emergency personnel that attention is required. Communication is hold via the base station. The dispatcher/agent determines the exact help the care recipient needs. The dispatcher can continue communication until
help arrives. If the person is unable to reach the base unit to reply to the agent, they will call people on the client’s emergency contact list before dispatching medical personnel or the authorities. Some modern systems provide real-time indicators of the user’s well-being to the agent for medical diagnosis and advice. Fall detection feature provide additional protection. If the sensor in an alarm device records a fall, it automatically activates a call for help.

Why a Medical System Is a Necessity

Annually, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. Younger generation is susceptible to falls. But older adults need special care. As a person ages, their mobility, strength, and sensory faculties can weaken. 1 out of 5 falls results in a serious injury, such as a bone fracture or head injury.
With this in mind, a quick response to any emergency is the best way to minimize the results of not only falls, but other medical issues. The mortality rate is 5 times higher for people who lay incapacitated for 12 hours after the fall than in those who get immediate help.

Tips on Choosing the Best Medical Alert System:

So, you are ready to make a purchase. Chances are you’ve never bought medical alarm equipment and don’t really understand what product you need. This concise advisor can help you make the right choice.

Here is what you should look for:

1. Reliable Equipment.

All medical alarm providers claim that their equipment is long-lasting. Make a test to verify whether the devices can withstand a fall.
The pendant should be worn all the time, even in the shower. Indeed, bathroom presents the highest risk for falls in a house. So, find a waterproof wireless transmitter that works even after it is submerged in water.

2. The form of pendant.
Some stubborn seniors refuse to take their pendants with them when they go out due to the belief that it makes them appear weak and frail. If this stigma is a problem in your case, choose an alert smartwatch which doesn’t look like a medical alarm device but still performs its function.

3. Ease of use.
A health alert and monitoring system should be user-friendly for both the elderly user and caregivers. Fortunately, most of the products are quite simple. Users don’t have to be tech-savvy to quickly learn to operate them.

4. Price.
Home-based monitoring monthly fees range from $16 to $30. On-the-go monitoring costs about $40 on average. Plus, you can pay $10 for automatic fall detection.

5. In-home vs. mobile system.
A home-based system is a perfect choice for people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and don’t go anywhere. The range of functioning can extend from 100 to 1,600 feet (from the base station). The necessary scope of action depends on the size of a client’s property and their ability to move. If a person often spends time outdoors, it’s better to opt for a mobile option. The person can take it when they go out. The device can determine their precise location and contact a response center. Though a mobile pendant may have a bigger size and weight than a standard one, it’s still compact. It has a push button that triggers a call to the emergency dispatcher and can be used for 2-way communication.

6. Quality customer care.
Obviously, you want to collaborate with the providers of top-notch services. If a company is hard to contact or not good at communicating, you’d better think twice before making a purchase and agreement on monitoring.

7. Professional vs Self-Monitoring
Some consumers ask whether this system allows for self-monitoring, like home security systems. We mentioned that medical alarm providers charge monthly fees. Some even require customers to sign the contracts for up to 3 years.
Your senior may not need such a high level of monitoring, especially if family members and close friends live nearby and can check on the senior regularly. You may get a wearable help button that automatically dials up previously specified phone numbers. This device allows the senior to call close people for help without reaching the phone. So, a medical alert system can free the older generation from worries about staying alone and helpless in potentially dangerous situations. It can help the elderly and disabled retain their independence while making them sure help is available when needed.

 

Now when you know what aspects you should take into account when looking for medical health alert provision, you can compare different systems and find the one that meets your expectations.