Seniors
who live at home, and especially those who live alone, should have an emergency
response system in case of a medical emergency, a fall, or other trauma. Even seniors in good health are at risk of
falling or otherwise injuring themselves at home, where accidents are most
common. An emergency alert system can
mean the difference between life and death in many circumstances.
Emergency
alert systems have evolved over the years and are much more comprehensive
today. Generally, the systems have a pendant
and a console that communicate together wirelessly. Users frequently wear the pendant around
their neck, but may also wear it around their wrist or hips. The user can push
the button on the pendant in case of an emergency, or if they are close enough,
they can press the emergency button on the console itself.
Once
the button is pressed, a call is sent over the phone lines or the Internet to a
service representative at the alert system provider, who then contacts
emergency medical responders or the user’s emergency contacts, depending on the
specific situation.
Unlike
a cell phone, which may be out of reach and difficult to dial in an emergency,
an emergency alert system is worn on the body and is easy to operate. Here are some of the important features to
look for when shopping for an emergency alert system:
Monitoring
Services
·
24/7
Monitoring Facility
·
Fire
and Smoke Monitoring
·
Medical
Monitoring
·
CO2
Monitoring
Equipment
·
Look
for equipment that has an operating range of at least 600-1,000 feet between
pendant and console
·
Emergency
response base station that communicates with equipment
·
Pendant
or wristband
·
Water
resistant
·
Battery
backup
·
Wall-mounted
emergency button
·
Two-way
communications
·
Regular
check-ins from emergency service provider
Professional
in-home caregivers, like those from Always Best Care, can help seniors obtain and set
up their emergency response system from their home with ease, helping seniors
living at home maintain their independence while staying safe and secure.