About Bill & Diane Mathis

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Emergency Response Systems for Seniors

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.