Compare senior alert systems. Be careful when you buy a senior medical alert product online. While most of these products deliver as promised there are some that are nothing more than scams that try to suck you into long-term, expensive contracts. Even worse, some of these scammers deliver products that don’t live up to the promises they made.
Every year senior citizens die because of fall related accidents. According to the CDC, among those age 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury death. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma. About one out of three adults over the age of 65 will have an accidental fall. Clearly, senior medical alert devices are extremely important. What isn’t clear to many is which alert service is best?
What NOT to Buy!
We’ve seen a number of devices advertised on the Internet that promise you a cheap alert device without any monthly fees. On closer examination these devices appear to be nothing more than a remote control for your telephone. You carry one of these devices in your pocket and if you’re unable to reach the phone the device will help you dial a number you’ve saved on speed dial.
Here’s the problem, most people who have an accidental fall are likely to be disorientated. They’re not thinking clearly and they may not be able to figure out who to call on speed dial. Sometimes the person who falls is unconscious. In the cases, a remote control dialing device is pretty useless. You’d be better off walking around with a cell phone in your pocket. (If you are going to rely on a cell phone to give a senior citizen communication line be sure to use a cell phone that is easy to see and use and one with extra loud volume is needed see Jitterbug for great mobile phones for elderly people)
Among those age 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury death. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.
Senior Alert Devices
A true senior alert device will instantly connect someone in distress with help. These devices work with a receiver and transmitter, and there’s lots of variation in product. The transmitter is typically worn by the elderly person. Transmitters are worn as pendants, wrist bands or belt clipped devices. The standard service connects the wearer with a monitoring station when the device button is pressed. The receiver is mounted by the home telephone and when the button is pushed it becomes a two-way intercom service. The monitoring company response to the pushbutton by asking to speak to the patient or client. Based on the response, or lack of response, of the wearer the monitoring company will notify relatives, next door neighbors or 911. These devices are easy to use and very affordable. We recommend LifeStation for senior alerts.
ElderKind Recommends
For Senior Alerts: LifeStation
Many companies advertise that their alert devices have fall detection. The trouble is that many of these devices are not sensitive enough to detect a real-life fall. The typical product can only sense when it is dropped quite hard, but that’s not the way people fall down all the time. When an elderly person has a stroke or faints they may not hit the floor with a thud. Many times they slump down to the ground or into a chair in most devices won’t detect that. A device that has true fault detection and can alert the monitoring company when it detects a problem. The train professionals at the monitoring center spring into action when a fall is detected and can have help on the way in minutes.
Medical Monitoring Devices
If you carry for an elderly person who has medical conditions you may want to consider buying a medical monitoring device and not a senior alert. What’s the difference? A senior alert can detect a fall or sound an alarm when the button is pushed but a medical monitoring device can measure key vital functions. These devices can monitor temperature, heart rate and movement. These devices are worn under the clothes against the skin and maybe a bit too much for an active senior to wear. But, if they’re at a high risk of fainting, dizzy spells, heart problems and other complications it’s a much safer way to go. See MyHalo for a good medical monitor.
Contract Scams
Some nationally known personal emergency response system companies have some pretty crummy contracts. They make you sign long-term contracts with expensive cancellation fees, or they hit you with installation fees. Before you hand over your credit card number make sure you fully understand your options.
For a very simple, open ended contract and an exceptional value we highly recommend LifeStation.