How To Convince A Family Member For Use Of A Medical Alarm

Medical Alarms from LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency Medical Alert System is designed to allow your loved ones to continue to live independently at home.

Many people who can benefit from an LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency Medical Alarms mistakenly believe they are giving up something... admitting they are getting old. The fact is, a LifeGuardian™ Medical Alarm gives them independence and allows them to continue living alone.

To help convince a loved one to accept the protection offered by an LifeGuardian™ Medical Alarms, you may have to take both an emotional and a logical approach.

EMOTIONAL APPROACH FOR USING A MEDICAL ALARM

"I worry about you. Sometimes I lose sleep. You know that I call as often as I can. Let's get the LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency Medical Alert System for me. It will help me to sleep better and it will give me peace of mind, knowing that you can get help with the push of a button." "Thousands of people who live alone have serious accidents every year. Some minor accidents become serious if you don't get help in a hurry. The LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency Medical Alert System can avoid delays in getting the help you need in a hurry. I don't want you to end up as another statistic."

LOGICAL APPROACH FOR USING A MEDICAL ALARM

"1 out of 3 elders will fall at home. Serious medical complications of falling are usually due to long delays in receiving help." "You want to continue living alone. The LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency Medical Alert System gives you the independence to continue living alone, while giving you access to the outside world in the event of an emergency — 24 hours a day, every day of the year, even if you can't get to a phone." "I know the last thing you want to do is to go to a home for seniors. The LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency Medical Alert System can postpone that day for years, maybe even forever." "The LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency Medical Alert System is like insurance, you may not use it today, but if you need it, you'll be glad you have it!"

Therefore, the conclusing is that using a Medical Alarm is not a sign of being old, but Medical Alarms give one more independence and more control over their daily lives.

From www.lifeguardianmedicalalertsystems.com

Benefits of a Personal Medical Alert System

Robert Rouch, ED.D., Director of the Texas Consortium of Geriatrics Education Centers at the Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and his colleague Thomas A. Teasdale, DR. P.H., Assistant Professor at the same facility have been studying how a Personal Emergency Reporting System can impact the lives of community-residing elders who live alone.

In the mid-1990's, they conducted a retrospective review of data looking at how the use of such systems affects hospital utilization rates. They found subscribers using a Personal Emergency Medical Alert System had a statistically significant decrease in per person hospital admissions and inpatient days.

"We found that (Personal Emergency Medical Alert System) made a significant positive difference in the lives of subscribers in three areas: subscribers experienced a greater sense of security and peacefulness, they had a greater sense of vitality or pep and energy, and they felt more confident in carrying out their daily routine." explained Dr. Roush. "We also found compelling evidence that once familiar with a personal response service, many study participants wanted to continue service and were willing to drop out of the study in order to do so.

"I cannot overstate the value of telephone reassurance," said Dr. Teasdale. "Many users, especially those who are home-bound, are comforted knowing they can speak to a telephone monitor at anytime, even if it is only to make sure the device is working properly"
"Another powerful benefit," continued Dr. Teasdale, "is that a personal response service supports neighborly communication. Many subscribers ask neighbors and friends to be in their cascade of emergency numbers. It is heartwarming to hear of instances when this request prompts people to renew acquaintances with their neighbors."

From www.lifeguardianmedicalalertsystems.com

Who Is At Risk? Could Medical Alarm Help?

Home Alone and In Danger... Consider Medical Alarm

Using a Medical Alarm could significantly lower the risk of suffering a fall at home. More senior people live alone, and Medical Alarms can very handy in reducing the risk of falling at home and being not responded to.

In this article Medical Alarms, Medical Alerts and Personal Emergency Medical Alarm Systems are used with similar meaning.

In 2000, The US Census counted 35 million people over the age of 65...of which 12 million are over 75 years young.

It is also estimated that one third of those folks over 65 (over 10 million) live alone. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that persons living alone carry a risk of 3.2% per year of being found helpless or dead.

This means that every year over 320,000 seniors suffer an actual fall at home to which emergency personal respond to and document. Medical Alarms may come hand in this situation.

Additionally, hundreds of thousands more are rescued by family, friends or neighbors - and are never reported.

These facts make consideration of Medical Alarms more valid. Does the use of a Medical Alarm reduce the risk?

Helplessness is a true medical emergency. Many times seniors who are found "down" are guilty of nothing more than being ill, weak and living alone - unable to reach a telephone. The frightening fact is that victims may not be found for many hours - or even days - later. Again, a Medical Alarm could have been helpful.

The Facts Are Truly Sobering...

1 out of 3 Americans over the age of 65 falls each year.
7,261 seniors between the ages of 55-64 were hospitalized in 2000 from falls.
12,663 seniors between the ages of 65-74 were hospitalized from falls in 2000.
26,074 seniors between the ages of 75-84 were hospitalized from falls in 2000.
22,559 seniors over the age of 85 ware hospitalized in 2000 from falls.
369 seniors died from falls in 2000.
The average cost of nursing home care is $74,000/year.
47 million Americans face the role of being a caregiver.

Who Can Benefit From A LifeGuardian™ Medical Alarm?
Seniors living alone.
Persons with known medical conditions.
Family members with a history of falling.
Patients recovering at home.

Risk Factors To Consider in regard to Medical Alarms

Fact is, many times there is a clear history of obvious risk factors before the need for a LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency Medical Alarm System becomes undeniable.

Checking two or more risk factors below may indicate a need for a LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency Medical Alert System:

_____ Lives alone or left alone for extended periods by caregiver
_____ Used mobility assisted devices (walkers, crutches, canes, etc)
_____ History of one or more falls or inability to get up by themselves.
_____ More than 75 years of age
_____ Hospitalization within the past 12 months
_____ Physically frail or suffers from physical weakness
_____ Sensory deficits (vision, balance, hearing)
_____ History of medicine management problems
_____ Unsafe neighborhood or feels unsafe at home
_____ Home safety hazards (stairs, bathtubs, etc) which are uncorrectable

As mentioned above, these facts make strong case for considering Medical Alarms for elderly use.


From www.lifeguardianmedicalalertsystems.com

Call For Help With The Push Of A Button

In the event of any emergency - you press the Personal Help Button which signals the console to automatically call the LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency & Medical Alert Reporting System professionals 24 hours a day.

When an emergency operator receives your call for help, they will attempt to speak with you from the console in order to determine your situation and respond accordingly.

In the event that you can not speak or are out of voice range, they will immediately begin to notify appropriate rescue personnel and the key people whom you pre-selected to respond: family members, neighbors or friends.

Best of all, the LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency & Medical Alert Reporting System is made by a twenty five year old company that invented the wireless personal emergency transmitter and who is a leading manufacturer of emergency reporting systems in the United States.

Live independently, freely and confidently in your own home and give your family, friends and neighbors peace of mind knowing you can reach them if you ever should need their help.

From www.lifeguardianmedicalalertsystems.com

Never Feel Alone Again

Family caregivers gain added peace of mind knowing that an older family member now has access to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by simply pressing their personal alarm help button to connect to a professional who will carefully and quickly assess the situation and link the caller to appropriate help.

Family, friends, neighbors and medical personnel whom you pre-designate are immediately notified, so they can respond quickly.

This professional-quality wireless system has proven dependable enough over the past 20 years to meet or exceed some very tough standards.

The LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency & Medical Alert Reporting Systems is listed by Underwriters Laboratories as an approved home healthcare signaling device and a smoke alarm accessory.

Activating the LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency Medical Alert Reporting System couldn't be simpler or more reliable. You keep a small lightweight waterproof Personal Help Button with you at all times. It can be worn three different ways: a pendant around the neck, on the wrist like a watch or clipped onto belt or pocket.

The personal help button is completely waterproof, so you can even wear it in the shower or bathtub. It will even tell you when a transmission has been sent to the console through a visual confirmation (a red indicator light) and an audible confirmation (a beep).

The long transmission range ensures that you can depend on its signal reaching the console - it can even work outside your home! However, we recommend you test for range at your individual location.

From www.lifeguardianmedicalalertsystems.com

You are never alone with the safety, security and peace of mind provided by a LifeGuardian System

Welcome to LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency & Medical Alert Reporting Systems. We are one of America's leading personal emergency response services companies.

LifeGuardian™ Personal Emergency & Medical Alert Reporting Systems have been available to over 100,000 hospitals, home health care agencies, nursing homes, pharmacies and medical supply companies throughout North America - and now directly to you.

We help seniors remain independent and safe at home for many, many extra years. Family caregivers gain added peace of mind knowing that an older family member now has access to immediate help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

From www.lifeguardianmedicalalertsystems.com

Lifefone's Worldwide Protection

Take LifeFone protection with you when you leave your home! When you subscribe to LifeFone you automatically receive a LifeFone Emergency Response Card. This card is engraved with your name and personal identification number and allows quick retrieval of key information needed in an emergency. Now you can travel with confidence.

LifeFone's 24-Hour Emergency Response Center transmits your vital medical facts to doctors, paramedics and emergency room staff. We provide the quick, accurate medical information that could help save your life, anywhere in the world.

By carrying the LifeFone Emergency Response Card you help to protect yourself against misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatments and the administration of medications that could complicate treatment.

When emergency responders see your LifeFone Emergency Response Card, they know they can call LifeFone's 24-Hour Emergency Response Center and promptly receive your vital medical facts to help you obtain fast, accurate treatment.

Taken from http://www.lifefone.com

About EyesOnElders

Our MissionTo improve the quality of life of the elderly, disabled, caregivers, and advocates through the use of technology and the dissemination of accurate information.

Who we areWe are a group of people who have a common interest: technology and the ability to use that technology to improve the quality of life for those who need care and for those families/friends who care for them.

Why we areThe problem of being a caregiver in our society is tremendous. Middle-aged people normally are working and raising families when caregiver issues arise. Others are spouses who must assume the duties of the other spouse, provide care, or act as an advocate. Most of these people have no experience and will be overwhelmed by the medical system, insurance system, and the endless calls that lead to nowhere. We want to help by providing information and technology.

Patients and their families who are faced with the possibility of long-term care have legitimate concerns regarding neglect and abuse. Families want to allow their parents (loved ones) to stay in their homes and live independently for as long as possible, but they can't allow their loved ones to be in a situation that jeopardizes their health and safety. If remote video monitoring can be placed in the home of a person who is declining but still able to function, we can extend their independence and improve the quality of life for them and their families. If home care is no longer possible and long term nursing care must be considered, the patient and the family will be faced with other issues including neglect and abuse.

The best method of insuring quality care in long-term care facilities is to have a family member or friend visit daily at different times of the day or night. A watchful eye is the best protection against neglect or abuse. But, what if the family/friends work or live out of town? What if the family member is also dealing with health issues and can't travel to the nursing home? Many family members are working all day and raising families and may not be able to "drop in" unannounced. You may be able to find a volunteer organization that will visit your loved one for you. The best solution is a combination of visits and video monitoring. Through this combination, you can work with the staff to insure the best possible care for your loved one while being able to sustain your life and peace of mind.

In addition, navigating the health care system and the endless list of publicly funded organizations can be time consuming, exhausting, and very frustrating. It is very difficult to get to the right person who can give you an answer. Most times, you will be told, "I don't know but I can give you another number to try." You spend hours upon hours making calls without much success. We will provide links for you to use or we will help you navigate the system and get the information you need.

Some of our information services are free while others are fee-based. Our remote video monitoring systems may be purchased or leased. Please contact us for further information.

From http://www.eyesonelders.com

Products and Services of Medical Alarm USA

Through the use of a small pendant or wrist transmitter, you have the freedom to be in your home, yard, garden or even out at your mailbox. Should you fall or need assistance, the transmitter sends a signal to the Master (console) Control then to our around-the-clock central monitoring station and help is on the way.

There are no hidden costs or terms of service regarding length of time. An initial set-up fee includes shipping (when applicable), and dispensing emergency information to your Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services and the Central Station. A monthly charge includes lease of equipment, service and maintenance of equipment, and 24-hour monitoring. Payments may be made by check, Master Card or Visa.

Two (2) transmitters may be had in the same household at no extra cost. Both the wrist and necklace transmitter are 100% waterproof. The transmitter (wrist or pendant) works at a distance of 100-300 feet from the main console box.

All you need to complete your installation is a working telephone line jack and a 110 volt electric plug (not controlled by a wall switch) within 6 feet of the jack.

We encourage you to compare our product, service and price with our competitors. We guarantee you will be satisfied with Medical Alarms USA.

From www.medicalalarmsusa.com

Persuading a loved one about a need of Lifeline

People always tell us how they can't imagine living without Lifeline. But until they've experienced the way Lifeline makes them feel safer and more independent, they may not think that Lifeline is for them.

The truth is that the Lifeline personal response service only changes life for the better. So before you talk with your loved one about Lifeline, we suggest you become familiar with facts that can help to persuade them to welcome the service into their home.

Lifeline is recommended by doctors, nurses and other professional caregivers They know even a minor fall or incident can have serious physical and psychological consequences if you can't get help in a hurry.

Lifeline shows your family that you care about them too. You'll be helping everyone who cares for you to feel better knowing everything is all right.

Lifeline is for living in your own home. The alternative to getting Lifeline is often assisted living, a nursing home, or 24-hour care. A medical study showed that people using Lifeline were ten times less likely to require admission to a nursing home!

Lifeline is a good idea even if you don't live alone. Accidents are unpredictable. You might need help when someone you live with is temporarily out of the house.

Lifeline is easy to live with. The Personal Help Button is very small, simple to use and won't interfere with your activities in any way.

Lifeline costs only about a dollar a day. So little to pay for your comfort and peace of mind... and far less than the cost of an occasional home aide or companion.

Lifeline is for everyday living. The Lifeline CarePartner telephone also includes many other features that makes conversing with others more convenient and can provide personalized reminders of important things to do.

From www.lifelinesys.com

Alert One Medical Alarms

Alert One Medical Alert System

Alert One is the nation’s leading provider of medical alert technologies. Since 1988 we have been supplying both residential and commercial customers with the most reliable and leading edge medical alert products and services available in our industry. With customers in all 50 states we continue to grow and maintain our position as the Preferred Provider of medical alert products.

Whether you are a residential customer purchasing a medical alarm for yourself or a loved one, or you are the director of a senior living facility in need of an emergency call system, Alert One is your provider of choice. Our systems ensure that you will have the highest quality and most technologically advanced medical alert and emergency response products available. No other company offers a greater range of services and more access to the latest technologies than Alert One. Both our residential and senior living products continue to set the standard in our industry.

We invite you to continue to search our site and discover why Alert One is like no other company. If you cannot find the answers you are looking for, please feel free to call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are always available to answer any questions you may have.

From http://www.alert-1.com

Decreasing the Frequency of Medical Alarms

Poorly designed device Medical alarms can create not only problems with alarm recognition but also frequent false positive alarms. Two observational studies found that from 72 to 75% of alarms during routine general anesthesia did not require corrective action.36,37 Another study showed that only 3% of all auditory alarms during routine anesthesia monitoring represented a patient risk.38 Providers frequently must interrupt clinical tasks to silence these false positive alarms. More concerning is the fact that when alarms are unreliable, they tend to be ignored.21,39 This "cry-wolf" effect is a significant detriment to the optimal performance of alarm systems and may result in dire consequences when "true alarms" are ignored.

False medical or other alarms can be managed in two ways. Devices can be designed so that they identify and eliminate false alarms before triggering or users can manipulate alarm parameters to reduce false alarms. User manipulation can range from adjusting alarm thresholds40 to even turning the alarms off.22 There are no data describing how often operators reset alarm parameters to reduce false positive rates.

False positive alarms remain a significant problem. Few data exist on the incidence of resetting alarm parameters or at what parameter values alarm accuracy is optimized. Advances in alarm technology aimed at reducing false positives appear a promising alternative to resetting parameters.

From www.ahrq.gov

Visual Interfaces for Medical Alarms

Medical Alarms can also be visual. Some research has been done to improve hemodynamic monitoring device displays. Responses to abnormal values are delayed when workload for the anesthesiologist is high,33 prompting interest in improving current visual displays. Furthermore, the clinical decision process often rests on the practitioner's interpretation of a patient's hemodynamic parameters. Thus, it is important that this information be presented in a way that assists with decision making and minimizes errors of interpretation.

Two observational studies have compared different visual displays of data to traditional visual monitors.34,35 Each evaluated errors in performing a designated task as well as response time to completion. One measured how quickly subjects recognized a change in a parameter34 and the other measured how long it took for anesthesiologist to manipulate a set of abnormal parameters to a stable set.34,35 Both studies used computerized simulations of anesthesiology cases, with subjects serving as their own controls. In one study, subjects were required to identify when changes in physiologic parameters occurred using different visual formats.34 Response time and accuracy to the simulated cases was compared among a histogram, polygon, and numerical display. Subject responses were more accurate with the histogram and polygon displays (p=0.01).

In the other study, 20 anesthesiologists with an average working experience of 5 years were required to perform specific tasks on an anesthesia simulator35 (see Chapter 45). The tasks consisted of returning a set of abnormal hemodynamic parameters to normal using intravenous medications. A specific time for the completion was determined and this time was compared among 3 different visual interfaces. Trial time was significantly shorter with the traditional display (p<0.01), yet there were fewer failed trials using the other monitor displays (26% with the profilogram display, 11% with the ecological display, and 42% with the traditional display). The slower time with the non-traditional displays could have resulted from the subject's lack of experience with such screens. Nevertheless, the newer interfaces produced fewer failed attempts at arriving at the appropriate hemodynamic parameters on the simulator, suggesting that these displays might improve the clinical decision process.

None of the studies comparing traditional auditory medical alarms and visual monitor displays reported any adverse event associated with the newer technology. However these studies are limited by the artificial nature of the experiments.29,34,35 Anesthesiologists have many tasks to perform during anesthesia, often amidst great distraction. Attending to monitors is only one aspect of their workload. Because these laboratory experiments do not include all of the different "real world" problems and diversions that an anesthesiologist might face, it is difficult to generalize them to the workplace. Also, because this experimental task might be taken out of the context of caring for a patient in the operating room, the subject might simply focus on the completion of the experimental task and not consider other tasks that the anesthesiologist would be required to perform in a real situation.

From www.ahrq.gov

Medical Alarm Evaluation Prior to Purchase

Adhering to HFE principles during initial design stages of a medical alarm is essential. However, human factors analysis should also be incorporated into the institutional decision to acquire a new medical alarm or software program.3 Alarm purchasers should strongly consider institution-specific human factors testing. Usability testing at the institutional level establishes built-in redundancies to capture any design problems missed by manufacturers. Furthermore, the users and environments at individual institutions will differ, possibly in important ways, from the users and environments in which the device or program was initially designed and tested. It is important for an institution to be aware of who the intended users of the device or software will be, as well as where and when they plan to use the device. The information for such evaluations may be obtained from vendors, from an in-house analysis, or from independent organizations.

Vendors must be able to prove to the FDA that the user will be able to operate the medical alarm in the way in which it was intended.10 As companies are required to collect human factors analysis data, it is important that institutions wishing to purchase a new medical alarm, device or software receive and carefully review this information. Gosbee provides a list of questions to ask a vendor before a purchase, which include: "How long does it take to learn to operate the system? How long does it take to complete typical set-up tasks? What are the types and frequency of errors that could happen, and the systems to thwart them?"3

It is also important to consider the environment in which a device will be used. Idiosyncratic features of the environment, such as excessive noise or poor lighting, and differences in user skill or acuity due to fatigue or otherwise, may affect safety and the device's in-house usability.
Some institutions have developed in-house usability labs, in order to rigorously test any device before purchasing. The Mayo Clinic uses simulations to test the usability of medical software before purchasing.17 By carefully measuring user performance with the software they are able to uncover latent errors in the design. The usability lab is also able to measure the time necessary to learn to use the new software. This important information can help predict the device's or software's influence on workflow as well as its predilection for operator misuse.
Even without sophisticated usability laboratories, an institution can use basic human factors techniques to evaluate a product before purchase.3 Powerful techniques such as cognitive walk-through can be easily utilized at any institution. This involves observing the end-users of a product interact with the product. As they attempt to use the device, they are instructed to "think out loud." Careful observation of the user's actions and comments can identify potential design flaws that might make it difficult to utilize the device or software.

Independent organizations are another potential source of information on device safety. Unfortunately, most independent sources do not make clear to what degree HFE principles were used in product evaluations, although they do provide some assessment of safety. One such organization is ECRI (formerly the Emergency Care Research Institute), a nonprofit international health services research agency. Another is the Institute of Safe Medical Practices (ISMP). Both release newsletters and publications regarding product safety. By searching these and similar databases, institutions can gather additional information concerning product safety prior to purchasing a device. ERCI also publishes articles specifically geared to the institutions that might wish to purchase a medical device or software.

Regardless of the level of pre-procurement testing, some unsafe designs will not be detected until after the product is in use.3 Therefore, it is important for institutions to continuously evaluate these products to ensure safety.

From www.ahrq.gov

Identification of Medical Alarm Source and Reason

The recognition accuracy of medical alarms within the operating room is quite low. When presented with alarm sounds and asked to identify the source, anesthesiologists, operating room technicians, and operating room nurses correctly identify the device producing the alarm only 33 to 53.8% of the time.23-25 Furthermore, experiments suggest that humans have difficulty reliably recognizing more than 6 alarms at one time.26 The sheer number of different medical devices with alarms can make it difficult to discern one medical alarm from another and studies within the human factors literature have documented the inability of medical providers to discern between high priority and low priority alarms.27 While this is a known problem in operating rooms and intensive care units, how well alarms are recognized in other settings has not been described.
Some effort has been made to improve Medical alarm systems through redesign.28 One non-medical study examined ways to improve the recognition of auditory alarms by comparing abstract alarm sounds with specially designed alarms using speech and auditory icons.29 Other studies within the human factors literature have revealed certain acoustical properties that are more likely to result in a higher sense of perceived urgency by the operator.

In a series of experiments, Edworthy required subjects to rank the level of urgency associated with different alarms.30 The acoustical properties of the alarms were altered for the different subjects. Level of urgency was then correlated with a specific alarm sound. After ranking a set of acoustic parameters based on perceived urgency, the experimenters predicted what urgency ranking the alarm would receive and played the alarms for a new set of subjects. The correlation between the subjects' urgency rating and the investigators' predicted ratings was 93% (p<0.0001). Acoustical properties such as fundamental frequency, harmonic series, and delayed harmonics all affected the users perceived urgency.

Another study looked at the redesign of a Medical alarm to improve detectability within the operating room.31 An alarm that was spectrally rich, frequency-modulated, and contained small amounts of interpolated silence was detectable with at least 93% accuracy over background operating room noise. However, both of these alarm experiments have only been done in laboratory settings. In addition, Burt and colleagues found that when subjects were required to urgently perform a task, the prior acoustically manipulated perception of urgency was ignored in order to attend to the situational urgency of the task.32 Furthermore, with both alarms and clinical tasks competing for an operator's attention, the newly designed alarm might not be as discernible. It has continued to be a challenge to create the best auditory alarm sound to indicate an emergency.

From www.ahrq.gov

Refining the Performance of Medical Device Alarms

Numerous aspects of patient care compete for providers' attention and can reduce their vigilance in monitoring medical devices. Alarms can alert providers to urgent situations that might have been missed due to other distractions and have become a necessary part of patient monitoring. In a study looking at critical incidents within a neonatal intensive care unit, 10% were detected through alarms.

However, fundamental flaws in the design of current alarm systems likely decrease their impact.21 There are reports documenting some alarm failings in the medical literature,22 but few data address interventions to improve alarm system effectiveness. For an alarm to be effective it requires that a medical problem trigger the alarm, that personnel identify the source and reason for the alarm, and that the medical problem be corrected prior to patient injury. This section reviews 2 aspects of alarm safety: (1) the use of HFE principles in the redesign of medical alarms to improve identification of the source and reason for alarm, and (2) practices in both device design and programming that may improve safety by decreasing false positive alarms.

From www.ahrq.gov

Medical Alarm USA

Medical Alarms USA understands the importance of feeling safe and secure in one's own home. We also understand the desire to remain independent. That is why we offer a life-saving device that can assist seniors, persons living alone, the handicapped and persons recovering from accidents or surgery. Help is only a push of a button away.

Although we are local to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Medical Alarms USA has clients throughout the country. We have installed over 1,000 PERS (Personal Emergency Response System).
Michael Smith, owner of Medical Alarms USA has over 30 years experience in the security alarm field. His goal is to provide you with the highest quality products and top notch service at a price you can afford.

Medical Alarms USA is a vendor for both Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands, and MassHealth/Medicaid. We also work closely with:

Councils on Aging (all Cape towns)
Visiting Nurse Association
Hospice
Fire Departments
Emergency Medical Services
Rehabilitation Facilities
Congregate and Assisted Living Facilities
Nursing Homes
Private Duty Nurses and Caseworkers

From www.medicalalarmusa.com

Lifeline Medical Alarm is for living with heart related ailments

Lifeline Medical Alarm provides extra protection from ailments unrelated to falls, particularly for those coping with heart disease. There are many situations in which someone may need immediate assistance but is unable to call for help themselves: a serious heart arrhythmia, chest pain, difficulty breathing, general fatigue, muscle weakness or other serious forms of distress.

Frequent hospital admissions is another common problem for patients with heart failure. That's because managing heart failure at home is a complex task requiring individuals to remember to take medications, to weigh themselves on a regular basis (an indication of fluid retention) and to follow a low sodium diet and exercise plan.

Lifeline Medical Alarm with Reminders helps those with heart disease to take better care of themselves and prevent unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital re-admissions.

From www.lifelinesys.com

Lifeline Medical Alarm is for living with fewer anxieties about falling

In a study of older adults, those using Lifeline Medical Alarm reported significantly greater ability to go about daily routine and were ten times less likely to require admission to a nursing home!

Medical research shows that falling down and being unable to get help is not an uncommon event. In fact, nearly 1/3 of all people over the age of 65 (and half of all people over 90) will fall each year. Of course, the older you get, the more dangerous and debilitating falls can be, and they often mark the end of independent living.

Research also tells us that 30% to 50% of elderly people fear falling-a fear that can cause them to lose confidence and restrict their normal range of healthy activities. The confidence and peace-of-mind that comes from the Lifeline medical alarm service helps to ease these anxieties, as well as the feelings of isolation and depression caused by such worries.

From www.lifelinesys.com

Medical Alarms at Home

Some elderly individuals don't need any extra help, but may be worried about being alone during a personal emergency. Studies show that over a third of elderly persons have a fall at some point in their old age. In most cases, the individuals don't sustain serious injuries but cannot get back up by themselves. When there is no one to help them up, they can often develop further problems or make minor injuries much worse.

Solution with Medical Alarms

A common solution to this problem would be to live in an environment where there is always someone who can help. Many senior citizens choose to live in retirement homes or care facilities, where trained staff are always on hand to provide assistance. But leaving the comfort of one's own home doesn't have to be the only way. With Medical Alarms, those who wish to stay in their residences with their loved ones can still receive help, even when they're alone.

Medical alarms contribute to keeping a safe, protected environment in the home. They can cost much less than living fees at a care facility, and don't require complicated operation procedures. Most importantly, they give their users what every human being should have: the right to live independently.

From www.articleinsider.com

Activating Medical Alarms

Medical alarms are designed to be extremely easy to use--if you're stuck in a personal emergency, the last thing you want to do is operate complex machinery. Luckily, all you have to do to activate a medical alarm is press a button. Most alert systems come with a small personal transmitter that can be carried at all times. The user presses a button on this transmitter, sending a radio signal to a console installed somewhere in the house.

This console, when activated, automatically dials a preset phone number and contacts an emergency service center. The representative who answers the call is trained to handle emergencies and can provide immediate assistance. The caller communicates the problem to this representative directly. If there is no voice response, the operator will contact someone to check up on the individual.

Most medical alarm system centers also keep each user's personal information on file. This allows an operator handling a call to look up any medical conditions, allergies, and other valuable information about the client. Since each person has unique needs, the alert centers ensure that proper care and precautions are taken when responding to medical problems.

From www.articleinsider.com

Medical Alarms

Medical Alarms or alerts can make all the difference in the world for those with special needs. In an emergency, these alerts keep open the lines of communication between those who need help and those who can provide it. They also ensure rapid and efficient response to crisis situations, using radio signals and automatic dialing to notify the proper authorities. Thus, individuals who are prone to injuries, medical complications, or other types of personal emergencies can benefit immensely from medical alerts.

Each year, household accidents take the lives of thousands of people, many of whom could have survived if help had arrived sooner. Those who are elderly or have physical disabilities are often at a higher risk for accidents, and may be unable to deal with them without assistance. Medical Alarms summon help as soon as it is needed, even if the user is severely injured or otherwise impaired.

Taken from www.articleinsider.com

If You care for someone most or all of the time at home consider a Medical Alarm

You know that caring for an elder parent, spouse, sibling or other loved one is a full-time job requiring almost constant attention. But you also understand the need for an occasional break to help you restore your own sense of balance and well-being.

Medical Alarm gives break to caregiver.

The wonderful thing about Lifeline is that it can give you that important break (even if it's only a couple of hours to do errands) and reassure your loved one that help is always a press of a button away. If the Lifeline Personal Help Button is pressed, Lifeline will quickly send the most appropriate assistance and will notify you about exactly what actions were taken (such as contacting a neighbor, family member, doctor or emergency service providers).

At Lifeline's website you can read actual stories of full-time caregivers who have experienced the many benefits of Lifeline and learn ways to help persuade a loved one that it's time to consider a Lifeline medical alarm.

There are also several other features that can increase the everyday value of Lifeline. Our Reminders service allows for personalized messages to be recorded in a familiar voice (and in any language) to remind the individual to take medication, remember appointments, or simply provide words of love and support.

For more information see www.lifelinesys.com

Choosing Medical Alarm from Lifeline for Someone You Care

Caring for a family member or friend isn't an easy task these days. Life's fast pace makes it harder to balance everyday commitments to work and family. You want to be there as much as possible, yet studies have shown that hour after hour of continuous caregiving can lead to exhaustion and depression - and actually put your loved one at risk.

Today, family members aren't as likely to live nearby each other, so 'sharing the caring' can be more difficult. Plus, the cost of paying someone to watch your mother, father, or other loved one can really add up, even if it's only for a short time.

To see how how Lifeline's medical alarm and personal response service is helping people like you care for a family member or friend for little more than a dollar a day, click on one of the links below.

If you care for someone most or all of the time at home...

If you share your time between care giving and other responsibilities...

If you don't live close to an older parent or family member you worry about...

Click to visit www.lifelinesys.com

American Medical Alarms Inc, Services

Basically what happens is, you would have a little pendant that you wear either around your neck or wrist. (Equipment)

It is water resistant so you can wear it in the shower or tub. The important thing is if you ever need help, all you do is push the button you are wearing.

About 40-45 seconds later our monitoring center is going to begin to have a two way conversation with you through a little console that is plugged in at your house. At this time you may say something to us like, "I've fallen but I don't need an ambulance, would you please call my son/daughter, neighbor, or friend?" It's not always a paramedic emergency and we are going to do pretty much whatever it is you ask us to do.

However, if we are unable to speak with you or you say it's an emergency, we would immediately dispatch the local paramedics to your house.

After we speak with your local 911 center we will call the contacts you have listed as "Keyholders". A Keyholder is a person who lives or works less than 5 minutes from your home and could meet rescue to open the door. If you have no keyholders or are not sure of their availability, we do offer a realtor's type lockbox. The key to your home is locked inside and we would give the combination to rescue at the time of the emergency.

Medical Alarm Services.

After rescue and the keyholders have been called, we will then call those listed on your call sheet as a "Must Notify". This means that we will try to reach one of these contacts to let them know that we have dispatched an ambulance to your house. People listed as a Must Notify are generally family members who need to know there has been an emergency so they can be with you. They do not need to live close by, they could even be out of state, but they just want to know there has been an emergency.

All of this happens with just the push of a button. We hope you will never need to use your medical alarm, but people wind up in nursing homes everyday. Not because they had an emergency, but because they needed help…and nobody knew about it. Our system can help protect you or your loved ones if that emergency should occur.

By www.americanmedicalalarms.com

American Medical Alarms

American Medical Alarms was listed in AARP®'s "My Generation" Magazine as a resource for personal alarms. All of us take that responsibility and the trust you put in us very seriously. We agree with all of you, and only use a UL Listed Central Station to monitor your emergencies. We believe it is absolutely required to ensure the highest level of protection and safety for our customers.

Here at American Medical Alarms, we receive calls every day telling us about family members who needed help, but nobody knew about it... nobody came. That's not right.

Our system allows you to get help with just the push of a button if you are unable to reach a telephone.Our alarm system can provide peace of mind for both yourself and your family members. Help is just a push of a button away which allows you to retain your independence and continue to live in your own home, without causing you or your loved ones to worry.

By www.americanmedicalalarms.com

What Are Medical Alarms?

Today, when there is a lot of need for Medical Alarms for the elderly people, our research resulted in this brief article, which aims to summarize what major companies are out there, and what kind of medical alarms products they offer.

Medical Alarm, or they are also referred as Medical Alert, is an small personal emergency alarm device that is monitored 24/7.

The good thing about Medical Alarms devices is that they allow independence, security and fast response at the press of a panic button.

Medical Alerts devices give the individuals instant access to help 24 hours a day, throughout the year.

In order to use Medical Alarms products one needs to subscribe to the company services that an individual chooses to go with. The prices vary from company to company.

Before one decides to subscribe any of Medical Alerts services vendors, it's good to check the company's customer services. Make sure you are rendered a caring and compassionate customer service. This is very important because when you hit that panic button (when you need it) the customer service agent will be your first contact point.

It is also good to check if the company's monitoring center is in the house or out of the company headquarters. This is important for the following reason. Some of the Medical Alerts companies subcontract for monitoring services because they are not large enough to operate their own. However, if you use an Medical Alerts provider that has an in house monitoring system you will be speaking to the same people each time you contact them. This also develops relationship with your customer care agent.

Due to the fact that this is an important decision, on which Medical Alerts company will you be using, it may also be a good idea to check the company with Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.