Caregivers: Is it Time for a Medical Alarm for a Special Senior in your Life?

Lifeline now offers a needs assessment questionnaire to help determine if it’s time to use an emergency personal response system to ensure the safety and independence of your family’s elder loved ones.

FRAMINGHAM, MA (PRWEB) July 20, 2005 -- Knowing whether it’s safe for an older family member to continue to live alone isn’t any easy decision to make. What will happen if they fall – or feel threatened by some other age-related medical condition and can’t reach the telephone to call for help? Lifeline Systems, Inc., the leading provider of medical alarm services in the United States and Canada, has developed a 9-point needs assessment questionnaire to be used as a guide to evaluate if and when a parent or loved one may need a medical alarm in order to maintain their independence.

The interactive quiz is available at the website www.timeforamedicalalarm.com. Caregivers are directed to answer nine questions with a yes or no response. Questions asked include their loved one’s overall health, existing health problems or concerns, recent hospitalization, time home alone, use of assistive devices, medication, and their ability to handle day-to-day grooming and care. The results are tallied and then give the caregiver information as to whether a medical alarm is an urgent need, elevated need, moderate need, or limited need.

Lifeline Systems has been the leading provider of personal medical alert response services in the United States for over 30 years. Lifeline is the preferred provider of medical alarm services to members of the Visiting Nurses Associations of America, and to thousands of leading doctors and hospitals. In addition, the Lifeline service is available through select chapters of the American Red Cross.

"Lifeline System's new site www.timeforamedicalalarm.com is extremely useful for caregivers and homebound elderly patients who are trying to assess their need for a medical alarm," says Carolyn S. Markey, President and CEO of Visiting Nurse Associations of America.

"Visiting Nurses created home healthcare more than 100 years ago, so no one is more experienced when it comes to delivering compassionate and cost-effective home care. Lifeline’s personal emergency medical response is a service we frequently recommend to people who wish to continue to live independently for as long as they can."

According to the Department of Health & Human Services Administration on Aging (AoA) the older population--persons 65 years or older--numbered 35.9 million in 2003 representing 12.3% of the U.S. population, about one in every eight Americans. By 2030, there will be about 71.5 million older persons, which will account for 20% of the population.

"Many of us have loved ones who are elderly and it is often difficult to both know and admit that they might need the additional assistance and security of a medical alarm,” commented Yasmin Mheiny, a Lifeline System’s expert specializing in occupational therapy and needs of the elderly. “Lifeline is the first to create a unique, comprehensive tool to help caregivers deal with a sensitive topic that is often met with resistance and one which they may have been avoiding or just not certain how best to address.”

With the simple press of a waterproof button, at any time of the day or night, the user is quickly connected with a highly trained Lifeline Personal Response Associate. The Associate makes voice contact through the Lifeline speakerphone, reviews the individual's personal and medical profile, assesses her situation and then notifies a family member, neighbor, or appropriate support and medical response team as the situation requires.

Lifeline personal response and support services offer:

• Immediate response by caring and highly-trained Personal Response Associates —24 hours a day/365 days a year.

• State-of-the-art equipment made by Lifeline.

• Lightweight, waterproof personal help button that can be worn as a pendant or on the wrist.

• CarePartner Telephone option with larger number buttons and personalized reminders to help manage medications, diet, exercise and appointments.

• No minimum service commitment, all at a cost of little more than a dollar a day.

To take the needs assessment quiz, visit Lifeline medical alarm, visit www.lifelinesystems.com, or call 800-380-3111.

About Lifeline Systems, Inc.
Established in 1974, Lifeline Systems is the leading provider of personal response services and emergency call systems in the United States and Canada. As of March 31, 2005, the Company supported more than 433,000 subscribers from its response centers in Massachusetts, Ontario and Quebec. Lifeline also supplies emergency response equipment and services to owners and developers of independent living, assisted living and continuing care retirement communities across North America. To people who live alone or in senior living communities, the Company provides reassurance and peace of mind with dedicated, well-trained people, advanced technology and a nationwide support structure to achieve service excellence. The Company is committed to affording its subscribers and residents the dignity, privacy and respect to which they are entitled. For more information about Lifeline Systems, visit www.lifelinesystems.com