Personal Emergency Response Systems Can Help Seniors

Personal Medical Alarm System

Seniors who live independently often feel better knowing they can reach someone quickly if they need help. A personal emergency response system (PERS) can offer peace of mind to seniors and those who care about them.

Response systems allow a user to contact emergency support via telephone. Seniors wear a pendant or a wristwatch transmitter to connect to the service. Once pressed, the device sends a radio signal to the console unit, which dials the response center. Most systems can dial out even if the phone is off the hook.

PERS vary greatly in their features, services, and costs. Each response system manufacturer operates a response center, usually a national office that contacts local emergency personnel. Area hospitals and social service agencies also serve as local response centers. Some basic units only indicate to the response center that the user has activated the alarm; others allow for a two-way conversation between the user and the support service to determine the nature of the emergency. More sophisticated units can even deliver timed messages, such as medication reminders.

All transmitters are battery operated and therefore should be checked routinely. Some indicate when the batteries need to be changed. Many are also water-resistant or waterproof, which could be critical if a fall occurs in the bathtub. Because some structures can interfere with radio waves, it’s necessary to make sure the system works throughout a senior’s home prior to installation.

Equipment can be either purchased, rented, or leased. Prices generally range from about $200 to $1,500 for purchase. There is usually a small installation fee and monthly monitoring charge. Renting a PERS device can run between $25 and $45 a month, and some companies require a minimum rental period. Alternately, a lease agreement may include an option to buy. Neither Medicare nor Medicaid will cover the cost of PERS, although a few private insurers will with a doctor’s recommendation.

To find a local service, look in the Yellow Pages under “medical alarms.” It’s wise to comparison shop to review prices and services. Be wary of any salesperson who is reluctant to disclose information over the phone and insists upon a home visit, which may involve high-pressure sales tactics.

Here are some items to consider before purchasing a PERS:

Be sure the system is easy to use. Can you easily press the buttons and replace the batteries?

Does the monitoring center meet your needs? Is it available 24 hours a day? What kind of training do its operators receive? What is the average response time? Find out whether you can use the system with other response centers, if you were to move, for instance.

Ask how they test to ensure that the transmitter works from all areas in your home. What range does it have? What type of repair or replacement policy exists if the unit stops working?

Read the written agreement carefully, checking for any unmentioned charges.

Personal emergency response systems allow for independence with the added assurance that someone’s always right around the corner.

Bill Knapp is a Certified Senior Advisor. For more information, please call him at (818) 222-0133.

HomeFree Demonstrates Groundbreaking Wireless Eldercare Monitoring Solution

Monitoring Solutions for Seniors

HomeFree Inc., a global provider of wireless monitoring solutions for the senior long termcare and residential markets, is showcasing its break-through senior andhealth monitoring technology at the 2005 White House Conference on Aging,December 12-13th in Washington DC.

HomeFree will host hands-on interactive demonstrations of its HomeFree atHome solution at Booth #17 in the conference's Imagine Technology Pavilion.HomeFree's active monitoring technology is designed to enable seniors tocontinue living independently at home by providing a monitored environmentthat reports their well being and health status in a manner that is reliable,cost-effective and convenient for the caregiver. Independent living is a keygoal of the conference; including creating a means of allowing seniors to"age in place" within their home, whenever possible.

"Within a few years, over one third of America's population will beseniors - approximately 77 million people," said Guy Lerner, president ofHomeFree Inc. "HomeFree joins the WHCoA, and industry, government andnot-for-profit organizations in recognizing the importance of technology inbridging the gap between the critical needs of the growing elderly populationand available resources."

HomeFree's innovative monitoring approach, stressed personal monitoringof the resident over peripheral monitoring of his environment. This approachis critical in emergency situations, when the patient is incapable ofresponse or action. A few examples are:

- Automatic alerts when the monitored patient does not move for a periodof time.

- Notification to caregivers to ambient temperature changes outsidepre-set ranges.

- Alert feature if patient wanders outside of designated safe areas.

- Alert feature if personal watcher is removed or tampered with.

Current academic research is evaluating HomeFree's technologyeffectiveness in monitoring Parkinson's disease, dementia, neurologicaldisorders and other health issues.

HomeFree will also demonstrate its senior housing wireless monitoringplatform solution, already implemented in hundreds of senior care facilitiesusing HomeFree system in North America and Europe. HomeFree's long term carefacilities solution combines wandering alerts, nurse call, fall management,staff safety, and interfacing devices management solutions. HomeFreetherefore brings the emerging residential-care industry a wealth ofexperience accumulated in a decade of core technology development andintensive exposure to senior care needs. For more information, contact: +1-800-606-0661, or visit:http://www.homefreesys.com/

LifeGuardian Medical Alarms: Life Safety and Home Security for Seniors and Shut-Ins

LifeGuardian Medical Alarm

Senior citizens and shut-ins no longer need to fear living alone. Improvements in two-way voice and wireless technologies can enhance the physical an emotional well being of those who have little choice but to spend most of their time in and around their home. LifeGuardian Medical Alarms, a leading medical alert systems provider, serves the needs of seniors and the disabled throughout all of North America.

Phyllis is 82 and fiercely independent. Widowed for this past year and coping with arthritis in her hip, she still loves living in the cozy single-story home she and her husband George lived in for the past 20 years.

Her one son lives in another state, and while he visits as often as work allows, she now spends much of her time alone. She has a close-knit circle of friends and swims once or twice a week at the local YMCA.

While Phyllis misses her husband of 55 years, she still finds life active and satisfying. Positive attitude aside, her arthritis seems to get a little worse with each passing month and she worries about one day falling, breaking a bone and, living alone, not being able to summon help.

Her family is also concerned about Phyllis’s declining health, as well as the increasing number of burglaries and assaults on seniors in Phyllis’s part of town. They have suggested that she consider moving to an assisted living facility but she is adamant about maintaining her independence and staying where she is most comfortable – in her own home.

Phyllis’s situation is typical of many seniors and shut-ins who now find themselves living alone. Children are grown and often live hours away. The need to remain as independent as possible conflicts with the twin realities of declining health and increasing crime.

Advances in home security and medical alert technologies are helping solve those legitimate conflicts. According to Thomas Franks, President and CEO of Clayton Communications, Inc. Recent advances in “two way voice” technologies are providing improved peace of mind for not only senior citizens and shut-ins, but their loved ones as well.

“The patented new LifeGuardian™ two-way voice system provides unmatched convenience, longest range and security.” he says. “When a subscriber experiences a medical emergency in or around the house and cannot reach a phone, he or she has only to press a small waterproof button on a neck pendant or wristband and the LifeGuardian medical alert monitoring company operator receives the call and activates the ‘two way’ voice feature.

“This puts the subscriber in direct voice contact with an operator using a speaker/microphone built into the alarm panel which can be heard from anywhere in the home. If the victim has fallen and cannot get up, for example, the operator immediately dispatches local medical personnel to the home, all the while reassuring the victim that help is on the way by maintaining voice dialogue through the alarm panel. The built-in microphone is very sensitive, and can pick up even a whisper from anywhere within a 2500 square foot home,” Franks says.

An optional system feature is the wireless smoke detector. Unlike self-installed smoke detectors that will melt to the floor before notifying anyone, The LifeGuardian™ medical alarms system loudly announces “FIRE..FIRE” and immediately notifies the monitoring center of the fire and smoke. If no response is heard from the home, the monitoring center will immediately dispatch the fire department.

“The LifeGuardian™ medical alarms system is the first system of its type designed to be set-up by the user or their family.” Franks says. “The system comes ready to plug and test. Typically, set-up takes just a few minutes. When a subscriber signs-up with LifeGuardian, they print out the New Subscriber form right off of the LifeGuardian web site. They complete a two page confidential information form and FAX it back to the LifeGuardian medical alarm center. LifeGuardian™ technicians pre-program and test each system, sets-up the subscribers account with the monitoring center and ships the new system to the subscriber anywhere in the United States and Canada. The LifeGuardian™ Quick Set-up Guide assures trouble free hook-up and provides free technical support if there is a problem.

“The result is that seniors like Phyllis can enjoy living independently with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that they are no longer really alone, even if they live alone,” he concluded. “It also provides family members with a new sense of peace of mind knowing their loved one is safe and secure.”

Franks cautions “Don’t wait until your senior family member has a bad fall to consider such an obvious safety measure. If they are over the age of 75 and living alone, statistically they are at risk of a serious accident. Prior falls, medications and medical conditions dramatically increase the likelihood of another major accident.”

One industry study determined that seniors who have a medical alarm system stay independent and at home an average of seven years longer! When one considers that assisted living facilities may cost $125/day and skilled nursing facilities even more, a LifeGuardian™ medical alarms system becomes a wise investment.

The LifeGuardian™ Medical Alarms System comes complete for just $39.95/month and a one-time activation fee of only $49.95. It includes a lifetime equipment warranty and a 30 day unconditional satisfaction guarantee. Best of all, no multi-year or annual contract is required. For more information visit www.lifeguardianmedicalalertsystems.com or call the LifeGuardian™ medical alarms sales office at 800-378-2957 open 8am-4pm M-F PST.

Medical Alert System Users Should Call and Verify

Thus says the article on Medical Alert Systems published in the Nov. 23rd issue of Kennebec Journal Online: people should call and verify the details if they are depending on Medical Alarms.

The story is very interesting and talks about a personal experience where while the person could not talk had pushed the panic button of the medical alert system, but the response on the other site was kind of controversial.

"I urge you to call your medical alert company and verify the names and telephone numbers of those you want notified -- a neighbor, relative, or to call an ambulance."

"Check what their policy is for requesting an ambulance. Find out now, as your life might depend on it. I am now depending on the 911 system."

People should very very careful and attentive if they rely on Medical Alert system for help.

The entire article is published at http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com