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Do you have an aging loved one you are concerned about? Are you worried they may fall or need help and be unable to get to the phone? Does your loved one tend to wander and get lost?
With more than 36 million falls reported in the senior community each year, there’s no question that this is a valid concern. However, there are many other times a senior may need assistance, too.
To help safeguard your elderly loved one’s well-being and health, you may consider purchasing a medical alert system. However, when you start your search for one of these systems, you’ll quickly realize there are many options.
While this may be the case, a few tips can help you find the right medical alert system.
1. Home-Based or Mobile System
Original medical alert systems were created to operate inside the home. They were connected via your landline telephone.
While you can still choose this type of system, you can also choose home-based systems that work through cellular networks. This is beneficial since many people no longer have landlines.
With these types of systems, the user can press a button on pendant worn on their person, or a call button, which is installed in the home, to speak to a trained agent through the base unit inside the home.
Another option is mobile systems. These can be used at home and when someone is on the go. With the mobile system, the user will have access to assistance no matter where they go across the US. Wearing options include a pendant, belt clip, and watch.
The mobile systems use cellular networks and have optional GPS technology and fall detection technology. If someone needs help of any kind, they can push their wearable button, and the monitoring service can get them help immediately.
If your elderly loved one is frail and doesn’t leave the house often, having a mobile system may not be necessary. However, for active seniors, which are more common now than ever before, having in-home and on-the-go fall detection systems is invaluable and can provide more peace of mind for them and their families.
2. The Cost
Before selecting a medical alert system, you need to know what you can spend on it. This is possible if you compare different devices in the same category.
By doing this, you can get a good idea of what you will be spending, and it will be easier for you to avoid systems that are too costly or that don’t meet your specific needs.
The goal should be to find a quality product for an affordable price. With Alert1, systems start at leass than $20 per month, and members are never charged for “false alarms” or multiple button pushes. These are charges that some companies impose on users.
3. Water Resistant
According to the National Institute on Aging[1], about 80% of all falls occur in the bathroom at home. Because of this, it’s important to make sure you purchase a device that will keep working even if it gets wet.
Alert1 emergency button alarms are water resistant. We encourage our members to wear them in the shower, out in the rain, while washing dishes, etc. The devices can get wet, but should not be fully submerged.
4. Additional Accessories and Buttons
Does the medical alert company you are considering using offer additional buttons or accessories for the system?
Some of the types of additional accessories to ask about include:
Wall buttons. These may be installed in any part of the home where a fall may occur. It’s also good to install these buttons in the individual’s favorite room.
Voice extender. This is a second microphone or speaker for the system and makes it easier to communicate back and forth with the monitoring center in a bigger home.
5. Automatic Fall Detection
You can opt for automatic fall detection in some cases. This will be an add-on feature for mobile and in-home medical alert devices. With Alert1, the cost will be around about $10 per month.
This type of technology is ideal for seniors who spend time alone, and that may be at a higher risk of falls because of their medical condition, medication side effects, or some other issue.
6. Battery Life
The only way a medical alert button will work is if the batteries are working. Alert1’s in-home alert systems for the elderly have batteries that last for many years without needing to be charged or changed. The on-the-go devices only need to be charged for 2 – 3 hours, every 5 days or so.
7. Past Customer Reviews
While looking at the devices and systems themselves is an important part of choosing a medical alert system, you should also see what past customers have to say about the service and devices, such as the Alert1 reviews page.
As you can see, there are a lot of factors to consider when you are choosing a personal emergency response system. However, with the tips and information above, you will be a step closer to finding the right device and company for your needs. Be sure to keep the information here in mind, which will pay off and help give you peace of mind that your loved one can have access to help at the push of a button whenever and wherever needed. Being informed is the best way to make this important decision and find the right button alarm for seniors.