FAQ: Are Alert1 Medical Alerts Just for Seniors?

We Protect Members Aged 8 to 80

According to Medical Alert Systems HQ, the 1980s LifeAlert television commercials popularized the medical alarm industry. Yay for remnant television inventory! But, Life Alert also failed our industry by portraying the service as only for senior citizens.

When we analyzed the data, calls from elderly members made up almost 85% of our total emergency response calls. Further, calls from family of the elderly accounted for 11%. This data seems to confirm the Jay Leno punch lines and Steve Urkel laugh lines. This is a “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”© product. 

But when we analyzed our membership data, we saw a much different picture. Alert1 medical alert systems serve a range of ages, from 8 to 80. It turns out that medical alarm systems are great for seniors. But guess what? They are great for young people, too. Members under the retirement age account for over 13% of our member base. 

In Sickness and in Health

One of the most apparent reasons why someone would purchase a medical alert system is the existence of a chronic health condition. Our list below is full of valid reasons why people of every age have signed up for a medical alert system. Patients with diabetes, glaucoma, vision impairment, hypertension, stroke, arthritis, or Alzheimer’s use Alert1 medical alerts.

The counter to this argument is that the number of people who are just being proactive is also high (88%). That means that seniors and young people must follow the Boy Scout’s motto: Be prepared. Getting an Alert1 medical alert system is a great way to do just that. 

For Richer or for Poorer

The use of medical alert systems spans income level. We took a close look at household income data of Alert1 members. The results surprised us.

The income levels of Alert1 members range from poor (<$20,000) to rich (>$200,000). The middle class has higher usage rate than other classes. But, membership is dispersed throughout various income levels. 

In Good Times

Many members received their Alert1 medical alarm from someone who loves them. Gifting drives high amounts of medical alert system use. Almost 64% of our members buy Alert1 for someone else.

 

And in Bad

According to a 2007 PRWeb press release, the original and trademarked slogan, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” was successful for LifeAlert. Alert-1 conducted research to find out if similar phrases would perform well also. Variations of LifeAlert taglines underperformed. “I fell and couldn't get up” or “Had a fall” appeared multiple times in a list but were not significant drivers of Alert1 membership.

In Times of Need

Many members use Alert1 to meet other business or strategic needs. Of our non-senior Alert1 members, 18% specify a safety condition as a reason for joining. 

Alert1 can help during home invasions. Below is a Member testimonial during an intrusion in her home:

Judy: Three days after I got Alert1, it was close to 3 o’clock in the morning. I heard a noise—several different noises—in my kitchen. I knew my husband was upstairs in bed and my twin sister was sleeping on the couch beside my hospital bed.

I sat up and I felt someone was in my house and I just started screaming. My sister jumped up and when she jumped up even though I’m screaming—the two people that broke into our house didn’t even—they were not afraid of the screaming whatsoever!

But I had hit Alert1 even before my first scream. I was so startled and by that time [Alert1 responders] came over the microphone, the Alert1 [POM] system. When [the intruders] heard those voices on the Alert1 system—they asked us “did we need help?! Did we need the police? What was wrong?”—and so [the intruders] ran out the back door.

My husband couldn’t hear us screaming because he had the fan and the air-conditioning on. My twin sister grabbed my blind stick and started hammering the ceiling. But when he finally came down, Alert1 even beat my husband. They were there faster than my husband who we couldn’t get his attention [because of] all the noise in the room. And that was 3 days after we got the Alert1 medical alert system.

As Judy describes, the POM can be an alarm gong that can scare away intruders and notifies police at the same time. Judy chose to age in place with peace of mind. As part of her aging in place plan, Judy became a member of Alert1 to maintain safety in the comfort of her own home. Now, Judy can live her life and prepare for anything the future has in store. 

In Times Of Crisis

Finally, Alert1 helps during natural disasters. Team Alert1 has not tracked usage during natural disasters. Instead of data, we turn to a customer testimonial.

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy battered the eastern seaboard. Dolores F faced a crisis. Her home was flooding. In her loneliness, Dolores grew frightened. What's more, Dolores was without a means to communicate to the outside world!

Luckily, she was an Alert1 member so she pressed her Alert1 medical alarm pendant to signal for help. The Alert1 Command Center operator contacted emergency dispatch services. Then, they stayed on the line to reassure Dolores throughout the terrifying experience.

Dolores’ daughter Jackie later recounted the situation in tears. Jackie said it was important that someone was able to allay Dolores’ worries.

Moments of duress can come unannounced. It is nerve-wracking to know that you may not always be able to contact emergency personnel. Alert1 has many command centers in regions unaffected by natural disasters. This way, we are a quick button push away from answering your call.

Nature is unpredictable but you can take control with an Alert1 medical alert system.